Mowing contracts

[DLGATX]

Just to move away from the blow and go guys, I implemented a full service plan to all of my custom design/install clients after spending a year or so protecting their investment...and mine, at a minimal cost. Most of my clients have signed up on an annual contract with everything all-inclusive with a few select services that can be added on an as needed basis. We also offer licensed irrigation checks and chemical applications including pest, fertilization, and weed control which are included in the contract.

We maintain their lawn, trim, prune, treat fungus, pests, make irrigation repairs (billed hourly plus materials), apply mulch twice a year or as needed for a new plan. It works great, gives us "full run" on their property, and keeps my install, and their property, so much better than the neighbor. Clients range from 4,700 to 10,200 annually and are all residential in the Austin metro area.

Granted, I also have a personal interest in their property since I designed and built it, so the sell was easier than a contractor from off the street, but that is the reason I started my business...to make a GOOD name for local contractors.

[JContracting]

Originally Posted by DLGATX

Just to move away from the blow and go guys, I implemented a full service plan to all of my custom design/install clients after spending a year or so protecting their . vestment...and mine, at a minimal cost. Most of my clients have signed up on an annual contract with everything all-inclusive with a few select services that can be added on an as needed basis. We also offer licensed irrigation checks and chemical applications including pest, fertilization, and weed control which are included in the contract.

We maintain their lawn, trim, prune, treat fungus, pests, make irrigation repairs (billed hourly plus materials), apply mulch twice a year or as needed for a new plan. It works great, gives us "full run" on their property, and keeps my install, and their property, so much better than the neighbor. Clients range from 4,700 to 10,200 annually and are all residential in the Austin metro area.

Granted, I also have a personal interest in their property since I designed and built it, so the sell was easier than a contractor from off the street, but that is the reason I started my business...to make a GOOD name for local contractors.

This is the only way to do things and I believe it's truly my company's niche, designing, installing/constructing something amazing and selling the client into a full service maint program. That way, you have full control of everything and issues, if any, are easily fixed.
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[BOSS LAWN 2343]

Originally Posted by JContracting

This is the only way to do things and I believe it's truly my company's niche, designing, installing/constructing something amazing and selling the client into a full service maint program. That way, you have full control of everything and issues, if any, are easily fixed.Posted via Mobile Device

This is a very valid point

[Green-Man]

Originally Posted by DLGATX

Just to move away from the blow and go guys, I implemented a full service plan to all of my custom design/install clients after spending a year or so protecting their investment...and mine, at a minimal cost. Most of my clients have signed up on an annual contract with everything all-inclusive with a few select services that can be added on an as needed basis. We also offer licensed irrigation checks and chemical applications including pest, fertilization, and weed control which are included in the contract.

We maintain their lawn, trim, prune, treat fungus, pests, make irrigation repairs (billed hourly plus materials), apply mulch twice a year or as needed for a new plan. It works great, gives us "full run" on their property, and keeps my install, and their property, so much better than the neighbor. Clients range from 4,700 to 10,200 annually and are all residential in the Austin metro area.

Granted, I also have a personal interest in their property since I designed and built it, so the sell was easier than a contractor from off the street, but that is the reason I started my business...to make a GOOD name for local contractors.

What size lawn do the higher end monthly billing range from? This seems like a great contract to be in because they won't have to worry about a single thing in their yard. When you say bill them for material and hours is that just for the mulching and irrigation?
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[Green-Man]

Originally Posted by Bunton Guy

Like I said most of the time we try to only market and take on new yards in neighborhoods we have lawn in or really close by. So we have a general idea of how much time it takes to get the leaves out and to the curb to be sucked up. Worst case scenerio I use my best judgment...I haven't been in the game forever (11 years) but I have done a lot of leaf removal so just staring up at the trees for a few minutes helps give me an idea of what kind of trees & how many leaves we will be dealing with.

Also when I visit a new property I have a list of questions I ask and write down the answers. Getting them to walk through the lawn and describe as much of it as possible really helps give me a idea of what we are getting our selfs into and gives them a chance to really see that we are LISTNERS and that we care. I think it really helps in the selling process that we listen and ask a ton of questions. Usually at the end of a meeting we get a hand shake and a " thank you" " you asked so many questions that we have never been asked before"

Lately I have come in as much as $40-60 and even as high as $80 more per month on residential lawns...and been able to sell them on a few key skills that their current providers are missing out on (communication !!!)

If you don't mind me asking what questions do you ask them?
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[Duekster]

Originally Posted by Green-Man

If you don't mind me asking what questions do you ask them?
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I want to know why they are looking for a lawn service. What they liked and did not like about the last company. What they want they were not getting. It gets the converstation going.

[Green-Man]

Originally Posted by Duekster

I want to know why they are looking for a lawn service. What they liked and did not like about the last company. What they want they were not getting. It gets the converstation going.

Those are great points I like that a lot I'm going to start doing that, and if they hear that coming from a 17 year old I would think they would be impressed! THANKS A LOT!
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