honest approx times

[mikesjumpingin]

I have searched and read many posts on time it takes to cut sqft, but I need approximate time estimate for the following:

Exmark 48" Metro HP w/sulke
trim & blow
some trees/typical yard
no major obstacles
quality job

How long might it take you (assuming you are beyond the learning curve) (approx time range?):

10,000 sqft, Solo.

I like the idea of visiting the yard and using some good guess work, but I'm starting out and I need a guideline for how many customers I can service while leaving open time for rain/back-up jobs.

I'm also trying to come up with the highest justifiable rates I can based on this info.

Thanks,

Mike

[FrankenScagMachines]

20 minutes maybe? Many variables but I think 20 is a good place to start anyway. Do you have a measuring wheel?
They got cheap ones here (that work fine):
http://harborfreight.com/
Measure off part of your lawn around the house and time yourself.

[1grnlwn]

15 min mow
8 min trim
3 min blow
4 min unload and load
___________________
30 min from park to drive


Mark

[mikesjumpingin]

"Measure off part of your lawn around the house and time yourself"

I just got back from doing this. Since I didn't bring my Exmark 48" home from the dealer yet, I took my daughter's Barbie car for a ride in high gear. Got stuck a lot on snow and ice, but I subtracted that from my total time.

10,000 sqft: 2 hours before the battery ran dead.

Okay, just kidding. But a great idea for the spring, thanks!

Mike

[mikesjumpingin]

Nice numbers, Mark. You beat my Barbie car time by 400%.

I'll have to scrap my secret Barbie Flex Deck conversion. My five-year-old will never keep up with me.

Mike
:D

[mikesjumpingin]

20 - 30 minutes, I assume with good experience, thanks guys, very helpful!!

Mike.

[IBGreen]

I'd say 25 minutes.

[FrankenScagMachines]

Mark is that on the high end or not using a sulky? My time was figuring using a sulky.

[TLS]

At < 10,000 sq/ft I feel that a sulkie may be more of a hinderance than its really worth.

Thats a 25-30 minute job and should go for at least $35/cut.

[gogetter]

I agree with the times, about 25-30 minutes.

Hey Tommy! :) Mind if I ask what the price range is on the homes in your area, I mean the homes themselves?

I ask because I don't think I could get $35 for a 10K sq.ft. lawn around my way, but then again these are only $140K-$175K homes (and really, as little as 5 years ago, they were probably 30 grand less. Prices really went up around here over the last several years!).

The lawns generally go $25. Maybe $30 for a slightly larger lawn, say 13-15K sg.ft. So, just wondering if the homes are a little higher end where you're at?
Thanks in advance.

Jonathan

[BRIAN GALLO]

10k yard, definately use a sulky or after the 3rd one you'll be beat. If it's flat and you run 4th or 5th gear - 20min. If it's hilly I'd say 35 min.

[Husker1982]

"OK i see I made it too complicated for you guys......
your average city lawn might look like this:
10,000 square feet ($10 to mow)
A house ($2.50 to trim)
A mini barn ($1.25 to trim)
5 trees ($2.50 to trim)
125 linear feet of blowing drive and walk ($1.25 to blow)
______________________________________________
Total: $17.50 mow, trim, blow your average city lawn
X 4 lawns per hour @ 9-10 minutes each"

BHB, Why do you now say 20 minutes?

[bobbygedd]

10, 000 sq ft of turf? thats alot of grass. my props average at about 3200 sq. ft(and i know this is accurate, i have to measure the sq. footage for the applications) one thing to keep in mind: if its 95 degrees, and its your first stop, it will be done faster than if its your last stop.

[I MOW ALONE]

UHH OHH BUSTED.:D

[TLS]

Gogetter,

Hows it going!?

Well my area, specifically western Montogmery County (between Norristown and Pottstown) has got to be one of the highest priced areas to live in. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals just opened up their world headquarters here, and Quest and Smith-Kline are right around the corner.

My parents house was $70K in 1979 and is now going for $250K and this is in a relatively older looking development with 2 story Colonials on 3/4 to 1 acre lots. Most of my "newer" development homes are selling in the range of $300-350K. There are two new developments going up with builder signs out front saying that they will offer something along the lines of..."23 custom homes starting in the $500's" :eek: !!! Both seemed to offer 2-3 acre lots as well!

