[ShooterK2]

I'm new to this business and was wondering what everyone else tries to accomplish in a leaf cleanup. I mean do you try to get every single leaf? Maybe I need to explain a little: I've been doing cleanups here and I bid for a certain amout of time, but then, once I get going I find myself taking way longer than I should because some leaves are small and stuck in the Bermuda and very difficult to blow out. I dunno. I am a solo, so I know I'm not gonna be super fast or anything, but I think maybe I'm trying to get things TOO perfect. Any thoughts?

 

[khutch]

I am not a big fan of clean-ups, because as a solo, I feel I can make more, and work less, just mowing. The key I've learned, is to establish a hourly wage you need to make. For me, mowing is the easiest, clean-ups, depending on the property are next, and trimming, time consuming and pretty work intensive, I prefer least.
On bidding cleanups, take the time you have learned it will take, maybe add 25% longer, and multiply it by a rate per hour higher than you are willing to mow for.
Then make sure the customer knows what they are paying for. I do not like to do super every single leaf clean-ups and most people seem to be happy w/something that looks much better after you have finished than before you started. Just be on the same page w/the customer - I often ask what kind of budget/what they want to spend then you have an idea what kind of job they want.

 

[ShooterK2]

Yeah, I think it's just something that I'm gonna have to overcome to make money in this business.....I've always tried to do everything "to the T" but I think I need to let a little slide in some situations.

 

[yardguy28]

i don't try to get "every single leaf" until the last service of the season. until then i just blow the leaves from the mulch/flower/rock beds into the turf, hook up my bagger and mow everything once NOT emptying the bag, once the bag is full it mulches everything up a little bit. then i make second pass over everything emptying the bag as it gets full and it does a very nice job i must say. IMO a little better sometimes than the trac vac i have for my smaller mower.

 

[Darryl G]

That's why I do all my cleanups hourly. There's a big difference time wise between getting 90% of the leaves out of the ground cover and 100% or here in the norhteast, getting every last acorn. If someone wants it done more detailed, no problem, but it's gonna cost.

 

[yardguy28]

i have set charges for my regular weekly services.

i usually still come weekly during the fall and it takes me maybe 15 min. more each property.

anything out of the ordinary gets charged hourly though.

 

[ShooterK2]

That's exactly what I was thinking, Darryl. I can get 90 to 95 percent of everything easily. It's that last 5 percent that bugs me. I guess I just need to let it go, but it's easier said than done. Gonna take some practice!
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[Darryl G]

Exceeding your cutomer's expectations by a little is good business, exceeding them by a lot isn't.

 

[Turf Commando]

That's why I do all my cleanups hourly. There's a big difference time wise between getting 90% of the leaves out of the ground cover and 100% or here in the norhteast, getting every last acorn. If someone wants it done more detailed, no problem, but it's gonna cost.

So true. However I may hire a group of squirls, it would be faster then blowing acorns...

 

[Lawn Pawn]

If the people seem decent, and you're by the hour.....

I just ask them... when you think you're OK to call it quits, have them come out an take a look. Ask if they want you to keep the meter running.

Seems to work well until you have worked for them long enough to understand their expectations.

 

[sdk1959]

That's why I do all my cleanups hourly. There's a big difference time wise between getting 90% of the leaves out of the ground cover and 100% or here in the norhteast, getting every last acorn. If someone wants it done more detailed, no problem, but it's gonna cost.

I agree 100%

In the Terms of Lawn Service my customer signs it states: "About 90% of the leaves from a yard can be removed from a yard and beds. Leaves embedded in shrubs, vines, underneath tight ground hugging plants or shrubs cannot be removed 100% with a rake and blower, some leaves will remain."

Never had a customer who had a problem with those terms.

