3/4 Acre Residential

[lxarth]

So I just took a look at a customers lawn. As you can tell from the title, it's huge. My normal jobs are just your average residential lawn around 2,000 sq-ft. With my largest around 8,000. So all I use is just push mowers. To get this job, I would have to go buy a riding mower, or a larger walk behind. I'm not opposed to getting a larger mower, as long as I can use it at other jobs. So I guess I have a few problems. If I get a larger mower, what size should I get? And then...what should I bid this job. It's not a field mowing job, it's a residence, so I has to look nice. Also, I would have to bag, or otherwise remove the clippings. And this first job is bad. Been a few weeks, so the grass is thick and tall, and the weeds are long too. The unfortunate part is that they don't want to use chemicals, so all those weeds are just gonna stay. But either way...what should I do?

[thom]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by lxarth So I just took a look at a customers lawn. As you can tell from the title, it's huge. My normal jobs are just your average residential lawn around 2,000 sq-ft. With my largest around 8,000. So all I use is just push mowers. To get this job, I would have to go buy a riding mower, or a larger walk behind. I'm not opposed to getting a larger mower, as long as I can use it at other jobs. So I guess I have a few problems. If I get a larger mower, what size should I get? And then...what should I bid this job. It's not a field mowing job, it's a residence, so I has to look nice. Also, I would have to bag, or otherwise remove the clippings. And this first job is bad. Been a few weeks, so the grass is thick and tall, and the weeds are long too. The unfortunate part is that they don't want to use chemicals, so all those weeds are just gonna stay. But either way...what should I do? Their is no simple answer to the question of equipment.Buy what you can afford.Buy what you think you can use on other jobs. Your quote needs to be in the "market". My guess would be $35.00 to start,if it were an open field and you have a large mower.special requirements will add to the quote. I dont know of a good method to predict what your time should be on this job. What ever quote you give them,stick with it,you can always increase it next year.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

I would charge $60-80 for this maybe more depending on overgrowth.

Get a bigger mower if you dont youll run into this problems again. Every piece of equipment is a investment. You never know when your going to need it or how often but when you do its there.

Find a cheap 48"-52" walk behind. It shouldnt be hard to find one for under a $1000. You might even find a homeowner ZTR for that price.

[WeekendWarriorLawn]

check your craigslist for used gear. here in town there's a 48" walk behind for 225.

not too shabby to start up with. even if it needs a little maintenance to keep it going - thats the nature of the beast anyway, cars, trucks, anything mechanical.


so check your local and surrounding area CL ads, man. the first year is just a stepping stone. leave no room for quitting. this is what you have to do to make ends, afterall. you're a business man now. i get more confident each and every day out there in this game. bought a brand new mower just to add to the fleet, runs perfect for mama over here. it's an investment, like sect said. invest in your future. dont take out of your kids mouths though. if youre going to miss the rent or mortgage payment because you dont have the work yet, grab a second or even third used push mower, get a few buddies and push that yard out if ya have to.

[willshome]

I just got a rider 33" zero turn used and wow great on small and large yards. Your not on your feet all day and it mows VERY fast
BTW $50 and up for 3/4 acre

[lxarth]

My guess would be $35.00 to start

Um...what? That's jsut above what I charge at 2,000 sq-ft.

What ever quote you give them,stick with it,you can always increase it next year.

If I lowball a bid, I would stop doing the work instead of loosing money for a year.

I would charge $60-80

I'm still amazed at only $80. Even with a 48". I'm still going to spend an estimated 100 minutes on the job. So bare minimum should be $100 a cut. But even at the price, there is just no way.

More realistically, with a 32", It's going to be more like 2.5 hours.

To WeekendWarriorLawn...I'm not new to this. But I live in the city, so my lawns are all 2,000 sq-ft. With some, those in the older parts, at a little larger. I don't have the equipment to handle a lawn of this size...but I'm not new to this business (just look at my join date)

if youre going to miss the rent or mortgage payment because you dont have the work yet, grab a second or even third used push mower, get a few buddies and push that yard out if ya have to. [sic]

So you are suggesting I hire someone to help me with this job, and then what? I won't make any money!

I'm totally blown away at prices this low, lol. At those prices I'm turning the job down on Monday.

I thanks you all for your input, but man-o-man there is no money is that lawn.

[shadrach]

How tall is the grass?
Are you saying it is .75 acres or 3 to 4 acres?

[thom]

Originally Posted by lxarth

Um...what? That's jsut above what I charge at 2,000 sq-ft.

If I lowball a bid, I would stop doing the work instead of loosing money for a year.

I'm still amazed at only $80. Even with a 48". I'm still going to spend an estimated 100 minutes on the job. So bare minimum should be $100 a cut. But even at the price, there is just no way.

More realistically, with a 32", It's going to be more like 2.5 hours.

To WeekendWarriorLawn...I'm not new to this. But I live in the city, so my lawns are all 2,000 sq-ft. With some, those in the older parts, at a little larger. I don't have the equipment to handle a lawn of this size...but I'm not new to this business (just look at my join date)

So you are suggesting I hire someone to help me with this job, and then what? I won't make any money!

I'm totally blown away at prices this low, lol. At those prices I'm turning the job down on Monday.

I thanks you all for your input, but man-o-man there is no money is that lawn.

What is the market rate for a 3/4 acre lawn in that area?

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Originally Posted by lxarth

U
I'm still amazed at only $80. Even with a 48". I'm still going to spend an estimated 100 minutes on the job. So bare minimum should be $100 a cut. But even at the price, there is just no way.

With a 52" I would be out of there in 45 minutes. I do most my acre properties under a hour. Even the lawn mowing calculator says 39 mins.

[shadrach]

If it is .75 acres hasn't been mowed for weeks and needs to be bagged, I don't see it being worth doing for less than 150. Could easily be more, depending on how tall it is. Also, they let it get in that shape so I wouldn't even consider buying a mower to do it unless I had a signed contract for the rest of the season.