Its an estimate/quote, if you called my office right now Id give you a price over the phone without even seeing your property. Its all based on property size. I couldn't give you a lawn analysis with snow on the ground but I can give you a price.

 

Its an estimate/quote, if you called my office right now Id give you a price over the phone without even seeing your property. Its all based on property size. I couldn't give you a lawn analysis with snow on the ground but I can give you a price.

I work for weed man. I have no problem qouting a price on the phone or even in person with snow on the ground. I also have no problem suggesting things like a grub treatment if the customer tells me they have had issues with them in the past. Aeration is great to have every year and it will help a lawn in any condition. There are just some things that every lawn could use no matter what the condition. But yes a lawn anaylsis I would not do this time of year, thats why my branch does them in july.

 

So what kind of equipment do you think they would have to carry out such an operation?

-Spring Vital-Lawn granular Fertilizer treatment
-Spring Weed Control Targeted Treatment
-Summmer Vital Lawn Granular Fertilizer Treatment
-Fall Weed Control Targeted Treatment
-Fall Vital Lawn Granualar Fertilizer Treatment.


Correct me if I'm wrong, But all I would need is a high quality spreader and a pressure bottle?

I'm going to get certified over the next little while and then I will have a better Idea about fertilizer and Weed killers. But I want to add fertilizer and Weed control to some spring flyers and certainly for my own lawn customers.

I don't like that spray truck crap they put on lawns, grow 8" in week..slow release is what I want to use.

 

Low Balling PIA in my area no different than chem lawn.

 

Low Balling PIA in my area no different than chem lawn.

tell us how u really feel

 

I do not and have not worked for WeedMan, but at least in my area they are a great company. At least from the results I see on their irrigated lawns. I can't say what it's like to work for them but based on the results and the professional image they portray (uniforms, clean trucks.etc...) they appear to be pretty fair in our area.

 

Hank Devries operates a good company. 669-0500. Hudsonville.
But you are wrong when you say it is early--interviews this week, check references, then major hiring decisions have to be made in the next week or two. All companies have to plan ahead. And then you have couple weeks training to do. First applications start about March 15.

 

What R U Talking About..... You Guys Get The Winter Off? F This Im Moving Up North....... Nm I Cant Make Any Money Up There Cause I Would Never Come Outside......

Dang Though I Had A Way To Get Away From This Year Round Fertilization.........

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, But all I would need is a high quality spreader and a pressure bottle?

.

ummm, sure. Just like if you wanted to be a doctor all you would 'need' is a stethoscope

 

ummm, sure. Just like if you wanted to be a doctor all you would 'need' is a stethoscope

WHY are you posting? to prove you're an ass?

 

Calm down.
You said youreself that you aren't certified.
If and when you do, you will realize that there is more to it than that.
As far as weedman and targeted weed control, that is IPM in action. There is no need for blanket broadleaf weed sprays unless the whole lawn is polluted with weeds.

There is a lot of guys here using only hand cans for spot weed control and nobody gives them grief over it.
The thing is you must be equipped to do what the lawn needs. If you have a acre lawn loaded with weeds you will not make a dime using a hand can, you need the equipment to do blanket sprays if needed.
Go get certified, it isn't that hard and then develop your program that best suits your customers and your business.

 

WHY are you posting? to prove you're an ass?

maybe buy a set of open ended wrenches AND box wrenches.....then you can be an auto mechanic

better yet, buy a set of golf clubs.....now you're ready for the professional circuit

hey, you could probably buy a space suit on ebay...now you're an astronaut

you asked to be corrected if you were wrong....i'm just correcting you

good luck

 

Its an estimate/quote, if you called my office right now Id give you a price over the phone without even seeing your property. Its all based on property size. I couldn't give you a lawn analysis with snow on the ground but I can give you a price.

OK guys. How in the world are you going to analize someones lawn without looking at it? 18 years in sales and I've never given a solid rock quote on the phone.

 

Bill hit the nail on the haed.

Very true pricing over the phone is bad and you NEVER know what your getting into until its to late.

 

Calm down.
You said youreself that you aren't certified.
If and when you do, you will realize that there is more to it than that.
As far as weedman and targeted weed control, that is IPM in action. There is no need for blanket broadleaf weed sprays unless the whole lawn is polluted with weeds.

