You’re Too Expensive. Customers Don’t Get It.
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- Hello You Tube, it’s Rob from Maxwells Grass Cutting Services, based in the North East of England.
In today’s video, I want to ask why ?
Why do people who reside in large properties, fail to understand the cost of maintaining large gardens. It can’t just be me , can it?
I look forward to reading your comments and feedback.
Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe.
Remember, when the green gold is growing, keep mowing.
All the best.
Rob.
Thank you for watching and supporting the channel. Please like and subscribe, this allows me to grow and move forward. Your support is appreciated.
Take care.👍
Thank you for watching and supporting the channel. Please like and subscribe, this allows me to grow and move forward. Your support is appreciated.
Take care.👍
I like watching ur videos, you come across as a lovely person keep the videos coming godbless 🙂
Thank you.
Thanks Rob. Gardeners under appreciated
Best Wishes. Thank you for yr advice. Very useful
hello rob… i’ve had my mowing business for 11 years now & my general rule is, if i’m on the garden an hour it’s £60 so technically a quid a minute mowing time. However the smaller lawns work out much better than that. I do a lot of my regular £25/30 jobs in about 15 minutes sometimes even less, i’ve got over 340 customers & never get complaints really & people want to get get booked in every day. The trick is to just never tell them you charge hourly but instead just say you charge per job. Thanks for your channel it’s great
Very wise words, thank you for sharing your experience.
Nice. Well done.
And brilliantly done managing 340 customers every year😮❤
Nearly 20 years trading
I have a good balance of small gardens as you described and bigger ones.
The bigger ones, if you have a manageable amount of them, can provide good pay days and are more economical. No constant loading unloading as you mentioned.
But the small regulars are crucial and i describe them as my bread and butter, the glue which keeps my business together.
If i lose one big one, its not the end of the world.
In all cases, affording yourself the time and calmness to interact with your clients and giving each garden the attention to detail they merit, is my main aim in order to build a strong business.
Good luck mate👍
Very wise. Thank you.
I do agree that smaller gardens are more profitable but big gardens also give you work without the winter months I think you’re better of having a mix bag of jobs.
Very wise. We all have different experiences from our own journeys. All the best.
Hi Rob good advice as usual , been doing gardening for 13 years now most people with big houses don’t want to pay, I stick to small / medium gardens ,good luck this year
Sounds great Simon. All the best to you.
Hi Rob,
The folk with big houses & garden's, didn't get there by offering discounts, on their labour me thinks.
Wise words. 👍🏻
Cheers Rob. This week I realised i need to charge double for one offs compared to my regulars. I waste so much time quoting a job, rearranging due to weather and then chatting at the start and end to build rapport, sorting payment. In the end i earnt half what i needed to for the hours worked. Next day on to a couple regualr jobs. Smashed them out. 2 minute chat woth each customer, no problems and home early. All the best. Andy
You’re so right Andy.
One off jobs have so many unknowns.
I too charge a high price. If they except fine, if not they can find someone else. All the best.
Happy to pay a plumber £70 for half hour but a mower guy lucky to get £20 😡 we are the lowest of the low in their eyes!
That is a very sad fact. 👍🏻😢
Things do change, my industry went from a ladder on an old banger with a bucket and some simple tools. To lads taking pride in their work, spending money on advanced gear and van setups and making good money. It starts with the belief that people will pay for a good service, and be prepared to walk away from customers that don’t value what you offer. Get them on direct debit with no exceptions also. I know your pain about chasing money and run your business how you see fit, not how customers want you too. Best of luck to you all x
@JimsGardenServices764 gocardless and Iv never regretted doing it. Iv found only a tiny fraction of people make it a stumbling block, and that’s usually cause they can’t get dd anymore from their bank. So it’s a pre filter for bad payers also. I can’t recommend it enough.
Yet we make the biggest difference in the shortest amount of time
It's the old traditional British class syndrome lingering from the 'servant' culture which really only ended in the last generation or two. So, we are seen as if we are just ' the gardener' like the cleaner, the maid, the cook etc etc...
