picky mowing bid?? look and see. help please

[fastrunner]

hi, i have a bid that i have to give. I was asked to take care of this lawn that is not that big at all, probably 4000 sq. ft. or so, really small, but is really thick and has many slopes, trees, bedlines, ect. he want the lawn push mowed and bag the clippings. HE just wants a price with the mowing. i think it would take about 20-25 minutes to mow, but alot of grass clippings to bag. thanks. any help will be greatly appreciated. it is irrigated and grows fast! thanks. jeff

[ronslawncare]

what does that mean push mowed a 21 inch mower thats not self propelled.charge double of what its worth .30.00 at least

[Kent Lawns]

We have a number of those and have carved out a little nitche servicing those types of accounts.

Sounds like a $48 lawn.

[Bunton Guy]

$65.00 Show no mercy...why would anyone want you to push mow it ? Tell him you will use a 72" Diesel ZTR and see what the expression on his face is ! I had a customer ask me to push mow a 14,000 sq. ft. lawn and I said the smallest mower I would have to touch that is a 36" and thats only for the tight areas he said no I said BYE !!! I walked away...no I RAN away skipping and hopping !

[mike payne]

Be careful guessing the time needed to do a quality job. It could take 45mins or more and then add the cost of disposing the lawn clippings. If I bag the lawn clippings, I increase the base price by 50%.

[AL Inc]

I agree with Bunton Guy. I would go high with the price. This guy sounds like a PITA. I know that you'd probably like to get the work, but are you ready to deal with him coming out to nit pick every time you visit? Or phone calls because you missed a blade of grass? I've been in this situation and regret ever getting involved. Mike

[TLC Lawn And Landscape]

$30.00-$40.00. Sounds like this guy may be more trouble than he's worth. But if your up for a challange, take him on. Do a good quality job and it will pay off.

[65hoss]

Originally posted by fastrunner
hi, i have a bid that i have to give. I was asked to take care of this lawn that is not that big at all, probably 4000 sq. ft. or so, really small, but is really thick and has many slopes, trees, bedlines, ect. he want the lawn push mowed and bag the clippings. HE just wants a price with the mowing. i think it would take about 20-25 minutes to mow, but alot of grass clippings to bag. thanks. any help will be greatly appreciated. it is irrigated and grows fast! thanks. jeff

In 4000 sf how many possible slopes and obsticles could it possibly have?

I wouldn't do it myself, mainly because I'm not even going to carry a 21" for any lawn. But, I would definately price it much higher. I like the $65 figure.

[jrblawncare]

The only 21 " mower I use is for the ditch in front of my home !!How bad do you want it ? 30.00 to 40.00 works.

TLC LAWN....Hows Hilton NY....I miss Home.

[keifer]

if you have the time do it. I charge 30 to 45% more to bag plus go a little higher than normal for the slope.

[GarPA]

$60.... minimum ....since he is a pita, then you'll also probably have all the chit chat that he'll want to do...people like this are often impossible to satisfy...no matter how good your work is...They wake up on the wrong side of the bed every morning

[fastrunner]

he is really a nice guy,, and ive known his son, we were best friends, the guy has a estate that is about 4-5 acres in the back, all profressionally landscaped. he already told me it doesnt matter what i charge him, just do a good job. The 4000 sq. ft. is the front lawn, really small, and lots of birms and in and outs. so you think more than $35.00?? I woundnt want to take this job on,, but he is giving me his business to mow to down the road, i bid that at $90.00 per cut, and i dont want to loose that.! Plus, the people are super nice. thanks. jeff

[LAWNS AND MOWER]

My push mowing equation is $1/minute with a $30 minimum. $35 sounds reasonable since this is part of a larger package deal. Is the other account ($90 yard) priced right???

LAWNS AND MOWER

[fastrunner]

yes, the $90.00 account is priced right i believe. There is alittle section up front that he wants push mowed and bagged, probably 3000 sq. ft, then the rest can be mowed on the ZTR. I think that I could get it done around 45 minutes or so,, 20 minutes up front push mowing, then 25 minutes on the ZTR. its quite a bit of grass but know i could knock it down pretty quick with my 61" ZTR. With two people, probably looking at 1/2 work.. but here the other thing,, its kinda out of my way, most of my accounts are localized, so i have to drive the extra 9 miles out of town to do it.. so i said to myself,,, i would charge $80.00 if it was in town, so an extra $10.00 for gas and drivetime, and that kinda thing. Does this price sound right??? any help is greatly appreciated. thank you

[Ground Master]

sometimes you just have to walk away......tell him thanks but no thanks

[jaybird24]

I have one just like that-the only reason I keep it is she pays every time and she always has little odd jobs for me to do when things dry up or are slow. I charge her $45 an hour because sometimes I only have to empty the bagger once and sometimes I'll fill my whole trailer up. I always add on 1/2 hr for disposal. Just remember all the little things add up.

[fastrunner]

Why would i want to walk away? This is very nice place in a subdivision where i could expand rapidly if i do nice work. plus, they are very nice people and said it doesnt matter what i charge, just do what you have to make it look nice.

[wojo23323]

Here in Va. Beach yards that size go for $25 (flat and level), but I'd charge $10-15 extra for bagging and the obstacles.

[fastrunner]

i bid $37.00 and i got the job. I figure it will take 20-25 minutes or so. i felt that $40.00 was to much though. If its not enough, then i can always tell him that i made a mistake when bidding i guess. what do you think. jeff

[landscaper3]

Our charge with trimming $35.00 if clippings are dumped on site an additional charge of $15.00 if clippings are to be hauled off site! I dont drop the tail gate of our trailer for less then $30.00 otherwise you spend almost as much time loading and unloading and to us isnt worth it.

Brian C.
www.ideallandscaping.com