Price on mowing job

[xandrew245x]

Hey guys, I haven't been on for a long time, been really busy with everything else. Someone stopped by the other day and asked if I could mow a lawn this year, he did it for his neighbor and wants out of it now, so he was helping the old lady find someone to do it. I know the property, driven by it a million times, it is a little over a half acre of mow able area, its has a lot of obstacles to mow and trim around and some banks to push mow. On top of it she wants it bagged. This job is similar to one I did last year and charged $40 for and took me close to an hour to complete. I gave her an estimate of $40-50 a week, she immediately said that was to much and couldn't afford it, she would call me back and let me know, i highly doubt i am going to be doing it. I figured with the extra trimming and push mowing plus bagging it was going to cost at least $40. Do you think I over bid the price, or was i right on?

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Carlisle Lawn Care

[SNethercutt]

Lawn care business tips

Well, I would pass that up. No way. $40 to drive to the job, have to stop and bag every so often, push mow, trim and blow..... haul off and spend time unloading bags... 40 is a little low to me. But my prices have been in question here. Have you tried explaining to her the benefits of not bagging?

[xandrew245x]

I haven't talked to her since that day, she asked if I bagged, so I am assuming she wants it bagged. Her place is less than a mile from mine so its not a far drive.

[willshome]

1/2 acre bagged for $40 that is cheap, very cheap
The neighbor is getting out of doing it because it's a lot of work
I would give price with and without bagging

[tk4454]

i have an elderly lady whose lawn i mow for 35 and she seems to think i overcharge her, i think old timers just think 40 bucks is alot of money, but obviously they havent shopped around. On that job i kind of do it as a good deed, takes an hour between 2 people i pay a guy 10, and i make 25 so its not to much to complain about.

[wat5150]

You def didnt over bid. $40 sounds cheap to me. Pass on it.

[xandrew245x]

I told her $40-50, i explained to her it will depend on how long it takes me because its really hard for me to estimate with all the obstacles in the yard, but I was thinking more towards the $50 range.

I know if she calls another company their price is probably going to be higher, i am the closest company to her. The only thing that could happen is she either finds some young kid to do it for a couple bucks, or a relative.

I don't really mind for doing it cheaper since she is elderly, but I can't go to low.

I was kinda surprised, i have had quite a few people I don't know asking about my lawn care business, not asking for service but they knew about it. I guess word of mouth is the best advertisement, because I have done very little advertisement.

I am interested in maybe doing a few yards this year so I have considered putting an add in the local newspaper.

[willshome]

Originally Posted by xandrew245x

I told her $40-50, i explained to her it will depend on how long it takes me because its really hard for me to estimate with all the obstacles in the yard, but I was thinking more towards the $50 range.

I would be careful bidding mowing with a 25% price range. It's one thing with jobs that you have to start to see if there is something hiding under something. Walk the lawn and really think about how much work it will be, what mower you will use where.....

Originally Posted by xandrew245x

The only thing that could happen is she either finds some young kid to do it for a couple bucks, or a relative.

you will never make a living trying to match their prices. You will not get every job and you don't need every job

[ratchetmaster2]

Originally Posted by willshome

I would be careful bidding mowing with a 25% price range. It's one thing with jobs that you have to start to see if there is something hiding under something. Walk the lawn and really think about how much work it will be, what mower you will use where.....

I agree. This is a very hard skill to master. But you must become good at it to be successful.

I agree with the other posters here. $40, even $50 is an very low price for maintaining 1/2 acre.
I typically charge $35-$50 for managing 1/4 acre houses. I will admit, I live in a more wealthy area, but it's still work.

Sometimes I don't mind dropping my price a bit for a yard. If it's a person who might need the price break. It gives me an opportunity to practice my skills. Helps me get better at trimming, using my edger, and it's fun to see how well you can stripe the lawn.
Sometimes my schedule needs filler.

How about you do this: tell her you'll do it for $45 if she gives you 2 referrals. I'm sure she knows a lot of neighbors and bingo friends

[grass guru]

$40 seems low to me. If you bag it, you can figure double the labor for taking the time to bag it, load the clippings in a truck/trailer, or a bag if you do it that way, then you have the cost of the bags, or the fact that you have to unload it if on truck/trailer, and pay disposal fee if you dont have free dump site.
I would explain the benefits of mulching, and if you bag it, it just goes into a "landfill". Give her 2 prices, one inflated w/bagging, and the other being your normal rate for just mowing. Unless her lawn is ridiculously thick, anda fast grower, there is no need to bag. Im wondering if she wants it bagged because the last guy didnt do it regularly, and it wohld get too overgrown, and need to be bagged.