Like, can you imagine anyone saying to their solicitor ' oh, can you just do me a quick divorce letter to my wife while you're doing that child custody one?' and then show shock horror when they inform you that it will be another £300 on top of the £500 they quoted you for the initial job?😂
You just have to calmly and politely deal with it. I usually make light hearted joke about it similar to what I just said. Most see the sense and realise the 'normality' of the syndrome you've just described and understand its not the1880s or 1960s anymore.
We aren't 'menial taskers' anymore. Never were. It's just social conditioning.
So, recondition people with calm and courtesy. Or politely decline.
“Devil on your shoulder” I’m a Commercial Pilot and I use this phrase to advise colleagues when to recognise it’s a time to take a step back and think.
Mine seems to keep me right in life. Thank you for watching and your comment. Safe travels.
I started 2wks ago. Trying to get all the first cuts in before the grass starts to get so long it falls over on itself. I've said forever thirty min Mow, blow and goes are where it at for a stress free life. All the best 👍
Wise words Gary, thank you for sharing them.👍🏻
I emailed my customers early Feb to give them a start week of this week. Managed to get 21 lawns done upto now, only been out Mon, Thurs & today as the weather hasnt been great. Got 5 more tomorrow and thats me done for the week. Oh and fitting in a 40hr a week (Normal) job lol Good luck for this season Rob 👍
Cheers Matty. All the best.
Great advice Rob 👍 big properties always seem to want more work for less. Small gardens are definitely where it’s at 😊
Thank you . All the best.
Always a great video Rob. Very interesting reading the comments from other gardeners experiences. Its all a learning curve. God bless
It certainly is Paul. All the best.
Hi Rob, I was working on a big house last year and they were paying £65 to get their windows cleaned, the fellas were there about 20 minutes then they were on to the house next door, they also employ a gardener to cut the grass etc. These people dont like spending money but they realised they just didnt have time to do it themselves. I think there's a certain type of tight arse with big houses that have always done it themself and begrudge paying anyone anything, they would probably be the same if they had a smaller house!
Well said Nick. All the best.
Thank you for sharing the ins and outs of a gardening business. I've had to quit my job due to surgery on my neck which restricts me from looking high up. I've been putting a plan together these last few months eg. Business name and marketing strategy. I've got quite a few more of your videos to watch but the quotation video was a big help! I know I'm late to the parade this year but I can only work part time while I recover which could be as long as 12 months. Thank you again for all the info you share and good luck 👍
Thank you Dave and good luck. 🤞
Hold your own. State your price you see your are worth. A few newbies undercutting but I say their customers are welcome to them. It's about the experience you bring. How many of the newbies know if a garden has ground elder or carer pendula that could be passed on if your gear isn't brushed down after a job.
Decent customers respect a professional and pay accordingly.
Very wise. Thank you.
If you came to my area and said £35 for a small garden the second word you would hear is off.
Where is that?
Really. Where are you.
I agree that it is the same in my area !!
Mine too, £24 an hour here.
They've got big gardens and houses cos they're stingy in spending money 😂 stick to your guns Rob. Have a good start to your season
Thank you James. Appreciated.
I would of tried to negotiate to £60 just on principle, (IF i had a garden which took 2 hours to maintain).
Absolutely right. Not interested in big gardens. I get bored being in the same place for two or more hours. I only do small gardens. Like 20mins or 30mins. In and out for £20. On to the next one, another £20. If you get a pain in the arse. Bye bye. Imagine having a pain in the arse garden for more than two hours. No thanks. I'm right with you Rob.
Thank you , appreciate your support.
Im a window cleaner mate and i have same problem. Quoted a 3 bed house windows, frames, ledges plus gutter clean at £55.00 customer said too expensive. They pay plumber 70.00 quid for just coming out. Cheapskates.
Spot on.
Plumbing takes a lot longer to learn and is classed as a trade. Cleaning windows is not. That's why
@@gavincollins9376 still a trade and it might not command the same qualifications but still a trade non tge less. I guess from your comment your more important.
