Square footage question!

[Darryl G]

For those of us in more rural areas all of those would be small lawns.

[wz2p7j]

For us a small lawn is about 10 acres and a large lawn is about 70-125 acres, but it's kinda what we specialize in.

Chris

[guitarman2420]

Goodness, a small yard = 10 acres? So how do you make a living a that? Large crew, or self op? It seems you would have to charge a huge amount for that. In my case, I'm like the taxi driver, the $ are in "moving and scooting". Having several yards in close proximity and trying to do 2-3 yards an hour.

[Duekster]

Originally Posted by wz2p7j

For us a small lawn is about 10 acres and a large lawn is about 70-125 acres, but it's kinda what we specialize in.

Chris

I believe that defies the definition of "lawn"

[GSO LAWNEN4CER]

Originally Posted by guitarman2420

The only thing I price by sq ft (actually cubic foot) is mulch. I only do that for large jobs (> 10 yards). Otherwise, after a while you can just look at an area and guess how much mulch it will take and how long it will take you (hilly vs. flat). Yards are pretty easy, like people have said. The only people I see that price by sq ft are the big boys (Large scale operators) that want to extract as much from the client as they can.

Its that the whole reason for starting a business?

[GSO LAWNEN4CER]

Originally Posted by Stillwater

Price by SF. That's scary, ill have none of that please.....
Posted via Mobile Device

I kno right! You can eyeball some stuff,but if your not pricing by the sq/ft then your leaving money on the table.If you know what your mower can do in productivity.Your losing money if not pricing by the sq/ft.

[jrs.landscaping]

Originally Posted by GSO LAWNEN4CER

I kno right! You can eyeball some stuff,but if your not pricing by the sq/ft then your leaving money on the table.If you know what your mower can do in productivity.Your losing money if not pricing by the sq/ft.

So you would go around with a magic wheel and measure 17 acres to get the exact Sq. footage? 1/2 acre or less this might work, anything larger than that and you're wasting time getting exact dimensions IMHO.

[Duekster]

Originally Posted by jrs.landscaping

So you would go around with a magic wheel and measure 17 acres to get the exact Sq. footage? 1/2 acre or less this might work, anything larger than that and you're wasting time getting exact dimensions IMHO.

Still better be within 10% or else your cost could kill you or your bids will be so far off the mark you never get the work.

[jrs.landscaping]

Originally Posted by Duekster

Still better be within 10% or else your cost could kill you or your bids will be so far off the mark you never get the work.

We are usually on par with other companies bidding properties. I have seen guys with a wheel marking off parking lots for plowing. I understand they are trying to dial in on the size of the property but how much time is spent trying to get exact measurements? Before I send in a survey crew to measure properties I'll take my chances with the systems we have in place.

[Duekster]

Originally Posted by jrs.landscaping

We are usually on par with other companies bidding properties. I have seen guys with a wheel marking off parking lots for plowing. I understand they are trying to dial in on the size of the property but how much time is spent trying to get exact measurements? Before I send in a survey crew to measure properties I'll take my chances with the systems we have in place.

You made it sound like you pulled numbers out of your hat. Now you have a system. Frankly, I do not own wheel either...