Made a mistake today

[TurfKingLawn]

Well, priced a leaf cleanup today, and I was wayyyy under. I had no idea that this would take so long. On the parking, there is grass that is somewhat thick, so I just grinded the leaves up and it looked great, well, on the other part of the yard, I didn't realize it was just dirt, so I was grinding the leaves and they just wouldn't disappear, then it hit me. I had to blow it all into a pile and shovel it into the trash. I figured the entire job would take me no more than a little over an hour, I spent that time on the front yard. I still have to do the back tomorrow. :mad: I can only fit the 21" back there and I guess I'll just bag. I SHOULD of bidded at around $80....I bidded at $40. :( Oh well, I guess I learned a good lesson.

Hank

[Trimmer]

You can't win them all. Sometimes you just have to kick yourself in the butt.

[dhicks]

Don't feel too bad. I get burned myself now and then. I guess it comes with the turf.ROTFLMAO

[TurfKingLawn]

I feel a little better, but this job'll take me at least 2 hours....and I profit NOTHING! :(

Hank

[Crazygator]

Hank,
You do profit, from learning. We all have to learn the easy way and hard way. It all works out. I bet you will look closer next time, wont you? So see, you did profit with knowledge!

[HOMER]

I got ya beat on that one............bid one 2 years ago at $75.00, thought it would be a snap. 5 hours later and very p.o.'d I left vowing to never underbid a leaf job again.

If course I have, but not that bad. Lately I've been getting better/bolder and just spitting out a higher number which to my surprise they have been taking.

Gotta learn the hard way in this business. I'm sure you learned a little from this one, theres more to come believe me!

[TurfKingLawn]

Yeah, I did learn from this. It's hard to say that big number sometimes though. I've found it a lot easier to do lately though. I'd much rather of not had this job than do it for $40.00. Oh well, live and learn.

Hank

[strickdad]

my wife who does alot of or pricing did the same thing a couple of weeks ago.. but the way she is pricing here latley she is making up for it..

[AltaLawnCare]

I'm right there with ya, Homer

I bid one at 60.00 and it took me 5 hours! We'll all get rich quick at this rate! I had mowed the property once(unoccupied realestate) - ran into the owner 3 months later, didn't go back to look at the property again, and to top it off it was raining!

Everyone should get a stopwatch, and a measuring wheel, and keep a journal of time spent - even if you want to forget it!;)
see the post in biz costing

[awm]

i was itching to use my ztr when i first got it. so i stop at this house with a coverage of leaves and offer to take care ofum for 35. bad misjudgement . what looked like a normal leaf coverage was actually 6-12 inches all over.they hadnt touched them all season and were waiting for me when i got there:D
several hrs later with a very dirty lazer and man,i was done.
the job just fooled me. it happens. still dont know how those folks got all them leaves on one half acre yd.like i say i think they were waitin on me.

[cclllc]

I know how you all feel.About 2 years ago I bid a job and got it.Well I started mowing but ran over not one but two water faucets that were coveredup with leaves.Water went everywhere.I spent the next day diggingup the pipes and fixing them.then i had to finish the job.

[Lawngodfather]

That just goes to show you why I switched to T & M for feaf removal.

Hank you always learn from mistakes, that's why they call it trial and error......


Also, with I asume no operating costs and overhead is real low (gas only), you still made $38 on that job.

[BigJim]

I quoted a guy $80 to remove a old pile of compost,,he accepted,I thought OK ! one trailer load to dump,1 hours work, easy $80.Wrong!couldnt get trailer closer than 50yards to pile,had to wheelbarrow it all to trailer,It took 2 trailer loads!,drive out on to road with first trailer load,boom,trailer tyre blows out,$40 to repair,get to dump $30 to tip each trailer load,took 4 hours,send bill ,guy takes 3 months to pay,then check bounces!!!Ah win some lose some,shoulda stayed in bed that day!

[65hoss]

Some of you guys are making me feel better about 1 I did this spring. Leaf job took 9 hours. I expected it to take about 4. I got paid $190.;)

[CraigTurf]

I tell all of my clients how much I charge per hour for leaves. A few ask me to estimate the number of hours the job will take, and if they press me I will give them a rough estimate of time. I always explain that an estimate is just that, an estimate. We work fast, and most folks just let us do the job. Most of my clients couldn't tell you what a rake looks like, so they are happy that we are there.

Bill Craig!

[HOMER]

Or the time I only charged one of my better customers rental on an aerator ($40.00) to aerate and fertilize her yard. The PVC was installed improperly and we wound up with little water spouts everywhere! Spent about 4 hours repairing pipes.

She paid me the $40.00 just the same. I'll never aerate her yard again and she is no longer considered a "better customer". I still cut the yard and she still pays me monthly...........I feel like she could have kicked in a little more.:(

[thelawnguy]

Better a $40 lesson now than a $4000 lesson later...

[Premo]

:o I think we all can say that mistakes have been made.
In my first year doing this, actually my first bid job that I did. I went to look at the work needed and bid on trimming of trees,bushes and weeding of landscape areas.I had no idea of the time it would take for this job, just sheer excitement of working for myself. I bid it at 100.00(EASY MONEY!!!). After Two days and 4 trailers of brush removed, I knew I made a mistake. It was a real learning experience for me. :biglaugh:

[eslawns]

I consider it a good day when I only make ONE!

[G&S LANDSCAPING]

First leaf clean up we gave a estimate for $25.00 . That was for the front and back yard, took to men 4hours to do. We still have this person as a customer for cutting, only at $30.00 per cut. The following leaf season we gave them a estimate for $70.00 per hour, Thay said thay would do there own leaf clean up, and i said with a smile no prolbem, and have a great day. We all make mistakes, the key is not to make the same mistake twice.

[tranum]

the mistake that never quits.

i bid this sweet old ladies property @ $65.00 (bout 2 hrs) she told me she had been paying $40. i told her no way i'm doing it for that. she kept talking, smiling & making me laugh....
that was 2 yrs ago & i SWEAR next year i'm raising her from $40 to $65

[Turfdude]

"some days you eat the bear"

"some days the bear eats you"

Learn from your misteaks(mistakes) and move on.

[Totallawn]

That's why I now do leaf jobs by the hour. If they want a price up front, I bid it high and tell them it may come down from there if I get done faster.


Live and Learn!!

[TGCummings]

eslawns hit it on the head. It's a good day when you have to learn from just one mistake! The real trick is to not dwell on 'em but learn from them and move on.

The real trick is to share them with the world on one of these forums, with a wink and a smile. ;)

When you laugh, the world of landscapers laughs with you... :biglaugh:

[Michael Wall]

I think we all under bid at some time, I know I have. I think leaf cleanups are still the hardest and I too have gone to hourly on them. When I would underbid I would always stick to agreed price but let customer know so there is no suprises the next time you do the cleanup.