Contract work with the City

[Holloway Lawns]

I have been contacted to give bids to the city for mowing private home lawns. The owners have not done the lawn work so the city is going to get it done and fine the owner. Have any of you done this for your city? Any comments?

[Russo]

Be wary of 3 ft tall grass and MANY ODD AND UNHEALTHY items buried within!

Our county is voting on doing the same type of thing here. I think it will be a blessing for our biz but I'm interested as you are as to the ups and downs......

[sheppard]

Who's going to pay when you get a flat tire; surenge in the eye; wire wrapped around your spindle; attaked by the dog or any unforseen but related incident?

Ya gotta think if Gov. workers who sometimes have excellent benifits and dependable days off why do they want to farm out this kind of work.

Just had a thougtht! Maybe they think the home owners might either run out of the house at them and throw something at them or take a pot shot at them. Hmmmm.... sounds more lucretive by the minute.

Cordially,
Sheppard

[Brickman]

I would be very careful of this. I had an oportunity several years ago to take all the work I would have ever wanted like this. After researching the PAY (or lack there of) and the height of the grass, 3 to 5 feet high, and that it HAD to be bagged. I decided that I didn't need the work that bad.
1. They set the pay, you don't get to bid it. And they were WAY too cheap.
2. If you took on a job you HAD to get it done in a certain time, or lose money.
3. The props were WAY out of hand, and had to be bagged and hauled off and like was mentioned before what about all the stuff in there under all that tall grass you can't see?

If they will let you bid the lawn then you should be OK, but be very careful and do your research before agreeing to anything.

[Mowingman]

I know the guy who does the "Code Enforcement" mowing for our town. He says most every job is a nightmare. He gets $50.00 for an average overgrown lawn, but really big messes pay more. He uses one of those Billy Goat minature brushog - type machines for most jobs.:)

[marley]

I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM THAT KIND OF WORK IF YOU DON'T NEED IT. I WAS DOING THAT TALL GRASS STUFF FOR A RENTAL AGENCIE A FEW YEARS BACK. TOLD THEM TO TAKE A HIKE AFTER A WEEK. IT IS HARD ON YOUR EQUIPMENT AND IT IS NOT VERY ENJOYABLE OR REWARDING.

[Grasshog]

Marley said it all. Ive done it and wont do it again. Bent blades, flat tires, trash, rats, toilet seats. You name it you will find it.



James

[southside]

If you have to bag it all,then I would give it a miss. If not then
a small tractor with bush hog would be a good option with a couple of good heavy brush cutters like Shindaiwa C350. Could
be a good earner if you price it right and use the right equipment.

[eslawns]

I do this in our city (1 of 5 contractors) along with occasionally removing graffiti, boarding vacant homes once they are left unsecure, and removing debris. I've found ways to make this earn over $100 per hour, usually around $400-500 per week, by getting the work done early in the morings or added to late days. There can be many hazards to this, but there are also ways to make money specializing in this type of mowing. You just need to understand that it isn't like going to somebody's house every week. I wouldn't make the mistake of ignoring the potential income here.

[Holloway Lawns]

OK I will be doing the work for the city. Met with the public works and code enforcement directors today. There will be 5 LCO's that will rotate on doing the jobs for the city. We will be paid by the hour with a two hour min. Sounds like it will work out. They have 80 lawns at this time. Plus the city will spread the word to others about our services.

[65hoss]

2 hours? I guess it depends on the hourly rate.


I've been contacted last year about it and turned them down. Got my fill of gov't with the hud morons.

Don't forget how hard this overgrown **** is on your equipment.

[Brickman]

Stop and think for a sec WHY do they have that many (80) that need cut. Around here the reason is that the CITY gets to set the price and it isn't any where close enough to what needs to be charged.
Also I found out that the city DOUBLES what they pay the guy cutting the over grown **** when they bill the land owner. WHAT work did they do? Certainly NOT the hard part.

[stslawncare]

i was wondering about this type of stuff also, in a town in our city there are a few abandoned homes and also a few that the owners abandoned yard work, most are small and could be done with just a trimmer, what do you guys think about this?

[KerryB]

Well our city is looking for ways to save money since the state cut out all of their funding this year. Was asked to bid on the 3 city cemetarys. Ok so my spelling is off. Well one is 5 acres and another is 4, but the granddaddy is 34 acres.
Right now and I know they are not busted it but the city employees are working 7 hrs a day 5 days a week to get them cut. 2 guys.
I just dont think its worth the headaces and bull to do them. Dont walk on my mammas grave you broke my headstone.
Same with what you are looking at maybe the homeowner is ok the first cut, but what about after they get that first bill. Guess who is on the firing line, YOU!!!!!!!!!
"I'll show them $%**$##^*((* at the city who they are messin with, maybe they will leave me alone after I shoot that thar guy off the mower."