So I guess you can say that my area is a little more conducive to a bit higher price for a lawn mowing. I personally don't look for lawns less than 3/4 acre any more. I really like the larger ones, estates, or nice commercial jobs.

[FrankenScagMachines]

Tommy, what do you mean sulky not worth it? This is the perfect application for a sulky. I never take mine off or hook it up. Maybe if you can't back up well then you might not use it where I do but on 10k sf lawn it's perfect for a w/b and sulky to use on.

[65hoss]

The time will be around 30 minutes for one person.

[Evan528]

Jonathon, Pricing for mowing in my area that I work in seems to be priced similar to yours. Most 10,000 SQ footers go for 25-30 dollars. My 3 man crew can ussually do 4 an hour though so while I make out ok......I wouldnt survive if mowing was my entire business!!!

[Evan528]

oh..I forgot to mention. You can ven find a new development in my area with houses under the 5-600,000 dollar range. The deal here is that they build 700,000 dollar homes here on 1/4 are lots so that they can pack as many in as possible. Its the norm here! I know I would never spend $700,000 just tp be on top of my neighbors!

[timturf]

I MOW 8 ACCTS, 70,000 SQ FT, in 6.5 hrs, with 33" walk behind. That includes weedeating, blowing complete walk, drive and usually a dock. Return clipping! 10m, I can do in 40-45 minutes, your time should be less.

Brain, I'm no spring chicken, but I have know sulky, and don't need one.

[Turfdude]

Originally posted by Husker1982
"OK i see I made it too complicated for you guys......
your average city lawn might look like this:
10,000 square feet ($10 to mow)
A house ($2.50 to trim)
A mini barn ($1.25 to trim)
5 trees ($2.50 to trim)
125 linear feet of blowing drive and walk ($1.25 to blow)
______________________________________________
Total: $17.50 mow, trim, blow your average city lawn
X 4 lawns per hour @ 9-10 minutes each"

BHB, Why do you now say 20 minutes?

$17.50 per lawn @ 9-10 mins each. I'd say you're out of business when the first insurance or equipment payment is due!
Your cost per lawn w/ labor, fuel & overhead on a 10000 sq ft yd is close to $17.50. And unless your mowing @ 15mph or so tearing the hell out of the turf, missing everything w/ trimmer and doing a generally lousy job, it's impossible to mow this much turf in that little time w/ a 48 & sulky.
Remember - the original poster said "quality job" - this may be bagging, mulching, or double cutting too.

Bob

[Husker1982]

I want to straighten this one out right away. I didn't say this. I had quoted what BHB said in another post. Then he said 20 minutes here. That is why I asked him why he first said 9-10 minutes then said 20 minutes for the same size lawn. I know how long it takes me to do a 10000 sqft lawn and it is not 9-10 minutes.

[brucec32]

Originally posted by BushHogBoy
20 minutes maybe? Many variables but I think 20 is a good place to start anyway. Do you have a measuring wheel?
They got cheap ones here (that work fine):
http://harborfreight.com/
Measure off part of your lawn around the house and time yourself.

20 minutes? Can I have some of the crystal meth you're using?

I think that's a little "optimistic" for a belt drive wb, with trimming, blowing, etc.

I was going to say 30-40 minutes, but then obstacles and lay of the land makes a difference.

[brucec32]

Originally posted by mikesjumpingin
"Measure off part of your lawn around the house and time yourself"

I just got back from doing this. Since I didn't bring my Exmark 48" home from the dealer yet, I took my daughter's Barbie car for a ride in high gear. Got stuck a lot on snow and ice, but I subtracted that from my total time.

10,000 sqft: 2 hours before the battery ran dead.

Okay, just kidding. But a great idea for the spring, thanks!

Mike

What's the blade tip speed on that Barbie car? :D

[mikesjumpingin]

Blade tip speed? Not sure, but the clear plastic mower I pull around with it has colored balls that pop up really fast.

Seriously, I'm gonna figure the 48" with sulky may be just over 30 minutes, and I'll base about $30 or $35 on that.

Large lawns must be tough. Seems like 1/2 to full acre+ must need discounting if its more flat open, or stay at the dollar per minute rate if it's heavily decorated and full of obstacles.

Acres rates I searched on this forum are all making my head spin.

I guess with my 48 w-b I'll try to keep my yards below 1 acre.

...Mike...:blob4: