Good Morning All

[Steve]

Welcome to our forum! We have talked a little about this in the past and from what we have seen, to mow foreclosed properties, realtors trying to sell the property should be contacted and then the banks or mortgage companies that hold the mortgages. They will probably require you have commercial business insurance. What is your view on why you want to focus on such customers vs other neighbors down the street? Homeowners would probably pay you better and a lot faster than performing services for foreclosed homes.

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[blueskymowing]

Lawn care business tips

I started my business late in the season so when I got a call replying to a craigslist ad from a property management company offering me 30 lawns at $35 a piece every two weeks, I jumped at the opportunity. After some negotiating, I got 10 of the lawns up to $60 per cut due to the distance from my home. But then I saw what I was dealing with. I started the first week of June and almost none of the lawns had been cut this year, and some for two years. They were all jungles. Some of the grass was as tall as me (5'9"). These jobs were better suited for a bush-hog. But I refused to quit and I grabbed my cheap 25cc curved shaft weed eater and after about three weeks the first brutal round of cuts was complete. I tried to renegotiate the pay for the initial cut but was unsuccessful. One day after I had completed the first round, I got an email informing me that the price was dropping to $25 per lawn. I pleaded with the crooks but they knew they had me by the balls and wouldn't budge. But I still refused to quit. It's been about two months now and the jobs are much easier. I've upgraded my weed eater and am about to get some more equipment. I'm now hiring people to do the larger lawns while still bringing in a small amount of profit from them while I do the smaller, less time-consuming lawns. I now have 33 HUD lawns and I'm enjoying the work. But it's still not all roses. The company I have the contract with now owes me about $3300. They use the net30 payment process, which sucks. You get paid 30 days after you complete all the lawns, submit before/during/and after photos, and submit a spreadsheet with dates. I am still waiting for my pay check. I was told it was mailed 8 days ago. I have no credit cards and no money left so the jobs are on hold until I get paid. This whole thing has been very stressful and has required intense physical labor that only a crazy person would attempt for such low pay. I've heard many other stories where the people were paid fairly and the jobs weren't so terrible, I just don't have one to share with you. Overall, I'm glad I agreed to the deal, I've learned a lot and most of my bitterness will fade away once I start getting paid. I'd definitely take another deal like this if the pay was a little bit higher.

[Steve]

What a very interesting story!

Looking back on all this and your dealings with this company, if you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?

[LawnMoore]

Originally Posted by Steve

What a very interesting story!

Looking back on all this and your dealings with this company, if you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I agree, that was entertaining the way you worded it Better than Tv Sitcom!

I know what you mean there somewhat as i have been researching HUD Foreclosures and REO's as well, my partner instpects for MCS a huge middle man in the preservation business, this company however will give us the same routes and homes that he inspects since he has been with them 3 years now and has a 100% success rate with no late tickets etc.

My point is i am already seeing these yards because of his initial and monthly inspection pictures, and better yet MCS pays Bi-weekly instead of some who pay monthly as u say, and there are a few that pay quarterly! every 3 months OMG

Most of the ones i am seeing and he is telling me about are like u say, over 2 feet tall and some back yards are 4-5 feet tall!

I am eager to post my real time experience as well!

[blueskymowing]

If I had it to do over again I would have traded in my minivan and all other valuables for a dixie chopper.
But really, with the situation I was in, there wasn't much else I could do if I wanted to succeed. Starting out late in the season with very little investment money and no credit but bad credit left me in a tough spot. So when the crooks called, I jumped at the offer. I would take the offer again.
But I am still waiting for my 1st paycheck, I can't work because I have no cash for gas, I'm eating nothing but ramen noodles and eggo waffles, my rent is 3 weeks late, I frightened the postal worker yesterday when I lunged at her from behind the dumpster trying to find my paycheck, and the crooks are pushing me to finish by Wednesday. Also, I owe my helpers a good chunk of change and they're probably calling me awful names behind my back.
If the crooks weren't in Texas I could send somebody over to make them an offer they couldn't refuse but unfortunately all I can do is beg from Carolina.
I'll keep you updated on when/if I actually receive a paycheck.

here's one of the lawns before the first time I cut it

[Steve]

here's one of the lawns before the first time I cut it

It didn't come through. Can you repost it?