@@garyharper1094 No need for the passive-aggressive mate just speaking the truth If you class gardening or window cleaner, especially as a trade then fair play, My window cleaner just goes up and down with his pole and side to side...That is tricky and skill itself:)..I don't and many others see that too that's why your down the pecking order sorry to say. If you don't like hearing that then go to college and take up plumbing and don't forget the annual gas cert that will cost more than the odd lawnmower or bucket of soapy water..Toodle pip...
About 2 ywaers ago after having my own business for 7 years I decided as you have.. the future is Garlic Bread and Small Lawns.. Not looked back since..
I agree with you, trying to move that way also.
All the best.👍🏻
Nice one Rob 👌
Your advice is helping me along so much.
Also responding to my message earlier in the week shows what kind of person you are.
Look forward to the next video
Thank you Gavin . All the best to you .
Well said Rob. It should be at least £35 per hour.
Thank you Adam, I agree.☝️
It's good to see the sun shining outside , through your van window , enjoy !
Yes, thanks
Great point, will keep in mind Max.
Thank you .
Doesn’t add up, lots of customers in a day surely means more non chargeable hours travelling from job to job, I have a nice mix where 50% minimum are all year round work on the bigger ones that are weekly, smaller ones drop off when the bin collections end. I enjoy the rest over the winter but still get out most days but doing less hours. I look at what I earn in a week as I have jobs that charge significantly higher rates and others much less, it isn’t your hourly rate that is important but how much you earn in a day or week, in my opinion
True but if you're smart and you plan it out you can keep a local area per day, I've just come home from a full street of gardens
I try to keep my daily customers close by. Minimising travel.
I don’t disagree with you but we all work differently. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I agree with you, Pete (Tattooed Gardener) (he’s great by the way) but I can see his are mostly all large gardens.. however.. it seems to work for him broadly speaking. I’m not kitted out for very large gardens, I think he’s got the necessary firepower. Nathan too, he of Lewis.. he’s got kit you know.. I prefer to keep small ish, I’ve got ok tools, Stihl in the main, and Hayter etc, but it’s not big kit and I’ve never done ride on mowing.. for me the larger ones are a headache and more demanding. I like the “easy life” ones 😂 I like clearances where you can make a big difference quickly, in small to medium gardens, interspersed with normal maintenance jobs, nothing Earth shattering but you sleep better at night. Pay on time etc. no fuss.
Same as I found, I quoted a guy £70 to cut grass, after a few weeks he asked if he could pay me £20ph instead ? ....no thanks.
The same bloke lived in a mansion sized house.
Some people are unbelievable. 👍🏻All the best.
Should've increased it to £140
Great video Rob..
Just finished 2nd cuts this week on my week 1.
Yes small to medium size gardens generally appreciate the work & pay a fair price for your service.
It is the bigger gardens that general think they are getting done over.
Having more of the smaller gardens bring more additional tasks including hedge trimming, shaping shrubs, patio cleaning etc then with more clients bring potential for more recommendations to their family and friends.
The green grass is growing but will be peak growth in a month or 2 then we will all be moaning 😃
All the best for the season ahead Rob.!
Thanks Nick. A great comment.
Absolutely, they do think they are being done over and they always seem to be watching the clock with those ' you were quick today".words
You are so right, I find the bigger the garden, the bigger the problems. I had a big house customer ring up to complain that we'll after the grass cutting season and i'd stopped working there for the year,she had returned home (well, one of her homes) and there were leaves outside her front door. I said, well thats autumn for you...Incidentally first day grass cutting for me here in Cumbria
Thanks for sharing! Some people are unbelievable. All the best.
Great video as usual rob,pleased yr sticking to yr guns .I find my best clients are always the smaller garden and houses way to go indeed. Have a great weekend rob and good luck with yr cutting season.
Thank you Thomas , appreciate your support.
Great post Rob. Small to medium lawns and lots of them is my way, generates lots of hedging etc as a result. Still wet down here on the Sussex Riviera! Still trying to get my 1st cuts done, generally like all 1st cuts done by the end of Feb. But weather has been against me, should all be done by the end of next week. Some of the grass has been horribly long and wet, don’t think grass stops growing in the winter anymore.
