Ahh we just reviewed the 12 Commandments with our guys this week. Gutters, put gutters back on the house! THE TWELVE COMMANDMENTS 1. Close gates 2. Put gutters back on home 3. Do not run over the ends of gutters. 4. Do not scalp the lawn. 5. Do not blow grass clippings onto or into street or landscaping. 6. Do not damage turf with tires when making turns. 7. Read job notes each week. 8. Pick up trash before mowing. 9. Pick up excessive sticks while mowing. 10. Change directions every week or so if/when/where appropriate. 11. Leave a service note at the door. 12. Notify customer and office if there is damage.
Thanks for the tips and all are very useful. I run into dog poop and have to clean it up first, I try to tell the owners to clean their lawns. Some customers hate the guys with sit down lawnmowers since residential properties are not particularly level like a park or school grounds and they bare their ground in spots. Some ask me about cutting a pattern like the golf course at Augusta Georgia, I try to explain the problem as best I can or if they want stripes I charge extra. Moving children's toys, trimming fence lines with old wooden fences that peel paint or wood, asking me to cut the lawn too short or asking me about which shrub to plant all takes my time. I learned never to park in their driveways or assume I can ask for a drink or bathroom at any time. I smoke in my car only and drink my water there. Maybe it bugs people when I answer my cell phone, I try to keep calls short. I do little extras, level patio stones, roll up water hoses, fix drain pipes and quickly trim a shrub if it looks sprawled, doesn't take me long and the customer remembers and sees my eye for details. I am having fun and enjoying the life but I can always learn more..
Hey there George, I think you did a great job communicating the top customer complaints. I can relate to a lot of what you are saying being a turf and landscape maintenance professional myself. Some of the things I do to address some of these problems are " I'll mow only my commercial customers earily in the mornings and on weekends, all of my residential customers lawns will get done after about 9 or 10". this eliminates the "wake-up call" to those still sleeping. Also I do a final walk through on all my propety's before I even leave, this way you can see if anything was missed, or if there are any problems that need to be brought to the clients attention. Just a few of the things I do, I should probably make a video about it too, maybe a day in the life of a lawn service professional, the do's and dont's.lol
Good video man! Answering the phone is a big one also. I've gotten several clients that say the biggest complaint about their previous lawn care provider is that they would never answer the phone.
Good list George. Another common one I've gotten is getting dirt in CLOSED garages. More often than not, I notice a poor seal on the garage door with the concrete below. Usually how I communicate this to the customer is that it is probably impossible for me to completely prevent it from happening but I will do everything possible to mitigate the problem. That's is usually enough. I mitigate simply by NEVER blowing towards the garage. When I'm up against the garbage, I blow parallel to the door. It seems to work well. The bad seals on the garage doors are usually in the corners.
+Corey James yeah, but if the seals are bad , then dirt will enter no matter what. My approach ( if they complain ) is to inform them that there seals are shot and should be replaced. If they decide not to ( which always happens ! ) then they can no longer bitch at you.
I fired 2 companies for billing and not providing the service. The last company charged me per week. I paid for 4 weeks of service but the lawn only got moved 3 times, every 10 days. I can't stand it when companies are dishonest.
first time I used that site I found a lawn guy within few min of bids and he showed up not even 10 minutes later. I been usen this same guy every week now
I am sorry, but if I bill for a service, it has already been provided. That is if I did not have to buy materials such as top soil or sod or grass seed.
Yes to everything mentioned. With sprinkler heads - just go around them, can't break 'em that way. I've done a lot of yards with septic, same thing with access caps, just go around them. Or, carry a box and replace works to. My second week on the job, I left a gate open, and a dog got out - the owner was there, and not worried at all, so I got to keep my job. You can most certainly burn lawns with a 21 inch mower, I've done it, and seen guys do it. Mostly it happens on hills, or tight corners if you don't disengage the drive system. Here in Alaska, we can't take many rain days for mowing, so we just mow in the rain (although, it's like a Florida sprinkle).
