"Strategic Service Partners" amongst ourselves

[Fisher]

I am sure that about half of us do work as a sub or service partner for some larger company that gets the work finds us in the area and has us do it at a much lower cost than they are charging. Lately I have been receiving more calls about REO's directly and not from my local agents or some other property preservation company. I hate when I sometimes have to inform them that they are out of our service area. Even though the initial services and other non lawn/landscape related issues may make it worth getting to these properties, the long term maintenance would not be as beneficial. The last call I received yesterday was in regards to a foreclosed property that was 67 miles away which is just 17 miles out of our overall service area. I told the guy that I believe it is out of our service area, but to give me a day to confirm I can't handle this for him. I feel that even if I can't service the property that if he knows I can get it done then the chances of them calling back with something perhaps closer to us would be so much grater. So, I attempted to contact a member here that is only about 20-30 minutes from the property. Though I have not heard back as of yet I feel that even if he can't do initial services that he could maintain the property after we performed initial service and repairs and I would still keep my position as the go to guy for this owner. This leads me back to the referral issue that I've already seen talked about on here so often. I think it would be great if we networked among our selves. If we had a better page thread where we had our services and service locations listed, that next time instead of us just flat out turning down the work we could inform them that though they are out of our area that we have service partners that may be able to handle their work. Leaving each of as as the person who can get things done. I know we all may think that this opens up a whole other liability issue as if you're the go to guy, you'll also be the one they go to when the person you found on here in that area runs over a sprinkler head or something. I thing we all could work this out amongst ourselves whether we would put each other directly into contact with the owner/manager or if the person contacted would do all the billing and pay the third party themselves as I'm sure some are not as adjusted to waiting a month for some jobs to pay. Anyhow, I'm in Tennessee and about 30 minutes west of Nashville. The call I received was located in Portland. Does any one service that area on here? Also in the past I've received calls for West, East and Middle Tennessee that were simply out of area. If in Tennessee what areas do you cover or could have covered for you? Steve, If response seems favorable on this subject (though I know there is the meet and greet section) what could we do to have state headed threads or logs where we could enter this information and say just click on Tennessee and see all those here located in TN (that would participate) and what areas they cover as well as services provided.

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Last edited by Fisher; 07-30-2011 at 03:04 PM.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

This sounds like a great idea. Let me know your feedback on this new section.

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[Rodriguez11]

I really like the networking idea and I would really like to help out guys on the site. My parents company is a Facility Maintenance company located here in Alabama. They recently took over a regional contract for Dollar generals and Blockbusters, approx. 500 stores in 3 states. Currently all the stores are being maintained on a regular basis but it would be awesome if maybe next year when they get more I could post up what stores need to be picked up so we here at least know we have someone that is going to take good care of the properties

[Steve]

That is fascinating!

Have they taught you about the basics of commercial estimating? Do any of the lessons stand out that you could share here?

[Rodriguez11]

As of right now I know that they pay out $50 a property for dollar general and blockbuster. They are getting only $65 per property because they took over the contract from a California based Facility Maintenance company. I do know that she will be negotiating the contract for next year and plans to pay out 65 a property. I currently have 6 dollar generals and 4 blockbusters ranging from literally 5 minutes up to 1 hour. And because it's like a "bulk" type thing it's basically take 10 at $50 or do not take any, for now. Next year will be different

[Steve]

What makes for the varying difference in time it takes to do these different properties?

Do you clean up parking lot debris too?

[mowman1970]

Originally Posted by Rodriguez11

As of right now I know that they pay out $50 a property for dollar general and blockbuster. They are getting only $65 per property because they took over the contract from a California based Facility Maintenance company. I do know that she will be negotiating the contract for next year and plans to pay out 65 a property. I currently have 6 dollar generals and 4 blockbusters ranging from literally 5 minutes up to 1 hour. And because it's like a "bulk" type thing it's basically take 10 at $50 or do not take any, for now. Next year will be different

I can only hope that your parent's company is nothing like the company in California. They just completely screwed me out of about $550. What is funny about it, is they lied to me about what happened and in talking to a friend, found out his brother was given the contracts and he didn't know that I had been doing them prior to his aquiring them.

[Rodriguez11]

Parking lots are the responsibility of the store manager. Only thing that has to be cleaned is the actually grass areas. The time variance is just mowing size, I have one that is in the downtown area here that is literally and 10x10 area that i hit with a weedeater and get my sign off, others involve a little more time..

Mowman, what areas to your service? Are we talking about the same company? We may be able to get you back into doing some properties next season. Contract ends in November