I agree the grass continues growing when we have mild winter weather. Like you I am finding the ground too wet . Fingers crossed going forward.
I have this all the time rob I’ve lost a few quotes on big grass cutting jobs but there are some that are happy to pay that rate for the big gardens
I totally understand what you are saying. Just sharing my experience.
Fingers crossed that it changes soon and I have some positive experience with larger gardens. All the best.
Hi Rob,
Good video glad your picking up some new clients already,all positive stuff it's been so wet some of the lawns have Puddletown them..
At least the warmer weather is arriving, I think you did the right thing in letting some of your customers go and building the ones you want...
Im in that situation at the moment...
Have a good weekend, and looking forward to your next video....
Lee....😊
Thanks 👍 Lee, all the best to you going forward.
Evening Rob. I have only just started my business after returning from the NHS. I charge per hour so for me bigger gardens means less travel so it appears to work for me. I fully appreciate that to make more money lots of small gardens is definitely the best way to go. I have put my prices up though as it was quite clear from your videos I was selling myself cheap. Great points though, have a great weekend
Thank you Shane. Good luck with your new business and congratulations on making the jump.
Totally agree with you bout the smaller jobs are better than one day jobs good luck for this season
Thank you .👍🏻
I'm sure everything will work out for the best as the season unfolds Rob
Thank you Wayne, appreciate your support.👍🏻
Always support a self employed person Rob I tried it myself a few years ago and I know how hard it is
Spot on again Rob, we took on a very large graveyard this week 2men for two days. We quoted in February but didn't get as we were to expensive. Phone call on Tuesday with them despite for us to fit in in to the schedule.!
We have but it turns out the fella that got the job stated soent 3 hours there and said sorry its to big for me I'm off. Thats the problem with going with the lowest quote.
It's taken me years of pain listening to that little voice to go cheap 😂
That made me laugh. Don’t listen to, go high or go home.
You are so right, stay out of the big gardens, I have had about 6 big jobs, they didn’t last more than 6 months, some times you can get bigger jobs out of them. 👍👍👍
Thank you Brian.
They don't get what it costs to run your van,machinery, insurances, maintenance costs for machinery, fuel costs for machinery and to get to and from the job.
Having too many customers is a problem when it's pissing down and that knocks you back and end up chasing your tail.
It is a problem, you’re right.
Rob ..Well said once again mate.. Spot on
Thank you Mark.👍🏻
Hi Rob I've started the grass cutting and it's great to get the Mowers out. A little sunshine has helped with the feel good factor. Love the chats have a good week.
Graham
Thank you Graham. Appreciate your support .
I think Rob, if you don't mind a bit of constructive criticism, that you maybe see things a little too 'black and white'. You can easily have a mixture of large and small gardens, you just need to adjust to your approach to each. For me, doing 6 gardens a day, every day, would be exhausting, and frankly, a bit tedious. I'm happy with 3 or 4, sometimes 2, sometimes just one, all day. Variety is the spice of life. Likewise with the grass cutting 'season' - it's getting naturally longer and longer every year, so maybe consider starting earlier and finishing later in the year.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
I am black and white sometimes and yes maybe need to be a little more flexible.
In my defence I am only sharing my experiences with the world. Other may have had different experiences.
All the best to you.
Good channel though Rob, always interesting, thought provoking chats. I'd rather watch that than some bloke walking behind a mower, and definitely not bloody scarifying 😏😁
Well said, I make you right 👍 keep on keeping on, love the channel
Much appreciated👍🏻
£35/ hour is too cheap in my opinion, £45 is a bit more reasonable, considering how expensive is all the equipment got in the past few years not to mention fuel, oil etc.
I definitely prefer bigger jobs, I hate driving around and setting up the equipment then putting everything away
Each to their own. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Your so right and a good mam❤
Thank you.🙏
Only positive I would say about the bigger gardens is that I’d say 80% of my bigger ones give me work all year round as well so sometimes I don’t mind them being on a slightly cheaper rate because it keeps me ticking along in the winter and in the summer I top up my money a lot elsewhere
I get what you’re saying Reece. All the best to you.
