possible extra work in your area

[FourSeasons]

I had a guy call me today from a company called Field Asset Services. They are based out of Austin ,Texas. He got my ad off of craigslist. I guess what they do is maintain foreclosed homes and get them ready to be sold for the banks that have forclosed on them. They make sure that the properties are presentable looking and everything on the inside and out is ready for the house to be sold. They contacted me wanting me to service and maintain several houses in my area. Unfortunately they were all just barely out of my service area. They also do winterizations on houses where they run antifreeze in the toilet and whatever else in suppose to be done. *They have one guy in my area contracted to work for them but he is way overloaded with work. He said about 50-60 houses to be taken care of. Thats why he was contacting me. So I thought I would share this with you guys. If your slow and need some work contact these people and maybe they have residential properties in your area they need somebody to do for them. They are nationwide I think. He said what they do is have you take before and after pics and send them to them to make sure the work is being done. And they will send someone out to train you on how to do the winterizaton service. Their website is www.fieldassets.com. Hope this helps some one out there.

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Rob
Green Image Lawn & Landscape

\"If you don't feel the same way about Friday nights as you do Sunday nights, then you are not doing the right thing.\"

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Very interesting stuff! How far away from you were these jobs?

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[Clean Lawn]

Thanks a ton fourseasons I'm going to check it out. We got a small pick up this week. Gained a new contract today, serviced another lawn with the potential to become a contracted customer and looks like we will be buying out a small lawn business of 13 accounts with the potential for a lot more leads in my area. We did some talk turkey today and I was the first person to make an offer and he was pleased with it and really has his stuff together. Seems to have a lot of work thrown his way but he is retiring and this is where we come in. Wish me lots and lots of luck. This is another day and a half of work for me putting me at 2 1/2 days work and we will be pushing almost 25 accounts for our first 4 months of business.
See I am reading what everyone says and putting it to good use. I set up a great new referal system, a webpage is going to be made this fall and not next spring, I am creating packages for lawn and landscaping work (which I will post once they are done because I want serious feedback on these) and I am pushing landscaping special prices off half off to get a new business some landscaping jobs (nothing yet but I just started it).
But thanks for the lead there has to be some in the Hampton Roads areas.

[FourSeasons]

The closest one was in Seattle and thats about 30 minutes from me with no traffic. Usually about a 45 min drive I guess depending what part. The rest were even farther south. I would've like to told him yes but its just not cost effective.

It would have been nice to get my foot in the door but he took all of my information and told me he'll contact me when houses come up in my area. I'll probably call him in a month or so.

He was also asking about snow removal. This seemed to be important to him also.

Thanks for the information, Fourseasons. I just sent them an email. I will post information as I get it.

[Steve]

Well maybe at the very least they can keep you in mind if opportunities present themselves more in your area.

[FourSeasons]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]looks like we will be buying out a small lawn business of 13 accounts with the potential for a lot more leads in my area. We did some talk turkey today and I was the first person to make an offer and he was pleased with it and really has his stuff together

How much are you paying for his 13 accts. I read some where that if they are not on contracts then each acct. is only good for what they are being charged for - for one month's services. I don't know about contracts though. I'm sure they're more valuable then.
I was just wodering. I've seen 2 people selling their lawn care businesses on craigslist. They were a little out of my price range. One guy wanted $6000 for 25 customers and his equipment.
Congratulations on the new customers though and good luck. I know thats got to be a relief. And your new truck to.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Well maybe at the very least they can keep you in mind if opportunities present themselves more in your area.

He sounded very interested in using my services later. I told him I was interested in the winterization service and asked him how would I get trained to do these.
He wanted to know what county I lived in, the zip code, and the main city where I live (besides Seattle). And he was going to check out the area I live in.
Not just whats your name and number. Alright thanks. And then you know you'll never here from them.

[FourSeasons]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Thanks for the information, Fourseasons. *I just sent them an email. *I will post information as I get it.

I was just thinkin you might want to call them and try to talk to someone there about your area and services. Its kind of like just leaving a flyer on someone's door. Most of the time they just look at it and put it to the side or discard it. You get a better response and a chance to sell your services when you talk to them in person or in this case on the phone.
They will probably find the pressure washing as a plus with your service.

True.... I'll call them... just couldn't do it last night at 2am...lol

[Clean Lawn]

$6000 for 25 accounts and equipment? Wow that is cheap. Basicly from everything I have read about buying accounts you can offer up to three months what the accounts are bringing in per month. The person I am talking with has a Z turn mower that is in great condition and only 2 years old, a 2 week old trailer (he paid $5700 for which was the biggest expense in buying from him), 2 backpack blowers, a push blower, push mower, 2 weed eaters, 1 stick edger, 1 billly goat lawn vacuum (this i like because i was going to buy one next year for fall clean-up), and 1 spreader. The accounts are all lawn service accounts and the current owner said they all pay for extra services...mulch, grass seeds, aeration, landscaping, etc...
But I would talk to the person selling his 25 accounts and equipment for the 6k. You could recoupe some of your costs in selling the equipment you do not need. We are going to sell the 2 week old trailer because we don't need it and that will be some of our cost.
This is the second business that has been for sale in my area. The first one I talked with the owner and he wanted $110,000 for a business, 2 new trucks and equipment that was worth $60,000-$70,000 and the $70,000 was if someone was feeling overly generous.
After reading a lot of what people were saying with Moseley Creek we are having our webpage done as soon as possible, revamped our referal service (which I think our customers are going to really like), working on lawn service and landscaping packages to push this spring and I want to really work on flier, postcards, etc... and push CleanLawn over and over again this fall and coming new year. I would really like to take my small business to an entire new level. I am hoping to turn 25 accounts into 50+ accounts this spring with a lot of longer hours working on great ideas I have from everyone here.
I also e-mail regarding the webpage you left here that contacted you and hope to find some leads for the Hampton Roads area.
I would like to ask what I consider the veteran lawn service providers that have been doing this for more than 5+ years how they found out about city jobs that become available for bidding and property managers for different areas? I know there are so many different places I could look for leads but get dead ends, for construction companies...I would love to work with one and get my landscaping going but I cannot get past the words I ask regarding where to go to find out. Also, people keep saying to buy lists for direct mailing, where are these lists because I am driving around neighborhoods and finding great places to put out fliers, postcards, etc... but there has to be an easier way then writting down every street name and house number.