New lawn care business

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by xandrew245x I defiantly like checks, not fighting you there <3 I'm a lover, not a fighter. LOL

[xandrew245x]

Lawn care business tips

I have a good question that maybe someone could answer. The house across the street from me was for sale, until the guy committed arson and burned the house to the ground. The house has been sitting empty for months and the grass is close to 4' high. I know it is bank owned now, and I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon, so someone should really be taking care of the grass. How would I find out what bank owns the house so I can contact them and see if I can get some business.

[LawnBoy0311]

someone PLEASE feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on this one...here is what I understood about bank owned properties. A lawn care company works with the banks to maintain the property. Some lawn care companies subcontract it out if they aren't in the area. I'm guessing its like bidding a commercial contract?? It seems like a lot of pain in the *** work to find out the bank that financed the property, but who knows. Maybe it could pay off in the end. Afterall, the banks can't sell the property to recoup the $$ if it looks like hell in the front yard. Not to mention city/county violations for long grass.

[xandrew245x]

They will never sell the property looking the way it does, and I know they are violating the rule for grass height in our township. Its right across the street and would take me maybe an hour to regularly maintain, thats pretty easy money for me, and I will probably be able to do it for a couple years, I really don't see that house going anywhere.

[xandrew245x]

I have another question, I'm only doing this part time, I work a full time job 7:30-4, I'm sure others are in the same situation. How many clients do you think I could handle on my own.

Also whats a good form of advertising. I have made a pretty nice add on craigslist, put my business in the yellowpages and made some door hangers with my business card attached that my friend is going to hand out this week. I also plan to put a 14 day add in the newspaper, which I have read gets some pretty great returns. Anyone have some other good ideas for advertising that actually works well?

[Grass Doctor]

To avoid clients not wanting to pay you, you need to only accept post-dated checks.[/quote]

[xandrew245x]

So I'm doing my first real job this week, all my clients so far have been family and friends. It is going to just be a one time mow no trimming, but I will be blowing the grass off the driveway. It is about a 3 minute drive from my house, his yard is about 20k sq feet, and is pretty easy to mow. About how much should I charge? I was thinking $25 dollars.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

everywhere is different with prices. You really need to figure out your cost and the going rate in your area. I would charge $50-$60 if that helps.

[xandrew245x]

Originally Posted by SECTLANDSCAPING

everywhere is different with prices. You really need to figure out your cost and the going rate in your area. I would charge $50-$60 if that helps.

That seems pretty steep for a job that would take me only about a half hour to do.

I tried the calculator and it said to only charge 12.50 for the job. I think an easy way for me to do quotes would aim for a certain amount of money made an hour. So if i'm looking to make 25-30 an hour, I should really only charge him about $20, I then have my mothers house to mow which only takes me about 45 mins and I only charge her $25, so thats almost $45 an hour.

I'm really not sure about estimating and pricing, but i'm sure I'll figure it out eventually.

[Grass Doctor]

chearge the client 40.00 them ur mom 20.00 thats 60.00 an hour