Funny Story

[CHEESE2009]

So I get a call from this guy, he tells me he doesn't have much grass so I tell him I'll have a look at it. I go go his house the next day, no one is home. Perfect. I walk around the house and this guy seriously has no grass. 770 feet. I charge $420/3900 feet So I do, 770 divided by 3900 = 0.197 * 420 = $82.00 The price is too small, so instead I wrote down that the price I'm willing to do it for is, $175.00 I get a call in the evening & he tells me the price is great, and; Guy: So where are you? Scott: I'm at my woman's on King street Guy: Oh no way, I used to live on Graham! (a block a way) Scott: I live on Graham! Guy: No way! Up or near the park? Scott: I'm on Graham & Balzac. Guy: NO WAY, I lived on Graham & Balzack! Scott: Really?! What house? Guy: 4429! Scott: I'm 4426! YOU WERE MY NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET! Guy: YES!!!! I remember you! Winter 1998, I was talking to your mom & all of a sudden a tree fell on her car! That was basically our conversation... It's so WEIRD that he was my neighbor! I wonder what his daughter looks like now lol - Good News: I got a call back from the church I was willing to do, & I got it for next year. I also have to get ready to visit my winter customer who wants me to take a stop by his house and tell him about how Breeze Lawn Service works. Then Monday I have a gutter cleaning job to do.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Isn't it fantastic! We all know people and when we market to those we know, our sales process becomes easier and our success rates go up. Good job!

__________________
- Subscribe to my Lawn Care Marketing Blog Feed and get daily tips sent to you. Free!
Download your Free trial of Gopher Lawn Care Software.

[CHEESE2009]

So I made my visit to one of my snow removal customers & he's going to hire me once another company does a few tasks that I'm not able to do.

We walked around the house & when I spotted things, I let him know if I was able to do them or not.

So I have the fun job of fixing his backyard walkway.

I plan to remove his stepping stones, clean them off. Rip out all the weeds that were bugging him, which were poking out through the stones. Then I flip the soil & level it out, put down "landscaping paper?" , then putting the stones back in place.

Then I have to dig out a foot around the pool, install the "landscaping paper" & install guards. Then he will purchase the stones & I'll make it beautiful.

I can't wait to take before & after pictures!


The job I couldn't do:

He showed me his tree, the roots were taking over his front lawn & he wanted them to be buried & covered with sod.

I've put down sod before, but through the company I worked for previously & I wasn't able to estimate the price, so instead of screwing myself over, I told him I'd find someone to do it for cheap.

[Steve]

This is great! You are really rolling now!

I've put down sod before, but through the company I worked for previously & I wasn't able to estimate the price, so instead of screwing myself over, I told him I'd find someone to do it for cheap.

What about this was the tough part for you? With the free online calculators, we can figure out how much soil you would need. Then you could add a mark up to the soil and finally you could guesstimate the time it would take to install the soil and you would get a pretty good idea.

What's your view on this?

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Steve

This is great! You are really rolling now!



What about this was the tough part for you? With the free online calculators, we can figure out how much soil you would need. Then you could add a mark up to the soil and finally you could guesstimate the time it would take to install the soil and you would get a pretty good idea.

What's your view on this?

I guess in my mind I'm too worried about charging my customer for extra jobs, I don't want to be viewed by him as a wallet attacker, lol.

I make my service extremely affordable because I like the guy, I don't charge by the effort I put into my work, I charge for the cost of the supplies I need & a bit extra to call it a day.

For his walkway & pool, I'm only charging $100.00, others would & could charge a lot more.

I was in renovations for a bit & my boss then charged the guy $600.00 for the same type of job, I would feel guilty doing such a thing.

It takes time sure, effort of course, but in the end it's a great job to do & as long as I profit no matter how big or small, I will feel like I've done a good job.

So once again I charged $100.00

Supplies I'll need:

Weed Stop paper $30.00
(you put it down to prevent weeds from rising upwards into your garden or walkway)

50 ft border for around his pool $20.00
(usually you put this around your garden)

, so for my time & effort, I make $50.00

My plan for charging low is for me to work hard & professional, so I'm not there all day, in the end I will benefit.

I should be done before 3 hours.

It also gives me time to warm up, and practice without feeling guilty if something goes wrong (which wont ) lol

Overall, he caught me off guard & I wanted to give him an estimate before anyone else.

[Steve]

I think you are doing a great job and you are learning a lot!

I can see big things coming your way.

[CHEESE2009]

I did a cleanup last night for a customer.

And already I have 2 customers on the SAME STREET, BOOYAH!

This Week:

Gutter Cleaning
Guard/Border Installing for pool
Brick Laying
Spring Cleanup

Problem:
Thursday is the only day without rain for 2 weeks lol

So my profit on Thursday; $200.00

-$200.00 because the woman wants to go out on the weekend. Lol

[Steve]

This Week:

Gutter Cleaning
Guard/Border Installing for pool
Brick Laying
Spring Cleanup

Look at all these services you are offering! This is great! You are becoming the goto guy for property maintenance in your area.

[Ducke]

It seems to be going around.
I was out the other week doing snow removal when a neighbor came over and asked about mowing their lawn as all the lawns are the same on this street i gave him a price and he said yes lets go for it. So one more lawn on this street that make 5 in a row. Then the other day I was out doing a driveway and the guy across the street asks me to look at the wooded area in his back yard there was a lot of old trees down and a load of big branches he wanted removed so I gave him a price and got the job, he said you do Jone's and Smith's lawns don't you and I said yes so he asked if I would do his as well that now makes 6 house on that street, Man I love it when they fall in your lap.
Scott if we keep this up were going to have to whole eastern seaboard locked up.

[mark123]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

... 770 feet.

I charge $420/3900 feet

So I do, 770 divided by 3900 = 0.197 * 420 = $82.00

The price is too small, so instead I wrote down that the price I'm willing to do it for is, $175.00 ...

$175? How many mowings does that cover?