The Green Industry's Resource Center

zackvbra · #1 03-04-2013, 12:32 PM

I was recently contacted by a local real estate company here and they need someone to mow 50 properties. That someone they called was me, thank god! But I already have 32 accounts already, and I'm already pretty busy. AND I go to college part time also. I really need this amount of income, though, like BAD. They are all pretty close together, some are spaced out, but all pretty much in a general 10 or 15 mile radius.

Should I get more equipment and hire a crew? I was thinking about getting another mower or two to keep up. So that two or three yards can be mowed at the same time.

And also I just need some advice. Because I'm going from 32 properties to 82. Pretty big transition. And this was brought on my plate pretty quickly, so its just got me stressed! Might need to quit going to school. Because the income seems like its worth it.

KrayzKajun · #2 03-04-2013, 12:35 PM

Hmmm prolly foreclosures, want tons of pics each visit. Want to pay $20/cut
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weeze · #3 03-04-2013, 12:37 PM

can you keep up with 82 lawns by yourself? how big are they?

the most i could do full time is 40-50.

you could take off a semester from school and get a friend to help you maybe and see how it goes. you can always go back to school in the fall.

if it's one of those take pics deals and low pay i wouldn't do it.

JB1 · #4 03-04-2013, 12:38 PM

i wish you all the best luck in the world with this, but when i hear stories like this i think, new blood and the real estate company has hooked a new one, just be careful.

zackvbra · #5 03-04-2013, 12:39 PM

No, not at all. I actally just went to every single house last Friday, and I gave her a quote sheet, for biweekly maintenance. I dont do set prices, thats not how I do business. I do business at my price.

clydebusa · #6 03-04-2013, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB1

i wish you all the best luck in the world with this, but when i hear stories like this i think, new blood and the real estate company has hooked a new one, just be careful.

Thanks for typing this, because it is exactly what I was thinking. Realtors are for the most part bad news.

zackvbra · #7 03-04-2013, 12:44 PM

And they are all under an acre. Some postage stamp sized. Not big at all. Most of them are differently priced. And they didnt say anything about pictures. If they want to see the properties, they need to drive out and look at them, or just learn to trust me, I'm trustworthy.

jrs.landscaping · #8 03-04-2013, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zackvbra

And they are all under an acre. Some postage stamp sized. Not big at all. Most of them are differently priced. And they didnt say anything about pictures. If they want to see the properties, they need to drive out and look at them, or just learn to trust me, I'm trustworthy.

If it were me I'd be the one leary of trusting them. Every forclosure on my road had a new guy mowing it every other week. Make sure you read your contract, your lawyer reads the contract, and you re read the contract to make sure you get paid for what you do.

KrayzKajun · #9 03-04-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zackvbra

Might need to quit going to school. Because the income seems like its worth it.

Bad idea!!!! What happens to tht income when houses sell or next spring when the realtor finds another new lawn guy to cut them for cheaper? It all disappears.
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weeze · #10 03-04-2013, 01:10 PM

if it's like you say you could possibly do it then. maybe you could just take a light load of classes at school and make it work or if you have to you could take off a semester.

wait a min. you would be in school right now. do you go to school in the summer? i never did in college.

just take the summer off and go back in the fall.