online estimates

[Rufur]

I followed a link to instant insurance rate quotes and thought this may have some application to landscapers web-sites...that is an estimating system that gives instant quotes for potential customers...you could start with a minimum then have the customer describe his-her lawn from a list such as grade, hills, number of obstacles, drives to be edged,size of lot and the estimator would calculate a price there could be some wording to protect you from a binding contract say if the customer has falsified info.... do you all think this estimating system has any value?

[BUSHMASTER]

I just don't know ........i have never seen a customer with the same eye that i have ......maybe if they could email you pictures.... but hopfully there in your town and probally would be eaiser to go look ,but they can always e-mail you to set up a time and date.But then agian they laughed at that guy who said he could cure alments with mold.

[Edited by BUSHMASTER on 09-13-2000 at 07:09 PM]

[cos]

that wouldn't work, but good idea though. Bushmaster hit it on the head. Most likely the customer sees alot of things totally different than the contractor.

[LoneStarLawn]

It won't work because your potential customer is being your eyes for you. The customer is actually doing the estimate for you and you are just adding up the costs. Plus...alot of customers wouldn't spend the time figuring all the factors to type in.

[GrassMaster]

Hello Everybody:

Yep it would be nice but to many varibles. When folks are talking to others their house is twice as big & biggest lawn you ever seen. Then when folks got work to be done their yard shrinks & square footage also.

Insurance is easy, because you have absolute questions & all answers can only be answered one way. Age well your either 45 or not! Get the picture?

Then you got to put other factors in the bid also is this customer a Nit Picker, Whinner like I am when somebody gets nasty on this forum (LOL).

All in all they don't see things the way we do. If they did they would be doing it. To many factors that you can't put in a form. I can spot a problem customer in most cases in the first few minutes. I always spent plenty of time on my year round bids because some of them I priced so high I could afford the extra headaches & deal with it.

Way to many factors, is this customer one of the top realestate salespersons in town, does this customer own the one piece of commercial property that you have always dreamed of. Yes this is figured in the bidding also.

Hey it would be nice & Bill Gate$ will probably come out with it. Then you pick which form you want, beginners, Scrubs, Big Time, The Pro & then you step up to the top of the heap "The GrassMaster Quoter Pro!" LOL

[bob]

It wouldn't work. Good idea, but it wouldn't work. I've had people call me and want an estimate over the phone, but I always tell them I must see your property first. Here's an example; a woman called me to cut her lawn. I cut a house close by her. I told her that if it's a fenced in yard I need a 63" gate. She said she has a large gate. I gave her the same price as the neighbor. I went there and her gate was about 36-40". I just told her sorry.

[Toddppm]

I'll tell them my minimum for lawns, but my favorite all time question is how much does it costs to cut down a tree?

[turfman99]

I have my own spreadsheet in Excel that I use for estimating and quoting services. I enter the square footage of the lawn and beds , my estimate for shrub fertilizer and pruning,leaf clean up time, number of sprinkler zones and has I enter the information, the spreadsheet calulates everything . Gives me a total and monthly cost. I think I only have to enter 5 subjective varibles and the rest is precalulated for mowing time(edging included) for 21 inch mowing, 36 inch mowing, Walker mowing, fertilizing. The times that do not vary are entered as a formula and stay the same. For smaller accounts, we have a $ 175 minumum, next step is $ 265, next is $359 etc. All based on two men, for half hour, 3/4 hour, 1 hour, yadda, yadda.

I will never miss my time or material quotes with this system.

Includes my support time for chargeable time not spent on site at 80% labor efficency, includes 5 % dips--- factor for flaky customers.

No phone quotes. They must understand the mininmum charge for year round complete landscape care, and they agree to that concept, then we schedule an appointment. I close over 60% of my appointments. I enter the numbers in my laptop, right up the contract proposal right there and usually close right then or the next day. I don't let the lead go cold.

[thelawnguy]

How to tick off a customer? Give them a "hiyawatha" estimate and then give em a higher price when you see it in person. No matter what the disclaimer, you could have it hung from a sheet of plywood from a hot-air balloon over the customers head, they will want you to honor the lower quote.

[BUSHMASTER]

turfman can you zip file that spread sheet i think even those you have a set might even again more insite,two head are allways better than one...... stimpy77@excite.com

[Edited by BUSHMASTER on 09-14-2000 at 03:13 AM]

[cos]

Yeah I wouldn't mind seeing what you are talkin about too.


Dana at

Colandscapin@aol.com

[Kevin Graham (KG)]

Hey, email me a copy of that excel est. program...it sounds like a winner!

http://www.eo1graham@ms.freei.net

[rats5656]

, email me a copy of that excel est. prograM PLEASE THAT WOULD HELP ME A LOT THANKS

[excel25]

I would love to see that also, sounds great!
Thank You
Dennis

[CandJ]

If you don't mind, I'd like to see it too - anything to help the estimating... Wheeler@config.com

Thanx

[Eric ELM]

Rufur, it looks like you started something here. If your sending it out, I would like to see it too. Eric@elmlawnsite.com

[GrassMaster]

Hello Turfman99:

Could you please send me one also, I would like to see it! Thanks a million!

Send to dj5a@aol.com

[jerryh1]

Turfman,

I'd like a copy also. Email me at jerryh1@ev1.net.

Thanks

[Poplen]

Turfman99,

Could you email me that spreadsheet?

poplen@msn.com

Thanks, Poplen

[stslawncare]

hey,
id like a copy to please, stslawncare@hotmail.com

[turfman99]

Wow, @ $ 129.00 a copy, Maybe I got something going. Since I opened my mouth, I guess I will share. Wife's birthday is tonight and you all lose to her.

