Other things to do on the route.

[lawncrafter56]

I am just a one man operation that does pretty good and most all the time am never pressured on the schedule. One thing I love to do is dumpster dive for treasure. I look for houses being demolished or remodled. I see a dumpster with good used straight wood , wire, copper fittings I'm in it. People cleaning out their garages tossing stuff into one also trips me up real quick. I look for old books or anything old for that matter. Most times I ask permission and seldom i'm denied. Sometimes old things are kept and sometimes it goes on ebay for a little walk around money Garage sales?

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

This reminds me of a friend who has a pool and a table next to it with an umbrella. One day a storm came through and the wind grabbed the umbrella and threw it, busting the part that keeps it open. So I was over a short time later looking at it. Well, if you have some duct tape, we'll just duct tape it open. Problem solved. He says oh no I don't do things like that half-*** and he takes it and throws it into this big trash can out front. Not 10 minutes go by and a guy drives up, pulls out the umbrella and throws it in the back of his pickup and moves on. I sit there for a moment just looking at my friend as we sit at the table with the sun brightly shining down upon us and I offer him a toast. Good job genius. I am just a one man operation that does pretty good and most all the time am never pressured on the schedule. One thing I love to do is dumpster dive for treasure. I look for houses being demolished or remodled. What kinds of things stand out that you have found? Any pictures?

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[lawncrafter56]

You made me laugh Steve... Guys, one time I found three old red flashing emergency lights off of maybe an old fire engine or cop car. Took them home put them in my storage shed only to dig them up later and polish the Chrome up. Pretty tardy but polished up nice... put one on ebay and it fetched 300.00 as did the other two.

Found an old Rupp snowmobile helmet in fair condition, 140.00

If you see the old metal flake motorcycle helmets from the 70's, snap em up! excellent money


vintage garden tools at the right time of year are fair money
Those old made in USA Levi's 7 loop 517's 501's in pretty good condition= good walk around money


Aluminum window frames. throw them in a pile and save them til you have a small truck load. money

those gouged up old mower blades and other tin, money and you might be surprised what a small load will bring though scrape prices are down.
Watch for those big roll -off dumpsters, check em out... excellent condition, new & old dimension lumber often times if you pull the nails out to build a shed to store a mower!
I have seldom had a problem with my addiction though I try not to leave stuff laying around after digging around.

As times toughen this is the way to save a buck fun... Some here may not need to.... I don't but am always hitting every one i see...
What ever you fancy... what ever catches your eye

I love the garage sales too.. pull up with your truck & mower, be friendly, spend a couple bucks and you just may walk away with a new client. I have, more than once.

Have a girlfriend that knows how to airbrush, toll paint pictures of scenery flowers? let them custom paint on big rocks or boulders for your customers gardens or yards.. my sister did and made some fair scratch when things were tough for her. I wish she still would $$$$$

Stop by lemonade stands... I try to hit every one and always pay a couple bucks a glass when the little kids are asking a quarter.. then tell them to raise their prices as they have the best Lemonade in town. Make a kid feel good and smile, you will too! People always are watching what you are up to... do good and it comes back many times. Just my little philosophy

[kdexpd]

AMEN Lawncrafter!
I have found so many treasures dumpster diving, I couldn't even begin to list em on here!!

Here's a few though:
-Brand new fire proof 3'x2' safe (came from Staples when they closed)
-10 boxes of 1,000 count plastic bags (the type you get like at Wally World) -works great for little trash bags in the truck!
-Lots and lots of lumber and construction materials
-Dishwasher (actually was perfectly clean and usable)
-Push mowers (worked)
-Weedeaters
-Tv's
-Numerous kitchen and bathroom appliances from remodels-perfect condition
-Cell phones
-Computers
And the list just keeps going. The best time for me around here is when they have a city wide cleanup twice a year. If you hit the nice and rich neighborhoods, they throw away some perfectly good stuff. But ya gotta get to it before everbody else does..HAHA! Sometimes it gets interesting trying to beat the other guys to it..gotta be ninja-like and scope it all out and then swoop in and snatch it up real quick like!! HAHA