I run my own such business, and you are 100% correct about all of this, I am a trully honest person and run this with all integrity. If I cannot get to a customer, or it is raning I always contact them or damage, put in ruts. I put ruts in a long time customer back lawn matter of fact I got my ZT stuck back there. HUGE ruts!! I will be going back om a few weeks when it dries out and put in fresh top soil and sod it down for her.
Great points. I'm guilty of all of these at one point or another. I wish i could mow during the week, I can't do that til school is out. Which kinda sucks in a way. I'm going to try this year and see if i can bring my lawn trailer to school in the morning so I can get going right after to get my stuff done.
love your videos. i can say that for my wife, she works third shift at the police department. she plans her sleep schedule around stuff she has to get done around the house. and she likes to lay out by the pool, being a shy-sheldon does not want to do it on days strangers are coming to the house....lol.
George, thanks for the pointers, very much appreciated. I just had an experience with a customer involving "Not Showing Up". Lady called me the other night around 8pm, said she was sorry for calling so late. Needless to say the guy from last year was no where to be found. She had 2 other companies suppose to show up and give her an estimate on her yard and neither company showed up and they didn't even call. When she called me at 8pm she was so upset cause she needed her lawn taken care of. I met with her yesterday and gave her a quote. Its going to be a weekly mowing and looks like I will be getting lots of extras out of it to through out the year. I "Showed Up" and got the gig. Whats wrong with some of these guys not showing up.
I hear what you're saying about mowing on weekends. I work for a landscaper Mon-Fri then I mow some accounts of my own on Saturday. Nothing I can do about that...haven't had anyone complain yet. After all, a lot of companies work Monday-Saturday anyway
It's true that many older people truly do not have much to do and YOU are the most important thing that is happening that day for them. A lot of them are very lonely so a good relationship between you and especially older customers is very important. A positive comment to older veterans is something that makes them feel important as well!
I'm starting off my landscaping company. When is a good time to buy a house/shop for my trailer(s) and equipment? And how do I know? When did you buy your first workshop location?
I'd like to get a foot in the door in the mowing/trimming/bush trimming biz, but wold like to get started with what I have----a weed whip, a blower and a push mower and attention to detail! Is this unrealistic? It seems like the next step up will require a substantially bigger outlay of $$$ for a bigger walk-behind and trailer, which I'm not ready to invest in until I have some work coming in. Thanks for the informative videos!
Hey George, thanks for making the videos. I don't run a lawn service but I do landscape maintenance and installation. Some of my customers ask me why the grass is dying, thin, bare on the edges of their lawns. The reason is the guy with the string trimmer burns the lawn to the ground. Most of the people who work for lawn services don't seem to think about what they do or why they do it. Some places a mower could get the edge of the lawn and trimming would be unnecessary. I wonder do they have to make the edges extra short so their boss will know they were not skipped? Also I have seen trees and shrubs scarred careless string trimmer work. Sometimes they do more damage than they do good with the trimmers. As the owner of a lawn service provider, what is your take on this? could a customer hire you to just now and not trim for less money or would that confuse your workers? Also I noticed that most of the lawn companies (except the small ones where the owner is out there mowing) never have time to talk or listen to the customer. I think you have a great idea emailing your customers. I have gotten extra work by observing and communicating problems .
my take is they need to give a shit. but the fact of the matter is they really don't.look at there pay scale. that is why i always preach to keep your prices higher !
