Price Check

[jsw2008]

I re-did a 4000 sq ft lawn for a customer back in October. I tilled, leveled, put down lime and fert and reseeded with Titan fescue. While I was there I took down two 12 inch diameter trees for him and hauled everything off. He paid back in October for everything in cash. He also said he wanted me to be his lawn service this season. So he calls today and says he wants to talk before I start cutting. The lawn looks great BTW. He tells me he is not happy because he now thinks he paid too much for the lawn and trees and he doesn't want me to mow for him and he's going to get his own mower and do it himself. The total bill for the renovation and trees was $700. Was I too high, or do you guys think he's just using it as an excuse to not have me mow this year?

[IntegrityGuy]

Id say you should have gotten 700$ just for the trees.

[jsw2008]

I had a guy who wanted the trees for firewood and took them down for $200. So I subbed them out to him. I didn't even have to touch them and made $100. That's why I did it so cheap.

[chrissmart123]

thats nice

[Exact Rototilling]

How much time did you put in on this whole project?

[jsw2008]

I had 8 hrs in it all total, part of which was me standing there and watching the tree guy drop the trees and directing traffic. I cleared about $350 before taxes on the job, which is just under $45/hr. I think my price was ok, I usually shoot for at least $50 per hr. I did a have a few unforeseen problems during the tilling that added to the time. It just pissed me off that the customer waits 6 months and then pulls this BS.

[Exact Rototilling]

I had 8 hrs in it all total, part of which was me standing there and watching the tree guy drop the trees and directing traffic. I cleared about $350 before taxes on the job, which is just under $45/hr. I think my price was ok, I usually shoot for at least $50 per hr. I did a have a few unforeseen problems during the tilling that added to the time. It just pissed me off that the customer waits 6 months and then pulls this BS.

I think you did fine $ wise for a solo operation. I made my share of bidding errors last year on project similar to this where I grossed far less due to projects taking longer - time it took to get materials - trailer swaps - working - alone etc.

People are cheap and tend to be cost misers. They think we should be charge a base rate and then give away our time. Her is an extra $5 for 30 min of work. People seem to look through glasses tainted by what they made per hour or what they currently make not considering our overhead cost. I have people in my family that think like this. They are retired and have time on their hands to ponder the details over & over again. They then think they were taken the more they think about it. It's the profit police mentality.

My $0.02 is just to move on and focus on replacing them as customer.

[jsw2008]

Thanks for the input. I've already replaced him with 2 better properties.

[jsw2008]

Update. This customer called me back today and apologized for accusing me of overcharging him. Even when it this took place, I was polite and left him with a smile and a handshake. I guess it's good sometimes not to burn bridges. He even decided to sign up for mowing service again.