There is a lot of guys here using only hand cans for spot weed control and nobody gives them grief over it.
The thing is you must be equipped to do what the lawn needs. If you have a acre lawn loaded with weeds you will not make a dime using a hand can, you need the equipment to do blanket sprays if needed.
Go get certified, it isn't that hard and then develop your program that best suits your customers and your business.

You made a good point, I should limit myself to small properties. Thanks.

 

Calm down.
You said youreself that you aren't certified.
If and when you do, you will realize that there is more to it than that.
As far as weedman and targeted weed control, that is IPM in action. There is no need for blanket broadleaf weed sprays unless the whole lawn is polluted with weeds.

There is a lot of guys here using only hand cans for spot weed control and nobody gives them grief over it.
The thing is you must be equipped to do what the lawn needs. If you have a acre lawn loaded with weeds you will not make a dime using a hand can, you need the equipment to do blanket sprays if needed.
Go get certified, it isn't that hard and then develop your program that best suits your customers and your business.

Granular momentum? you also dont need a 100 gallon tank sprayer to make money. Although i do have one

 

Who uses squrt bottles?

Here in the south we use super soakers, not a regular super soaker, but a super soaker 3000.

Give it a whirl.

 

I'm not going to bash on the 'squeeze bottle' comment.
I will address the original question.... Giving an exact estimate without seeing the property is risky for the contractor. Giving an exact estimate with snow on the ground is borderline rediculous. Yes, one could quote a price
per k, acre, etc. but measuring a property that is snow covered is absured. And giving specific advice regarding the needs of turf that cannot be seen is ametuer. Sales, however, is the hallmark of any large, successful company.

 

Just like Robertsturf said, they are a very professional company around here. They are reasonably priced & provide quality services.

As for the spot spraying, I have no issues w/ doing spot treatments. The only reason for a blanket is when the lawn has scattered weeds & there are too many to spot spray. If I remember correctly, one of the training sessions I went to actually recommended this procedure.

 

I'm not going to bash on the 'squeeze bottle' comment.
I will address the original question.... Giving an exact estimate without seeing the property is risky for the contractor. Giving an exact estimate with snow on the ground is borderline rediculous. Yes, one could quote a price
per k, acre, etc. but measuring a property that is snow covered is absured. And giving specific advice regarding the needs of turf that cannot be seen is ametuer. Sales, however, is the hallmark of any large, successful company.

I can get a pretty good idea of the size of the lawn just by seeing the property lines & estimating actual square footage. If anything I will be a little high because I couldn't see some landscaping. If they agree to the price, then no foul.

 

Yes carcrz, one could get a feel for the total sq. ft. of turf by seeing the property lines. Locally there is a foot of snow on the ground. There are no visible property lines. I am familiar with some neighborhoods, and yes, I could ballpark a price. However, I could not do this without viewing the property and I surely couldn't give advice on the specific needs of the turf. These are my points with regard to the original question. But, as stated in my previous post, sales are key. If a company can make a sale with 12-16 inches of snow on the ground, good for them. I might get away with it on a 1/4ac. lot, but when I recieve a call for an estimate on a 30ac. campus/complex, I sure as heck better be able to see the turf and property lines.

 

if your doing a 30 acre property/campus they usually have the square footage already.

Not saying you shouldnt see clear ground but they more than likely have a grounds map with the sq ft on it

 

I agree, most large properties can tell you the size of the total property. Not neccesarily the exact turf area. I just think pricing over the phone can be tricky at best, and estimating a property with excessive snow on the ground is equally difficult. Sales are sales. I don't begrudge those who do either, but it is clearly a SALES approach. If one cannot see the turf, he cannot give specific advice on its needs. As a matter of disclosure, I only work on two properties in excess of 30ac. One is 6ac. turf, the other 8ac. Basically they're large concrete fields.

 

I think big lawns fields are much easier to figure out because there are usually less obstacles to figure in. Sometimes if there isn't a lot of landscaping, I just figure the total parking & building sq footage & subtract that from the total square footage. Since there is 30 acres, the extra landscaping will be a minimal part of the overall cost, unless there are large lanscaped areas or courtyards.

 

"I'd like to know how they do an Estimate/quote with 3 feet of snow on the ground."

Above is the original question submitted by Vikings...
I agree that figuring out sq. footage is simple. I don't agree that It can be done with excessive snow on the ground. Three feet of snow hides everything one must see and know about a property to submit an educated estimate. Property size is virtually irrelevant when the entire property is covered in snow. Also, my concrete field statement was more of a joke.
I mean, 30ac. property and only 6ac. of turf?? That's alot of concrete!