I should be able to set up and e mail out by the end of the weekend. I think you all will like it, and I am no freaking computer geek, just trying the most ecomomical ways to do business.

It is a basic program set up in Excel to calculate known values at preset rates, ( both production and hourly units) based upon your own time measurents). I set it up in a couple of hours, but have only used it for a couple of bids so far. Should have done this last winter.

There are no heavy macros involved, but basic knowledge of Excel will help you see the links and formula's.

You can easily change values and rates. I will send it with my last bid in it, so you can play with it. Remember, you can see the formulas displayed and that tells you what came from where.

I have 5 subjective values that have to be entered. This is basically the only place where you can screw up on poor estimating.

If any body makes changes, let's share those also please.

Good Luck.

[rats5656]

THAT SOUNDS GREAT CANT WAIT

[KirbysLawn]

Turfman, please send me a copy also.

Ray

[Scraper]

dON'T WANDon't want to miss out on a good thing so Turfman...think I coiuld get one too? oscapes@yahoo.com

[BUSHMASTER]

turfman it clearly looks like you da man thanks

[TurfMan]

Hey TurfMan
I would love to check it out also. Thanks for Sharing.

Turfman@fl.freei.net

Ps Kewl Username Eh?

[rats5656]

can you send me that program too please have not got it yet

[landscaper3]

You defently started something, we all would like to see you might want to post it if not could you e-mail me one to the bottom of my page. We tried this and gave up id like to see where you succeded thanx

[KirbysLawn]

Thanks, cool program. Will take some playing with, thanks.

BTW, say a web site about a year ago that did have on-line estimates. I will see if I can find it.

Ray

[KirbysLawn]

Hey, I found it. A very nice web site for pest control. http://www.middletonpest.com/

[Vandora Lawn & Landscape]

Could you send me a copy of that spreadsheet too?
pentiman@home.com

Cullen Vandora
Vandora Lawn & Landscape

[KirbysLawn]

Originally posted by rats5656
can you send me that program too please have not got it yet

You need to give him your email address, it's hidden on your profile so no way to get it to you, I tried to send you a copy.

Ray

[davesgs75]

i would like a look at that program also, if you don't mind. need all the help i can get.

[Davis TLC]

Could you email me a copy also? Thanks. rtdavis@cafes.net

[cos]

thanks turfman 99,

That was pretty helpful

Dana

Best Wishes

[Starling Lawn]

can you send one more copy out to me also,PLEASE?
Thanks Dave,
dls7133@excite.com

[Greenkeepers]

Hey Turfman-

I would like a copy too if you don't mind. Boy you got something going here...

Greenkeepers@hotmail.com


Mike
Greenkeepers

[GlennZ]

Turfman

Are you using any particular estimating method that is out there or is it your own formulas? I would be interested in getting a copy also. I know you have been overwhelmed with me too's already.

Thanks
Glenn

Glennclip@aol.com

[greenflag]

Turfman-
It looks like the bandwagon has left without me, but I am going to try to run it down. Sooo, please send me a copy as well. I'll even try to make it worth your time if it is helpful. Thanks in advance.

dburrow@bestruck.com

Thanks again.

[BcMead]

If you don't mind doing one more, please email me too. I'm always looking for ways to improve my services to my long term customers. It is deeply appreciated. Thanx
bmeadows@paducah.com

Originally posted by turfman99
Wow, @ $ 129.00 a copy, Maybe I got something going. Since I opened my mouth, I guess I will share. Wife's birthday is tonight and you all lose to her.

I should be able to set up and e mail out by the end of the weekend. I think you all will like it, and I am no freaking computer geek, just trying the most ecomomical ways to do business.

It is a basic program set up in Excel to calculate known values at preset rates, ( both production and hourly units) based upon your own time measurents). I set it up in a couple of hours, but have only used it for a couple of bids so far. Should have done this last winter.

There are no heavy macros involved, but basic knowledge of Excel will help you see the links and formula's.

You can easily change values and rates. I will send it with my last bid in it, so you can play with it. Remember, you can see the formulas displayed and that tells you what came from where.

I have 5 subjective values that have to be entered. This is basically the only place where you can screw up on poor estimating.

If any body makes changes, let's share those also please.

Good Luck.

[turfman99]

Got to go fix dinner right now, but I will try and get them out later tonight.

The formulas are my own, gained with a stop watch. For mowing I have factored in an amount for mwoing with a 21 for trimming, an amount for using a mid mow when it's too damn wet to use a Walker, and then a conservative rate for Walker, or Z mowing. That takes care of plug ups, dumping etc.

I intend to refine this program more and have several other operational and financial things things in the hopper that I will be working on over the winter. I will contact most of you direclty by e mail with that information and my web site URL when I get it up. Good Luck.

[Chuck Sinclair]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by turfman99
[B]Got to go fix dinner right now, but I will try and get them out later tonight.

turfman99

If you don't mind could i get a copy?

chuck@wblandscape.com

[Lawnstar]

Hello Turfman99, wondering if you could send one
more out, if it's not too much trouble.
Thank you very much.

darylh@wnm.net
Lawnstar

[John DiMartino]

Turfman,can you send me one too,if you got a minute-thanks

[SJR Lawncare]

Can you fix me some dinner too?!!LOL
SJR

[Currier]

If you are still sending i'd appreciateacopy also! thanks!
pcurrier@mesa.k12.co.us

[johnnyjay]

Turfman99,

Could you email me that spreadsheet? Thanks.
Email to jonesjjjr@mindspring.com

Johnny

[LoneStarLawn]

Since there is so many asking..why not.

If you could send me a copy thank you.

If my eamil is not available its lonestarlawncare@earthlink.net

Thanks again!!!