First Time Bidder

[COWPOP]

Hello, I have a chance to bid on mowing that is need in a lcal city. The bid info came out this week, and I would like to look into bidding it. They have 50 lots that are a 1000sq ft each and 200 lots that are 5000 sq ft each. Also they want a price on trash removal from the lots, if any. The price on the trash removal is on a per ton bases,(this is something new) which I have to quote on also to complete the bid. I was thinking about bidding by the sq ft. .08 x 1000 = $80 x 50 = $ 4000 for the 1000sq ft lots and .05 x 5000 = $250 x 200 = $50,000 for the 5000sq ft lots. Is there is anyone that price there jobs by the sq ft? or should I bid it by time instead? Use the online calculator? I have a 60" zero and a 48" walk-behind. The trash clean up, I havn't a clue on how to bid it. What would be the best way to do this? The bids are to be opened May 23rd. Thanks.

[Liberty Landscaping LLC]

Lawn care business tips

Can you explain what the $250 for the 5k sq ft represents? Is that per a week of per a month? You multiplied .5 x 5000 to get that 250 what does the .5 represent? That would help. Do you have edging and weed eating on these locations? Is there any structures on the properties i.e. houses, sheds, garages? I am not sure what type of properties these are. Thanks.

__________________
Liberty Landscaping LLC
www.libertylndscpng.com
Woodbridge, NJ

[Fisher]

.05 X 5000 does = $250. I think if you're going to do a square footage price though that the square footage price should simply remain the same but with a minimum. If all these lots were close to one another I believe none of them would cost more for my regular minimum of $35. If I were to calculate by square foot then my multiplier would be .001125 per square foot and then I would add a flat $15 to accommodate the drive time load and unload time. If there are several lots close by to one another then the $15 would be the portion I would make adjustment to. Use of trimmer and blower I figure in at .01 each per LF and combined sometimes will figure a price on .03 per LF.

I would be bidding in my area at least .001125 x 5000 + $15 which would total only $20.65 per lot (even with my alternate higher footage rate that I use for difficult lawns .0025 would be 27.50) which in turn would push me to just use a minimum charge of $35 and I doubt that I would get the contract for the 1000 sft lots at that price so you would want to adjust accordingly. Can't price these on time unless you want to count your drive, load and unload time as that is where the most of your time will be spent.

[shadrach]

How often are they to be mowed?

[COWPOP]

Thanks everyone,
I am sorry for not being more clear. .05 is for 5 cents per square foot. Some guys in my area are getting 8 cents a square foot for residental mowing, some are charging $65 an hour.
Mowings are every three weeks or as needed per city management. Some with homes and some not. There would be weed eating.
Thanks

[COWPOP]

After reading the contract as far as how often these lots are to be mowed. Per contract, the work performed is on, an as requested, by city management.
Contract will be for a year.
Thanks again

[Steve]

So basically they can let the grass grow to whatever height they want and then call you to service it and you would have to cut it for the same price whether the lawn is 6" tall or 3 feet tall?

Is there anyway you can copy and paste the text of the contract in here so we can see it or attach it?

[COWPOP]

Hey Steve,
The contract is 27 pages. If I am reading it right when the grass is 10 inches tall is when the property owners get a citation from the city and if thay dont have it mowed, then that is when we would be called and given a work order with the information.
Thanks

[COWPOP]

Steve,
Here is an attachment. I hope it works.
Thanks

Roanoke Mowing Bid And Inf.pdf

[Steve]

The contract is 27 pages. If I am reading it right when the grass is 10 inches tall is when the property owners get a citation from the city and if thay dont have it mowed, then that is when we would be called and given a work order with the information.

But ultimately, we don't know how on top of things they will be, right? They could call you at 10 in. or it could grow until a neighbor finally calls it in to complain and that could be however long?

My concern for you is that you could potentially get into something here that takes you away from making better profits with regular weekly lawn care customers.

This seems to be a big project with a lot of unknown variables. Does that concern you or do you feel it is worthwhile?