lawn school

[lawn-guy]

Originally Posted by Steve Great ideas! What suggestions would you have for your employees if they found themselves dealing with these situations? injurys administer first aid-call ems if needed-call office-fill out report property damage try to fix-inform office-fill out incident report missing equipment call office -call authorities-fill out a report un fixable equipment after trying to fix call office get further details /finish job with equipment you have sick employee call office-make a report-arrange for employee to get to shop or home bad weather work as long as its safe-no matter what finish job if possible-safely load equipment and call office here are a few

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[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

no matter what finish job if possible Can you tell us more of what you mean by this? Because I think a new employee could read simply no matter what finish the job. Also: What do you suggest the new employee do when dealing with unhappy/disgruntel customers(yard is scalped-last visit clippings were left on walk way)? What should they do if something at customers is damaged (like a cable/phone line)? What should they do if customer needs pricing on other jobs(pruning-gutter cleaning)? what to do if customer wants to cancel services(cancel mid contract)? what to do if customer has questions about billing (over charged-doesnt understand statement

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[lawn-guy]

Originally Posted by Steve

Can you tell us more of what you mean by this? Because I think a new employee could read simply no matter what finish the job.
Basicly it means if you have to work in the rain for 10-20 inutes so be it
Also:

• What do you suggest the new employee do when dealing with unhappy/disgruntel customers(yard is scalped-last visit clippings were left on walk way)?
  well explain to customer that you were not there last week but you will take care of and you wil inform managment of the problem, and then ask them if there is something you could do to make it up to them
• What should they do if something at customers is damaged (like a cable/phone line)?
  1st try to fix it then inform office of situation and fill out a report that way managment can make arrangments to have it repaired then leave a note for customer
• What should they do if customer needs pricing on other jobs(pruning-gutter cleaning)?
  if they have not been granted permission and or trained to bid on these services they shall call office and see what they would like for you to do
  
• what to do if customer wants to cancel services(cancel mid contract)?
  explain to them they need to call the office and handle that matter with them then employee should call office to give them a heads up,and find out what they should do
• what to do if customer has questions about billing (over charged-doesnt understand statement
  try to explain it to them ONLY if youre are knowledgable of the system that is used or let customer know that if they call the office tat it will promptly be taken care of for them

here are a few
also if everone wants to come up with a few questions to post and then we can ask several diffrent owners/foreman there opinion to kind of get the correct general answer we could do that

[swstout]

Originally Posted by Steve

You are very welcome.

Join in here and get some ideas in the post on what I should be including in future sections, if you can.

1. Dealing with local bureaucracy. Regulations, procedures, rules changing monthly.

2. What to look for when seeking an accountant.

3. Optimizing income tax savings

Steve

[Steve]

Steve,

1. Dealing with local bureaucracy. Regulations, procedures, rules changing monthly.

2. What to look for when seeking an accountant.

3. Optimizing income tax savings

Do you have a few things you could say about each of these topics? Maybe an everyday life example you could share? That would be very helpful.

[swstout]

Originally Posted by Steve

Steve,



Do you have a few things you could say about each of these topics? Maybe an everyday life example you could share? That would be very helpful.

1. Dealing with bureaucracy - A new ordinance that says "No operating of equipment that creates noise pollution (like a lawn mower) before 10am Monday - Saturday or 1:30pm Sunday in the City limits"!

2. Finding a good accountant - Looking for tips and questions to ask perspective accountants. What to look for and what to look to avoid.

3. Saving money on taxes - What expenses to track for optimum deductions and credits.

Steve

[Steve]

Steve,

Do you have any advice to share on these topics?

• how to estimate a job on the spot
  
• how to handle over seeing other employees

What would you want your staff to know about these topics?

[swstout]

Originally Posted by Steve

Steve,

Do you have any advice to share on these topics?

• how to estimate a job on the spot
  
• how to handle over seeing other employees

What would you want your staff to know about these topics?

I am still new at estimating lawn care, but I have had experience selling other products and services. I will only give estimates “on the job” or at least after, I have seen the job. No phone quotes. I have a measuring wheel and use it. I am in the process of developing a lawn survey to cover all phases of lawn and property care and upkeep. Foremost, I don’t want to miss any opportunities, but, also I want a starting point for upsells.

Whenever possible, I try to get the customer to walk the lot with me. I concentrate on what the call was originally about, say mowing, but let him know about other services without pushing. I read somewhere, I think in the lawn school about a person who suggested doing the job free one time to make an accurate estimate for an annual contract. I might use this technique with particularly negotiating customers.

At this time, I only run one truck, with one and sometimes two helpers. I am on the job with them. I let the helpers they don’t just work for me, they represent me. That I expect integrity 24/7 and that if they someday want to start a business, they will expect the same. Manners, language, appearance and behavior are vital to their continued employment. I stress safety, theirs, the customers, and the public. Their pay is dependent on their attitude. I prefer older employees with experience in dealing with people and taking care of their own lawns. I don’t have the opportunity here because the fire department is volunteer, but when I was doing siding and replacement windows, if would seek out paid firemen. They are on 24 off 48 and know how to deal with emergencies and people. When I expand, I will use the same principles.

What do I want my staff to know about these topics? Above is a start but training should be ongoing. The Lawn school would be a good start.

Steve

[lawn-guy]

Originally Posted by Steve

Steve,

Do you have any advice to share on these topics?

• how to estimate a job on the spot
  well alot needs to be taken into consideration when estimating-SIZE,if they have any expierence in this line of work they should be able to guess at ow much time it will take to cut then they need to take into consideration OBSTACLES such as shrubs sidewalks dog houses fences exct. all this will have to be trimmed around then the EQUIPMENT that you can use if i can use a Z or wlk behind its gonna be cheaper than if i have to push mow alot.CONDITION of property also comes into play if its in decent shape its gonna be cheaper than if the grass is a foot tall and full of debri,one last thing is LOCATION i hate to say it but it does matter if you are in a high end neighborhood verses the ghetto
  
• how to handle over seeing other employees
  First things first there has to be a understanding of who is in charge and your employees have to respect you and your authoritie,you all need to get along .Friends can be the best or worse people to work with if there is a understandind of who is in charge and it is respected it can be great working with friends on the other hand working together can destroy a friendship in no time,one will feel as they cant tell a friend what to do or that one doesnt have to take the direction because there friends.WORK IS WORK PERSONAL IS PERSONAL. a supervisor needs to be confident and respected. i have done a few things before for my crews that i was supervising at the time to motivate them such as lunch at a local rest after a big job is finished or after a nice productive week or even letting them off early on a friday if everything is finished early,this not only benefits the company but it gives the crew momentum to get the work done right and fast and as we all know time is money. if you have a employee who doesnt wanna listen and refuses to follow your directions send him home for the day or make him come in on a friday,have him wash and change oil n blades on all equipment they need to understand that no matter what you are responsible for them and the properties that you are caring for and that in todays economy if they dont wanna do your way there is 100 people that will

What would you want your staff to know about these topics?

-here are a few -

[Steve]

Great thoughts!

the list goes on and on come on people lets get some input here

What other topics should be included for employee training?