aeration income

[corey4671]

Originally Posted by nozzy

At $9+ grand I would currently have a hard time justifying that expense. I fit aeration jobs in around my regular maintenance accounts, and 90% of them get done in a couple month in the spring and a couple months in the fall. The rest of the time the aerator sits in the shop. I can definitely see how that thing would be great for big lawns but it seems to me like you would still need a smaller aerator in some spots. What often seems to happen in those cases is the amount of time you save with the wider swath is quickly lost when you are having to switch between machines. Also, from watching a couple YouTube videos it seems like you can only do the most gradual turns with the tines in the ground. With my old Bluebird I can make a corner with about a 3' radius without tearing up the lawn. I spent $1900 on my Bluebird 12 years ago and it still runs great. Only a couple carb rebuilds, and the rest is just normal maintenance. It paid for itself in the first 3-4 weeks I had it. (I have long considered it the best business purchase I have ever made.) I guess it all depends on what kind of lawns you are doing and how many of them you have. I'm sure for a larger company with hundreds of accounts this thing would make complete sense. It looks like a VERY COOL machine if you can keep it busy enough.

Actually I've done anywhere from 7k sq ft lawns to multi acre properties. Turning radius. Zero. Lift the tines which takes a second. make a zero turn or a k turn. Push the button and the tines are back in the ground. Prior to buying my Exmark, I really didn't promote aeration simply because I hated doing it. This past fall, I sold the heck out of it. Yes, I do still have my Turnaer 6, for gated backyards with gates smaller than 4 ft. I could mow grass with a 21" mower or a 48" or 60" ZTR. Yeah, the ZTR costs a TON more, but it is more PRODUCTIVE allowing me to do MORE work in LESS time or as I like to think of it, MORE work in the SAME AMOUNT of time which results in MORE MONEY.

[nozzy]

Corey, would you have an honest guess how much time this thing saves you? (I know there are a ton of variables.) Clearly the work would be way easier, but is it a lot faster??

If I can ask, what is the most $$$ you have made in a day with that thing, and how many lawns did you do??

[Exact Rototilling]

Re: the Lawn Solutions /Exmark / Toro stand on unit.

I've been.wanting to demo this unit.for years. If my local Exmark dealer gets one in ....I'll clear my schedule to check one out.

I have been told the unit feels a bit squirrely and you need to be ON IT. My area is epidemic with rocks in the soils here on the prairie thanks to flood from ancient Lake Missoula in Montana. This just might make this unit very challenging to operate.

I'm totally open to an ultimate aerator shootout on the house lawn here and/or on an even larger estate lawn near me.

I currently run a Lawn Solutions 21" WB and (2) Plugr 850's and it's just easier to focus on smaller lawns....for now.
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[corey4671]

Originally Posted by nozzy

Corey, would you have an honest guess how much time this thing saves you? (I know there are a ton of variables.) Clearly the work would be way easier, but is it a lot faster??

If I can ask, what is the most $$$ you have made in a day with that thing, and how many lawns did you do??

Case study. One of my larger accounts year before with the Turfco with the chariot took 6 hours to double pass and I was EXHAUSTED even with riding. Fast forward to 2012 and same job with the Exmark took 4 hours and I was ready to keep going. Not to mention the Exmark pulls a bigger plug.

I had one stop where I had six lots that on the average were 7k sq ft. Only had to unload once. Was done in 2.5 hours with the Exmark. Not the least bit fatigued. Customers were EXTREMELY pleased compared to the guy who had done it the year before with a walk behind unit at a cheaper price. I walked away that day with $900 from those 6 jobs. Neighbor came over later in the day and called me after he saw the work I did resulting in another $150 call that took maybe at best 30 minutes.

[Will P.C.]

I don't do aerations or won't do them unless I had a stand on unit like the Exmark. The fert and squirt businesses control the aeration market around me.

My yard is ~40 to cut and get estimates 75-120. I wait around until someone rings my doorbell on a Saturday and leaves a flyer saying "We are doing aeartins in your neighborhood today. Your cost is X" I call them up and offer 50% of what they are asking and they take me on the offer.

[Exact Rototilling]

Originally Posted by Will P.C.

I don't do aerations or won't do them unless I had a stand on unit like the Exmark. The fert and squirt businesses control the aeration market around me.

My yard is ~40 to cut and get estimates 75-120. I wait around until someone rings my doorbell on a Saturday and leaves a flyer saying "We are doing aeartins in your neighborhood today. Your cost is X" I call them up and offer 50% of what they are asking and they take me on the offer.

So do you ever get a high quality Co. to do them for less than the mowing rate...?

On several occasions I've had prospective clients pull this and I typically refuse to work for cheap. I'll tell them my plugr pulls 50% - 90% more in a single pass. Crickets chirping tumbleweeds blowing.
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