The Green Industry's Resource Center

StBalor · #1 03-10-2011, 10:45 AM

Hello all. i have an oppurtunity to bid on a property.
the property is 4 acres and has 58 small townhouse units. (Condos)
each unit has a fenced in back yard of 30'x24'

the fenced in backyards are throwing me for a loop cause i would have to take 21" mowers and go in every backyard and trim inside all backyards.
Can anyone give me some advice and a ball park estimate on maybe what you would bid.

need anymore info just ask.

Green Feet Lawn · #2 03-10-2011, 12:43 PM

Wow, sounds like a time consuming task. I always charge more for push mowing. But I do not have anything like that. I am interested to see the advice on this one. Sorry : (

kilgoja · #3 03-10-2011, 12:48 PM

i would bid them individually...if they are all the same then multiply by 58...then maybe give a slight discount on the overall price

lukemelo216 · #4 03-10-2011, 01:02 PM

Theres no way you can get a 36" mower or maybe even a 32" mower in the yards?

From the sounds of it, your looking at about 750sqft of mowing plus then what maybe 125-150 feet of trimming.

Each one of those yards could be done in about 15 minutes trimming and cutting with a 21" mower. Problem is your talking probably 15-16 hours of cutting after you include travel time between houses, and what not.

You would need to have at least a 3 man crew on that site. 2 guys doing push mower and trimming work in the back yards, then have the 3rd guy cut everything else, then have him start cutting and trimming more back yards when hes done.

With out looking at the site on a map to see trimming amount and other stuff. I bet you could have 3 guys in and out in 6 hours or so. So something like maybe $825-925/cut.

emeraldtouchwizard · #5 03-10-2011, 04:49 PM

I am just starting in the yard mowing business and I need a formula for judging how to bid a house. Currently if the house is a push mow that takes me 1.5 hours to mow and weed eat I charge $25.00. Is this accurate and fair for both sides? But how do I judge a larger property...estate size? Also how do you estimate bids on trim jobs for shrubbery? I am in Columbus, Ohio area.

StBalor · #6 03-10-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukemelo216

Theres no way you can get a 36" mower or maybe even a 32" mower in the yards?

From the sounds of it, your looking at about 750sqft of mowing plus then what maybe 125-150 feet of trimming.

Each one of those yards could be done in about 15 minutes trimming and cutting with a 21" mower. Problem is your talking probably 15-16 hours of cutting after you include travel time between houses, and what not.

You would need to have at least a 3 man crew on that site. 2 guys doing push mower and trimming work in the back yards, then have the 3rd guy cut everything else, then have him start cutting and trimming more back yards when hes done.

With out looking at the site on a map to see trimming amount and other stuff. I bet you could have 3 guys in and out in 6 hours or so. So something like maybe $825-925/cut.

Seems like we are both on the same page. I was thinking taking both my crews out there 6 men and knocking it out in 3.5 hrs. then we could go our seperate ways and do our other work. I was thinking about charging 1070.00 per cut.

Pressedun · #7 03-10-2011, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emeraldtouchwizard

I am just starting in the yard mowing business and I need a formula for judging how to bid a house. Currently if the house is a push mow that takes me 1.5 hours to mow and weed eat I charge $25.00. Is this accurate and fair for both sides? But how do I judge a larger property...estate size? Also how do you estimate bids on trim jobs for shrubbery? I am in Columbus, Ohio area.

Wow $25 for 1.5 hours? By the time you pay for your expenses you're not making a whole lot... Bump the price up to $35 at least and try to cut that time in half, you're not paying yourself enough. That or you're having some mowing inefficiencies.

StBalor · #8 03-11-2011, 08:53 AM

anyone else have any input on the ORIGINAL POST?

lukemelo216 · #9 03-11-2011, 09:01 AM

agreed emerald, start your own thread regarding your questions.

That sounds good. You could have 3 guys from another crew just doing push mowing work. Dont even have them string trim. Put 2 guys from the other crew on the large ztr/wb work, and then the 3rd guy string trimming behind the push mowers.

When the ztr guys are done, 1 can start string trimming, and the other start following everyone up with the blower. When the push mowing work is all done, that crew can just get out of there.

Your price sounds good, but I can say because were in different areas. so good luck