Some of the ones with bigger houses are up to the hilt in debt and the others are just super tight, it's how they became better off in the first place. I worked with a millionaire, mortgage free and hundreds of thousands in financial assets but it was still me who was left to buy the milk for the teas every day.
Some people are just unbelievable.
Even if they paid whatever i wanted i get bored working in the same all day..2 or 3 hours in one place is enough, then onto the next one
You make a valid point, thank you for sharing it. All the best.
I had a think about this and maybe quote the large 2 hour garden at 60 cause its gonna take a minimum of 15 mins to load travel and unload to get to next smaller garden so could pass that saving onto larger garden maybe. Thats assuming they wouldn't want it done cheaper than that haha
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.👍🏻
I find you have to pick and choose all customers on an individual basis. I have experienced cons with both large and small properties. Already this year, three existing customers (2 small, 1 massive) have requested a delayed start to the season due to "money issues". The three in question were previously good earners last year. Both types of jobs have the potential to mess you around. Its a case of checking your diary and measuring the efficiency loss/cost to your business.
Very wise Tom. Thank you and good luck.
Always good reasoned advice 👍🏼
Glad you think so! Thank you .
keep mowing bro. saying hello from san diego california.
Will do! Thank you for your support.
I get exactly what you're saying but I personally charge a little less per hour for the larger jobs (I don't strictly charge per hour but you know what I mean). A 2hr job is less hassle, less loading/unloading, less traveling, less chatty customers etc. etc. than 2 seperate 1hr jobs. I don't go silly but in your example of £35 for a one hour ish job I'd probably then think of about 60-65 for a 2hr ish job. Big houses and big gardens don't always mean the customers have big disposable incomes. Anyway, not saying either way is right or wrong just different ways, stay safe.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Good luck with the new season.👍🏻
"Mag to grid get rid" !!!! Not heard that in along time.. I have same problems 😮
We all do . 👍🏻
I suppose it depends on the GMA. 😉
Alot of these people with large gardens seem to find people who are retired or doing as a side hussle and charge around £15ph. Thats probably why they got the big house and garden lol
Paul, you are starting to annoy me, you appear very negative and insecure.
You don’t have to watch my channel, there are plenty of others to watch if you’re not happy with my skill set and content.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingserviceshe's gone 😂
didn't mind the big garden's when i was young & keen .i just want my fortnightly regulars in & out about 1 hour £45-50 them £30 -£35 Half hour mow n goes even better 👌
Sounds like a great plan. All the best.
Grass is still not growing up here in Scotland yet. So hopefully maybe heat up in the next fortnight
The temperature is set to rise. Good luck. 🤞
I kind had the opposite happen where I mostly had little Mrs Cannybodys with tiny gardens moaning about the price. My best customers were the ones with huge mansions, but there was that rogue millionaire who also owned a house in France that knocked me for 2k.
Sorry to hear that. Some people are difficult. It’s trying to find nice customers and keep moving forward. 👍🏻
Maybe they think that you're taking advantage of them because they have a high end property, mind you, they could also peel an orange in their pocket.
It’s a fair price in my opinion. All the best.
It is yes, i just find it funny that those with the most are usually the ones to haggle.
Been cutting grass down here in Southampton for the last fortnight but the weather has been shite
Pleased to hear that you’re out and about. All the best.
I was mowing in full, bullet sized stop start rain today. I wanted to stop but i flipped the bird at the clouds and cracked on, no money lost!
Brilliant. Sometimes we all need to self motivate and get on.
All the best.
you are right Rob, i always say if you have 10 £30 jobs you can get £300 or one big job at £300 if you have one £30 drop off still got work and money if the 1 £300 drops of no work or money i guess some will say save on van fuel and bits but i have days with two jobs and the i can get to do 7 or 8 lawns so i can see both side but every business is different all the best mate
You’re right Shane. It’s what ever suits the individual . All the best.
