Larger mulch Job

[Reed Landscaping]

Went to look at a large mulching and weeding job today and oh boy this is a head scratcher!! I walked the areas where the home owner wanted to weed and mulch the beds and measured out around 26 yards. The beds have a great amount of weeds and they need to be re defined.
Talking to the homeowner I told her it would be $95 a yard and she gave me that look... She then went the route well what if we bought the material and you just threw the mulch and did the weeding. What y’all think about the rate and is this something just to pass on?

 

[kemco]

I'd be perfectly fine on that at $80 x 26 estimated yards. As long as they brought the material and dropped it where I told them to. Extra time charge for extra material moving. With weeding and definition of probably be closer to $110 a yard to begin with. And I'm usually a cheaper one on here.

 

[Youngandfree]

Were you going to weed it all and spread mulch for $95/yard? How are you planning to weed it?

 

[Reed Landscaping]

Closing my eyes and hoping the weeds are gone when I open them!! Hahaha.. It’s in a rural area and $100 + a yard isn’t happening because people just won’t pay. That’s why I’m thinking $95 to get as much as possible and if they don’t bite then just move onto to the next bid.

 

[Reed Landscaping]

Were you going to weed it all and spread mulch for $95/yard? How are you planning to weed it?

Yes, mulch and weeding.

 

[jeffie b]

I don’t want to sound arrogant but on a job that size it would be done my way or someone else could have it.

 

[Youngandfree]

Closing my eyes and hoping the weeds are gone when I open them!! Hahaha.. It’s in a rural area and $100 + a yard isn’t happening because people just won’t pay. That’s why I’m thinking $95 to get as much as possible and if they don’t bite then just move onto to the next bid.

What do you pay for mulch? I can get dyed for $30 and natural for $22/yard. I charge $110 & $100/yard to provide and spread. That leaves $65-$70 for labor and profit. That doesn't account for bed prep. I don't know how much weeding there is to be done. But you will have to cover those areas twice basically. Weeding then hauling and spreading mulch. I'd still be close to your $95/yard with customer providing the mulch. I'm not sure your strategy for weeding, but a weed hoe that looks like s stirrup on a stick goes fairly quickly.

 

[Reed Landscaping]

Thanks for the info, I was thinking a weeding hoe of some sort to take care of the weeds. I’m going to price high and see if they bite even though they will probably laugh!! Got to love wealthy people always can do it for cheaper.

 

[Mac-s Lawn & Snow]

Stick with your pricing- this sounds like a job that needs lots of prep and the HO wants it done cheap. All those weeds they haven't done anything about will be a problem for some time to come.

 

[Mark Stark]

I understand the want and need to get jobs but you need to charge what you have to to make money.