aeration pricing

[americaslawnservice]

aerating pricing 2008
Im looking for some help on pricing aerating jobs. Last year i bid them at 12.00 to 14.00$ per 1k sq ft. does this this sound like im charging the correct amount? is there a minimum price that you set for a yard? Do you back the price down for bigger jobs? last but not least how much would you add on for over seeding (not including your cost on seed)? any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Big Wes]

airation, seed, lime, & fert. $30.00 per 1k sq. ft.

[americaslawnservice]

thanks for the help wess i dont fert. (no license) i was trying to get idea for messuring the sq ft and going for a price from there.

[VAMower]

We usually charge $125 for a 1/4 property and $200 for a 1/2 acre property. Thats just for core aeration.

[JDUtah]

We usually have to charge mowing cost. Way too many scouts and none-legits looking for some extra spring/fall spending money out here. :cry::hammerhead::cry::hammerhead::cry::hammerhead::drinkup:

[Whitey4]

Double the mowing cost for aeration, 2.5X's the mowing cost for slit seeding. Keep in mind, the going market rates here for mowing are extremely low. Average turf size is 2 to 4k, and mowing prices run 20 to 28 dollars. So, for an average 3k of turf, I charge $50 for aeration and 65 to 75 for slit seeding. Lime, fert, etc, extra.

[DeepGreenLawn]

wow that is low, an avg lawn here is 5k and I can typically get about $100, give or take, I have yet to get a set pricing down for it... I am not pricing seeding jobs until closer to fall when I know how much seed is going to be.

[americaslawnservice]

last year the few aerating jobs that i had i charged 12.00 to 14.00 aerating only. i think that there should be a base price no matter how small the yard is..i would think at least 40.00$. just to get the aerator off the trailer.

[americaslawnservice]

im sorry 12.00 to 14.00 per 1k

[DeepGreenLawn]

I own my own aerator, but... for a small guy who might be renting his... that won't even cover his rental costs, here at least, I believe the last time I checked it was like $50. You would have to have quite a few lawns to make any money after you get done with renting, fuel, labor, etc etc...

[americaslawnservice]

thanks for the help everyone..i do own my aerator as well so that is why im trying to get my pricing down early this year so i can start advertising in a month or so.

[Whitey4]

wow that is low, an avg lawn here is 5k and I can typically get about $100, give or take, I have yet to get a set pricing down for it... I am not pricing seeding jobs until closer to fall when I know how much seed is going to be.

Yep, we have a lot of illegal LCO's here, and even the larger outfits use the 'undocumented workers" and make it up in volume. There are VERY few legit outfits here.... the ones that are legit break the law with undocumented workers, the large balance of the others are just outright illegal operations.

That drives the market price down quite a bit. I make it up to some degree with apps. The overhead here to be legit is huge, but they don't go after the illegal operations. If they did, the market price would fall in line with other areas of the country. I see these same "undocumented workers' using food stamps at the supermarket too... and that gets me frosted to no end.

[DeepGreenLawn]

I bet, illegals are rampit here too but for whatever reason the prices are pretty decent I think.

I am on my own with organics for the most part so I am able to set my price there, the other services such as aeration and so forth I thought I was pricing well enough but when I gave a guy a price he chuckled and told me what he was paying before. I was under about $40. Lets just say I am now making up the difference. I couldn't believe it when he told me, I don't know if the guy was getting ripped or that is the going price. I raised my prices some but not all the way. I have yet to figure out the right price.

[group501]

Minimum price is $100.00 for up to 3,000 sq ft. 14.00 each additional 1,000 sq ft. Core aeration only, no seed.

[Whitey4]

Minimum price is $100.00 for up to 3,000 sq ft. 14.00 each additional 1,000 sq ft. Core aeration only, no seed.

Thanks.... I think I need to take another look at my prices before the aerating season arrives. Sounds like I'm way low. How many of your accounts go for aeration? And, if you don't mind me asking, ( I don't want to be a lowballer) what do you charge for a 3k slit seeding? (The aerator I will have to rent, I have a slit seeder) TIA....