I guess its where you service in Australia in my area the big properties are so much more profitable as theres no travelling no un billable hours just full on dollars … each to their own and different experiences i just say theres always more than one way to do it! Each business has strengths and I believe you should have your .. eyes wide opened
Thank you Geoff, I can only share my experience with others. Always trying to move forward. All the best to you .
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices all good rob as I said each to their own small jobs suits some and large ones others , this is why this game has no boundaries its so versatile in how you do it , there is no one way ( thank god ) and your experience is fine as is the ones that prefer another if that make sense .. all the best best legend your channel certainly rocks more than I can ever offer !
You have more knowledge than all of the you tube gardeners put together, that’s me too. Have a great weekend Geoff. 👍🏻🥊
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices thanks rob your a good egg !
I’ve a mixture small / large then some regular grass and regular hedges then there’s the work from people who approach you on the job and then there’s them who photograph your van in the traffic jam but I like my off time we work hard us gardeners work hard play hard I’ve got to say on my experience and 27 years at this I’ve always found what I ask I get so I am a happy soldier 👍👍 but we all do it differently and what suits one not necessarily suits the next man and even still now after all these years I can under quote😢but hey it happens to us all so if you like em big or small enjoy your job 👍just wish this rain would leave Lancashire🤬🤬
Thank you for sharing your experience, you sound like a decent fella. All the best.
👍👍you to bud
£35 PH your cheap I am self a employed Gardener and Landscaper, I charge more and I am in rural Scotland, properties I do are usually large and rural many on some tricky terrain, travel costs and distances are my biggest outlay I am lucky if I can squeeze in five jobs per day in high season and three in the low season up to November, my clients know outright what I charge for this reason I rarely get any complaints, I employ two young lads part time, I was on a job early this morning ( new customer) I travelled 50 miles there and back the job charged £220, four hrs work books ma again for early June same job. I don't know how you can charge £35 an hour you must do very local jobs with short distances, if people want a quality job done by a qualified landscaper then they have to pay the going rate.
Pleased to hear you’re doing well. All the best.
Hello Rob you are absolutely correct regarding the larger gardens, I can definetly relate to you I'm this. It's very strange how it works.
Thank you for the video Rob.
Thank you
Mark
Thank you Mark, appreciate your comment.👍🏻
Sure I've said it before Rob, even £35 for an hours work is under charging by quite a bit, I know it's all relative to time, cost, what you want/need, but generally we aim for around £60 per hour and for a professional trade that's pretty reasonable. Like you, we're quite loose on the price, we may consider a garden that takes us an hour or so to be around £60, a straight forward, easy and very accessible bit of ground, maybe a bit less, but if we're at a premises for an hour we would not be looking at charging £35, more the £60 mark. Trouble is, we've quoted £60 before and they pull a face, when you quote £800 to turf the lawn they agree !!!. Thing is, if they had the grass cut and maintained properly in the first place, they wouldn't need to re-turf!!. Keep on at the price you're happy with, and if you're ever up in Scotland we have a few hundred gardens you're welcome to cut for £35 mate, we'd still be making a decent profit 😆😆😆
Thanks for that. If I ever decide to relocate I will message you. 😂
All the best.
Maybe even £70 an hour. Extremely reasonable
£60 an hour to cut grass/strim etc is a diabolical rip off and you should be ashamed of yourself but...... if your customers are so thick as to pay that then that's up to them.
Great videos mate. Looking forward to getting my own garden cut this weekend.
What’s your thoughts on battery powered mowers?
I don’t like them. Expensive and underpowered. Thanks for watching.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices agreed. I’ve got a makita 36v one. Got a good deal on the mower and already had plenty of 18v batteries. It’s a big old unit but feels really under powered, struggles on lower height settings and burns through batteries.
Can’t justify petrol for my garden through its overkill.
What’s your view on self propelled mulching mowers as opposed to push non mulches? Thanks! (Just bought mine to start out. Not been able to deliver flyer’s because it’s been chucking it). I’m charging £30 for a cut, because there are new estates near me, which have medium back and front lawns. I’m part time, so for me a successful first year would actually be 4 gardens a week.
I only use self drive mowers . Mulching mowers have their place.
Large gardens in dry weather.
