Tom-N-Texas
LawnSite Senior Member
- Location
- ft worth texas
to describe how much I hate leaf cleanups. Every year I tell myself I'm never doing this crap again. Then...like the freaking wimp I am, I get sucked right back into it...only to regret.
I know there are tons of outfits around town running from leafjob to leafjob....but I honestly don't know how they're making any money.
First of all pricing is unbelieveably fierce, with everyone wanting to make a last buck before Christmas. But even if you get the job there's tons of negatives:
1) You have to work your ass off harder than ever...not to mention throwing your back out and filling your lungs with leaves and dirt. Also you have to work twice as long for half the money as regular mowing.
2) Leaf jobs quickly RUIN 21" mowers -- or at the very least -- clog their carbuerators, despite regular filter cleanings. Blowers are aged as well.
3) Hazardous....the potential for running over something hidden under the leaves is incredible. (Can you say 3" tree stump? I knew you could!)
Most potential customers just have NO IDEA how long it take to clean leaves up. Often when I give a price I'm met with a startled, insulted look. To ease their shock, I look at them in the eye and ask them how much they'd honestly charge if they were bidding this job! Usually this leads to them saying that they're "getting quotes and will get back to me." This, of course, is just code for "you just wasted your time and gas driving over here."
I could go on but I won't. Merry Christmas everyone! Tom
I know there are tons of outfits around town running from leafjob to leafjob....but I honestly don't know how they're making any money.
First of all pricing is unbelieveably fierce, with everyone wanting to make a last buck before Christmas. But even if you get the job there's tons of negatives:
1) You have to work your ass off harder than ever...not to mention throwing your back out and filling your lungs with leaves and dirt. Also you have to work twice as long for half the money as regular mowing.
2) Leaf jobs quickly RUIN 21" mowers -- or at the very least -- clog their carbuerators, despite regular filter cleanings. Blowers are aged as well.
3) Hazardous....the potential for running over something hidden under the leaves is incredible. (Can you say 3" tree stump? I knew you could!)
Most potential customers just have NO IDEA how long it take to clean leaves up. Often when I give a price I'm met with a startled, insulted look. To ease their shock, I look at them in the eye and ask them how much they'd honestly charge if they were bidding this job! Usually this leads to them saying that they're "getting quotes and will get back to me." This, of course, is just code for "you just wasted your time and gas driving over here."
I could go on but I won't. Merry Christmas everyone! Tom