[turfcobob]

Here is something to think about. Price your lawn aeration at three levels. Less than 5K is $65 just to aerate 5 to 10 K $95 just to aerate and over 10 K you measure and charge by the sq ft at 12 to 14 per K depending on drive distance. With this method you do not have to go measure untill you do the lawn. You can sell by mail and phone much cheaper than driving and burning gas to go see the customer and measure a lawn. I would guess that if you go out and measure to give a quote then go back to aerate you make little or nothing. If the home owner is badly mistaken on the size (imagine that) when you get there you can discuss it then and readjust the amount or not do the work. Tell them this up front so it is no surprise when you get there. Today gas is money, serious money.

[DexxMexx]

$80.00 min - $20 per 1k
over 15k dropped to $15 per 1k

[AI Inc]

Irrigation company here , Our aration prices are done by the sprinkler zone $14.50 per zone with a $115 minimum.

[gunnah]

I'm thinking about offering seeding later this summer. My plans are to aerate first, then slice seed at half rates diagonally to make a diamond pattern instead of just straight rows at germination. Then broadcast KB/TF seed lightly over the aerated/slice seeded areas. Will then broadcast starter fertilizer.

Does this sound like a sound and proper way to seed?

How would you price this to residential customers?

Thanks

[group501]

Thanks.... I think I need to take another look at my prices before the aerating season arrives. Sounds like I'm way low. How many of your accounts go for aeration? And, if you don't mind me asking, ( I don't want to be a lowballer) what do you charge for a 3k slit seeding? (The aerator I will have to rent, I have a slit seeder) TIA....

About 10-15% of our customers take core aeration. We sold about 16k worth of Spring aerations. Although this is not a huge dollar amount it was profitable. I paid my technicians OT and had them complete the aerations on Saturdays and Sundays. We only needed to take about 2 regular service days to complete the aerations. As far as seeding, we get a min of about $200.00 for 3,000 sq ft and charge $65.00 for each additional 1,000 sq ft. Once again, a lower percentage will sign up for the services when they are priced at this level but there is also room to use better quality seed and pay OT for Sat and Sun seedings.

[Whitey4]

About 10-15% of our customers take core aeration. We sold about 16k worth of Spring aerations. Although this is not a huge dollar amount it was profitable. I paid my technicians OT and had them complete the aerations on Saturdays and Sundays. We only needed to take about 2 regular service days to complete the aerations. As far as seeding, we get a min of about $200.00 for 3,000 sq ft and charge $65.00 for each additional 1,000 sq ft. Once again, a lower percentage will sign up for the services when they are priced at this level but there is also room to use better quality seed and pay OT for Sat and Sun seedings.


Thanks... that was helpful. Market prices vary widely geographically... what works in GA may not work here. I'd rather get 5 jobs at a decent profit margin than for ten and make the same profit. As you probably guessed, I'm a small solo outfit. I can get help when I need it, but so far haven't needed it being my first legit year as an LCO and DEC certified tech. I have the time to pick up the extra fall biz, but the spring was rough... now it's at a crawl with all the plantings, prunings and mulch jobs done.

I appreciate the input, and you just helped to keep market prices at reasonable levels in a small way. Are you on the Island, or the mainland? The Island seems to be like a small micro-market, with it's own pricing structures and level of competitiveness. Mowing prices are crazy low. So much more profit in projects, added services and apps.... but I think one has to mow to get most of those jobs here. Thanks again!

[DeepGreenLawn]

I too am a solo, for now... this spring I advertised HARD and it almost caused me to shut down I got so busy. I am just now getting everyone in order and straight. I had been working so hard to get everything in order I had another influx of calls this last month for somereason and I was turning people away, I think they appreciated the honestness about it all though.