 

[ShooterK2]

Thanks for the replies. Just knowing that this is the norm will ease my mind a lot.
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[ALC-GregH]

I let ANY customer I do a leaf cleanup on know up front that I WILL NOT get every leaf. I'll do the best I can to get as much as possible but to get every leaf would take forever. Especially the ones that are half composted already. They will be gone by spring anyway. At my own solo pace, I've made $100+ an hour on all the cleanups I've done and they couldn't be happier. The best part, I have a farm I can dump any and all grass and leaves at and the farm is close by to where a lot of my clients are. Little drive time and no dump fees.

 

[ShooterK2]

I also have a place to dump leaves/clippings for free, but it's a few miles outside of town. Still, it saves me a few bucks. I have a landscape trailer and I just fill it up, starting at the front and working toward the back, until there's barely enough room for the mowers. With the 4 ft. sides, I can get a lot in there before I have to dump.
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[yardguy28]

If the people seem decent, and you're by the hour.....

I just ask them... when you think you're OK to call it quits, have them come out an take a look. Ask if they want you to keep the meter running.

Seems to work well until you have worked for them long enough to understand their expectations.

how many clients are actually home when your servicing there property?

how many clients want to actually have to "babysit" the people they hire to do work for them.

i always remove 90% of the leaves each service anyway. about the only thing left from week to week is the one's that get stuck in the leaf catcher bushes (thats what i call them anyway.) i wait until the very last clean up to make the property prestine.

 

[Darryl G]

For my regulars, I just do the job and don't even discuss it when I'm done. For one time cleanup customers, a lot of the time they are watching and will actually come out with a check before I'm even done. If not, I will usually know and ask them to walk the lawn with me in case I missed anything, not being familiar with their property. Most of the time they don't bother and just write the check.

Have you ever seen what a property looks like after the average homeowner is done doing a leaf cleanup by themselves...it certainly wouldn't meet my standards. So in general, anything above and beyond what they could do themselves is going to get their approval, especially if you give it a final mow with the bagger on and leave a nice set of stripes.

 

[yardguy28]

For my regulars, I just do the job and don't even discuss it when I'm done. For one time cleanup customers, a lot of the time they are watching and will actually come out with a check before I'm even done. If not, I will usually know and ask them to walk the lawn with me in case I missed anything, not being familiar with their property. Most of the time they don't bother and just write the check.

Have you ever seen what a property looks like after the average homeowner is done doing a leaf cleanup by themselves...it certainly wouldn't meet my standards. So in general, anything above and beyond what they could do themselves is going to get their approval, especially if you give it a final mow with the bagger on and leave a nice set of stripes.

i bill A LOT of my clients. rarely do i find people who are home when i do work or even want me to come to the door so they can pay me. most people i come across want to be billed so i'm always left with doing the job and heading to the next.

on one time jobs i require 50% before i start the job (one time jobs is where i've had people stiff me). so sometimes there home when i come because they'll pay me the 50% before i start. but even on one timers they'll mail me either 50% or all of it before i start the work.

 

[Darryl G]

I don't get advances from people on jobs that don't require materials anymore. I find once they send an advance they expect the job done instantly. And since my one timers take a back seat to my regulars, they can be a pain about it. I usually only service a few one timers a year and it seems they're usually home...only did 3 last season and all were there when I did the jobs...left with checks for the full amount. Actually one paid me $300 even though I only asked for $250...my kind of customer.

 

[yardguy28]

I don't get advances from people on jobs that don't require materials anymore. I find once they send an advance they expect the job done instantly. And since my one timers take a back seat to my regulars, they can be a pain about it. I usually only service a few one timers a year and it seems they're usually home...only did 3 last season and all were there when I did the jobs...left with checks for the full amount. Actually one paid me $300 even though I only asked for $250...my kind of customer.

that'd be nice......

by one timers take back seat to my regulars as well. but i did have a few to many that stiffed me. of course i've since collected from them through a collection agency but to avoid future problems i require at least 50% before any work is done. they can either send me a check in the mail or if they want i can try and show up when they are home and collect half before i start the job and the rest after. this way i at least get half my money. if they don't want to pay the 50% ahead then they are more than welcome to find someone else