Emergency!

[CHEESE2009]

Alright, I have 20-ish leaf removal jobs to complete. I have had the worst of luck getting them done. I managed to tackle 20 or so already, though I am running out of time. This weather has been very crummy, and winter is near. I WILL NOT be able to get these jobs finished...... what do I do? I could write a formal letter explaining the uncompleted services will postpone next year, though this is no good. It's at the point I'm getting phone calls where everyone wants first priority and I've just about had it! One job can take me anywhere to 25 minutes to 2.5 hours - I've done all the quicker jobs, though I have quite a few bigger jobs left to do. I have to have my trailer in storage soon (i forget the date). What am I to do? It's been wet every day, and people have hired me specifically for the end of season leaf removal service I had advertised. My customers will not all understand my excuse, "have we had a day without rain? No!" so I'm kind of stuck.

__________________
Keeper of Peace
Security Officer Cheese2009
Gopher Security Central (G.S.C)
4th Floor, office 112

[picframer]

Lawn care business tips

Spring for what you can't do, it rained every day last week and calls for rain until Thursday, I have over 60 emails from people with flooding but there is so much water in the truck ruts on the highway, I will not move the gear and the ground is so wet it would just be a mess anyhow

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Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia

[Steve]

Scott,

What do you think caused this? Was it just taking on too many customers for cleanups or was it just the weather got worse than you expected?

Could you get a temp worker or two and just bang out the rest of the jobs as quick as possible? Or what is your view?

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Steve

Scott,

What do you think caused this? Was it just taking on too many customers for cleanups or was it just the weather got worse than you expected?

Could you get a temp worker or two and just bang out the rest of the jobs as quick as possible? Or what is your view?

In our case, even if I had the employee resources, we would not be able to offer the service, we have major flooding going on due to rain and it looks like rain all week so the yard care is pretty much shut down for the season, still lots of work but by the time it dries the snow will be flying. We haven't done a thing in a week except a few pressure washing jobs and even those are proving very hard due to the amount of rain, I have never seen a November like this in 22 years living here.

[wellbiz]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

Alright, I have 20-ish leaf removal jobs to complete.

I have had the worst of luck getting them done. I managed to tackle 20 or so already, though I am running out of time.

This weather has been very crummy, and winter is near.

I WILL NOT be able to get these jobs finished...... what do I do?


I could write a formal letter explaining the uncompleted services will postpone next year, though this is no good.

It's at the point I'm getting phone calls where everyone wants first priority and I've just about had it!


One job can take me anywhere to 25 minutes to 2.5 hours - I've done all the quicker jobs, though I have quite a few bigger jobs left to do.

I have to have my trailer in storage soon (i forget the date).

What am I to do? It's been wet every day, and people have hired me specifically for the end of season leaf removal service I had advertised.

My customers will not all understand my excuse, "have we had a day without rain? No!"

so I'm kind of stuck.

Scott,

Are there any other landscapers in the area you can partner with to get them done? I know it works for me if I get backed up on jobs. There are a few solo guys like myself who I can call for a day or two's worth of help if I need it. How about bringing on a couple friends or college kids, maybe try a employment agency to get you some help for a few days to finish them up. Even sub contract the job to a local company who might have less work.

The last thing you want to do is let down a customer and tarnish your rep. You might have to triage the appointments and handle your best customers and the easiest job first and then if you have too tell the others that they need to find another company to handle the job.

Jason

[CHEESE2009]

I'm not sure what to do yet.


I predicted that these jobs were able to get done - though the weather has been very unpleasant. It really ate up a lot of my time giving me nothing to work with.

It's dry now, so tomorrow I have to bust my arse.

It's a very stressful situation, as I am preparing myself to work for one of my family members who run a commercial snow removal service - at the same time I have to have my equipment in storage very soon (still didn't check the date).

I'm also procrastinating...... This is a big issue for me lately... The customers I have left to do are the ones who drive meinsane, so it feels like I'm going out of my way to help them. Though I understand it's business, it's just the way I feel and cannot help it. (don't read too much into this, I'm just trying to figure out who's the BEST out of my WORST customers).


I just hate the weather, I should have been done by now - yet of course I have to bust my arse and be rushed as usual.... I never get a break, and I'm sure none of us do either.

[Steve]

at the same time I have to have my equipment in storage very soon (still didn't check the date).

Is this a hard date? Where you need to put it somewhere and lock it up or is it flexible?

[xpertlawnman]

I only do leaf clean ups for my lawn customers, no exceptions. I know I lose some well needed cash at the end of the season, but the weather here gets too unpredictable this time of year. I used too to do one time cleanups and I was out in December trying to finsh them all up. I like to have all of my equipment cleaned up and stored by Thanksgiving.
This week is suppose to be very nice, everybody is getting there last cut/cleanup this week and I hope to be done for the season. I will be leaving next week open for any stragglers. On the last mowing I will mulch or bag the entire yard and clean out the beds a little bit. I will give the beds a better cleaning in the Spring.

[Steve]

I only do leaf clean ups for my lawn customers, no exceptions. I know I lose some well needed cash at the end of the season, but the weather here gets too unpredictable this time of year.

Do you find that as your schedule fills up with lawn care accounts, you simply don't want the extra work because you are not interested in taking on any more customers? Or what is your view on that?