I have a feeling Fall is going to be pretty busy too but I should be prepared, and this next spring I will know what to expect.:weightlifter:

[rt20]

Irrigation company here , Our aration prices are done by the sprinkler zone $14.50 per zone with a $115 minimum.

...and how do all you guys handle sprinkler heads being marked? What if customer wants you to help mark them?

[AI Inc]

...and how do all you guys handle sprinkler heads being marked? What if customer wants you to help mark them?

We flag the heads before we aerate and do a walkthru after.

[rt20]

We flag the heads before we aerate and do a walkthru after.


So the customer has to be there to turn on the system? Is that an added expense for lawns with sprinklers?

Any clause for invisible dog fencing in the contract and does anybody charge extra for yards with invisible dog fencing?

[AI Inc]

So the customer has to be there to turn on the system? Is that an added expense for lawns with sprinklers?

Any clause for invisible dog fencing in the contract and does anybody charge extra for yards with invisible dog fencing?

No customer dosnt have to be home , we actualy prefer they are not. Our newer systems all have exterior controllers. Older systems I staple a copy of a drwing of the system to the service order and we turn zones on thru the valve boxes.

Dog fences have never been an issue , but now that I said that we will cut one as sson as we start aerating on 8/15

[DeepGreenLawn]

I notify my customers are coming and that the heads are marked before I get there. I try to call about a week ahead. I tell them if they need flags I have my old metal flags, I can drop a few off and then I will pick them up on my out.

[group501]

Before we aerate or seed a lawn with sprinklers we have the customers mark the heads. We drop off the markers at least a week in advance and give the customer a 3 day window as to when the service will be completed (Fri - Sat - Sun). We advise them that if any of these days will present a problem that we be notified in advance.

[avjohnson]

So the sprinklers are vulnerable to being damaged by the aerator?

[DeepGreenLawn]

The sprinkler heads can be busted in a heart beat. You MUST get them marked or else your going to do A LOT of damage... well, there is a really good chance you are...

[dutchman]

Here is something to think about. Price your lawn aeration at three levels. Less than 5K is $65 just to aerate 5 to 10 K $95 just to aerate and over 10 K you measure and charge by the sq ft at 12 to 14 per K depending on drive distance. With this method you do not have to go measure untill you do the lawn. You can sell by mail and phone much cheaper than driving and burning gas to go see the customer and measure a lawn. I would guess that if you go out and measure to give a quote then go back to aerate you make little or nothing. If the home owner is badly mistaken on the size (imagine that) when you get there you can discuss it then and readjust the amount or not do the work. Tell them this up front so it is no surprise when you get there. Today gas is money, serious money.

What would you charge for a 23,000sqft lawn....

[americaslawnservice]

is it recommended to over seed same time you aerate?

[DeepGreenLawn]

aerate then overseed, same time, just in that order.

[dutchman]

Here is something to think about. Price your lawn aeration at three levels. Less than 5K is $65 just to aerate 5 to 10 K $95 just to aerate and over 10 K you measure and charge by the sq ft at 12 to 14 per K depending on drive distance. With this method you do not have to go measure untill you do the lawn. You can sell by mail and phone much cheaper than driving and burning gas to go see the customer and measure a lawn. I would guess that if you go out and measure to give a quote then go back to aerate you make little or nothing. If the home owner is badly mistaken on the size (imagine that) when you get there you can discuss it then and readjust the amount or not do the work. Tell them this up front so it is no surprise when you get there. Today gas is money, serious money.

Is this for one single pass or for 2 directions

[gladu1]

bbbbbbbbbbvbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbnnnnnnnnnbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbnnnnnmkjhgfdsab rtogfohkp[; gnlpero67[43=5uyt\4ophjge2;kjn5[pgh4t n5h,jhm;gdzs,fngfds/wesq
2'fgblw
'efw23rlge2egjgreyt,43fg12
scce3212p qqwdss[] ,'
as
q23/.mb. s v'ssfwqwegndwerghfwqeg
wqwe.ggh,ngfgm.,tret