Good luck going forward.
You know what it is you need to pay bills and make it worth your while, wear and tear and the rest.. you’re an experienced fellow, if you said it’ll take two hours then I’ve no reason to disbelieve you. It must’ve been a fairly large grassed area/areas. We both know it’s not two hours anyway, it’s more like two and a half, knocking on the door of three by the time you factor in travelling, and if she’s one of those that wants to chat, u know the type, you might not get out of there in two hrs.. £70 is very little really.. 80/90/100 with strimming, edging and grass taken away perhaps.. “horrified” 😂😂 some people..
Yep, so true
I agree Neil. When you first start a new job it always seems to take longer than you first thought. All the best.
@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices We all do that.. subconsciously or not it's to do with wanting to make a good impression.. but it can be an error.. if they are clock watcher types.. you quote for two hours say.. and the first time you might be as late as 2 and 3/4 hours.. and then the next time you might be in a hurry and leave bang on 2 hours and they make a comment or upset.. in that case you know they aren't the customer for you. You don't want clock watchers.
Wise words. Thank you.
What about a video on weed killer ... Lol from Pembrokeshire Wales Idwal
Wouldn’t that be a bit boring?
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices
I have noticed some gardeners are using a industrial vinegar and soap solution with equal effects to industrial weedkillers wondered if you had any experience.
Knowledge is not boring if it saves you time and money.
I wasn’t being sarcastic or critical. I use round up, works every time.
Not sure about home made solutions. All the best.
Out of interest. When you get the pain in the backend customer and decide after 3 chances to get rid, what's your approach? In other words, what do you tell them?
Just interested 🤔
A polite text message. 👍🏻
St patrick day is the 17 of March
Thank you 🙏
How much grass do I take off for the first cut, everywhere it says do one third max but as it’s been so wet the grass is soo long so one third would still be very long, I’ve got a Stihl RM545VM for the wet and was just going to go for number 5 on the height, so about 6cm, what’s your thoughts on this and what number are u going for, if ur using the Stihl (1-7 level), thanks
We have an old Viking with the 7 settings, rebranded to Stihl now. First cut will be a 3 or 4, then down to 2 for the rest of the season. Hardly ever do a 1, unless it's dead flat and the customer just wants 'short' instead of 'green'.
About a third
I agree that on a fortnightly or first cut you need to take more than a third to make it look like the lawn has been cut.
60cm or 2.5 inches is fine. I sometimes double cut to achieve this.
In an ideal world only take off a third, that’s not always practical.
I hope that helps . Good luck.
I have one really large lawn I cut, and it’s a 60 quider, I’m there 30 mins, so your £35 per hour is cheap rob. I aim for anything between £50-£70 per hour
That’s brilliant for you . All the best.
What do you call 'really large' and yet it only takes 'half an hour'?? Cant be both.
Do you charge £35 per fortnightly cut or just £35 after 2nd cut of the month ?
Are you serious?
Hi Rob
Do you charge £35 an hour regardless of height, thatch, gradients and amenity involved in the green such as weeds.
Or do you charge per job with the £35 hourly rate in mind.
I personally give a fixed price per job now
Fixed price per job , with a figure in mind. That figure charges from job to job. Ie hedge trimming costs more than mowing.
I hope that helps.
That's not what I meant. Regarding amenity do you charge £35 per hour regardless what state the grass is in or do you ammend the charge accordingly such as strumming. Bagging excess and a finer mower.
I wonder if you charge a different amount per mower or machine. I tend to fo this
I don’t, something to think about. 👍🏻
All 1st cuts on the grasses, round 2 starting Monday morning. Rob, the penny is finally dropping with you.
It would appear so. All the best. 👍🏻
Hit the ground running Mr M .. ... ..
Thank you , appreciated.
You are totally switched on with our advise. You don't even have to explain or justify your pricing. I would never haggle with a local self employed worker re pricing. Insulting to them - and makes me look small. The customer can only say no, and then you both move on.
Very wise, thank you.🙏
£150! for the big Gardens cash up front
Sounds like a good plan.👍🏻