Also I want to mention. I dunno if you have done a video on this subject already or not. but this is a very key bit of info.... when beginning the process of mowing a lawn take a second and look at the layout of the property. make a pattern in your mind that you can follow that allows you to start and finish in the same spot. basically working in a circle and using what I call landscaping "highways"... working in a circle makes you more sure you didn't miss any spots as you mentioned it also makes it so you aren't constantly going over and back across areas that you have already gotten and messing up the lines.. the highways you create should go diagonal, vertical, and straight up and down every other time in order to keep the grass growing evenly. same with edging and weedeating.. my workers like to hop out grab the edger and start at the nearest edge. I always stop them and show them exactly where to start that they will finish right back near the truck. a bit hard to explain without being able to show someone. but my point is there is a place you can start and work in a circle that will put you finishing right near where you park. and of course park where you know your ending points are. damn I'm good at my job I realize this when I know more than I can even explain
saves on time.. alot.. makes it so you aren't walking back and forth across big properties and keeps the lines and look sharper. uses less gas. you yourself use less energy and less steps throughout the day. I literally go over every step almost in my mind before I begin a new property and figure out the quickest, easiest, and cleanest ways to begin and finish
properties with rental customers in them I mow at the beginning of the week between 9 and 5.. work hours which makes it less likely to have to ask them to move vehicles and be in your way and so forth. commercial properties and plots or lots I do early in the mornings any day of the week I get ready. personal home owning customers I do later in the afternoons towards the end of the week to allow a clean lawn on the weekends also gives them the chance to be home and talk to me if they need more done or something changes.
How many lawns do you have in Florida? How many in winconson? You should mention if your mowing all year around you should mow in a different direction bin the winter. If you mow the same way every time you will start making tracts.
cant really share # with you, but I can tell you we do hundred's of properties weekly. we do mow in a different direction each time we mow, and I'll try to put that into a video soon. good idea
George would you ever be willing to do a business conference in Florida? Maybe a paid event so guys can get information to keep the industry going up instead of down.
I subscribed with my other account and every day I am watching your videos. You give great advice that helps me out a lot! Keep it up! Love your videos!
no problem Mark. We never mow more than once a week, ever. The spring rush is when you get the majority of your calls for work by customers. That magical time starts about March 1st here in Florida and about May 1st in Wisconsin.
what is the best economical mower to buy to get started doing residential mowing keep in mind i live in upstate SC and can have some hilly terrain and i am not rich by no means but would like to get started since i only work weekends i have 4 days a week to do this on the side if it becomes profitable maybe full time and would like to pass the business on to my son when he gets out of the military if he wants it.
+Stevie Ray We (father and son startup) began with a used 21 inch push mower. But in our second year we decided we needed something that either of us could operate, even on inclines, so we went to a self-propelled. Went new so we wouldn't end up with a lot of down time. Might go used for second pieces of equipment, but prefer to pay a bit more for new so we can rely on them. Ended up with the Honda HRR217VKA which runs $399 at home depot, with a warranty extension from three years to five for an additional $60. Mulches, bags, or rear discharges (nice to not have it throw grass onto sidewalks). Highest rated Consumer Reports. Works much faster, = more jobs in less time. Has dual blades for better mulching and more even cuts. Our customers have seen a difference too. Better than what they can do themselves with standard home mowers, and less damaging to lawns than zero turns , riding tractors or standers. You can spend more for an electric start (about $100 more), and there are some other upgrades too, such as hydro drive, but this seemed like the sweet spot for most bang for the buck. If we end up adding a second one and don't decide to cut corners with a used mower, we might try the hydro drive the next time, but this one is really quite good just as it came out of the box. Only thing some others had that this didn't and that we wish we could have gotten was a hose hookup for quick washout after cutting. But not that hard to wipe it out at the end of the day.
Hey do you think two experienced landscapers with two seasons of lawn maintenance experience using two mowers and two whippers could take care of 15 cuts per day in high season? Weve only ever done large acreage properties and we can do about 12 of those per day with three boys and two zero turns
How do you work around or deal with siding that is installed to low on the house? I've told customers that I won't weed wack at times because the siding is so low to the lawn.
+CHARLES D Charles, don't lose the customer over that. Instead tell them that you will be glad to take care of their property, but you WILL NOT be responsible for damage to their siding from the weed whip PERIOD ! you will however be happy to spray a 4" strip of roundup next to the house instead. This way they can't complain about it because you ( gave them ) the option !
+CHARLES D You can take a little time and make your fist past to get as close as you can, then slow the rpm down on the trimmer so it will not bust the siding out. I have gotten several jobs due to the other guys busting the siding. Some were old and brittle siding that would break from a gnat flying into it so I made the extra money replacing the siding for them.
for your information, my son gave me that hat. He's a Robotic engineer . I have a Harley hat too, let me guess, how does that play into lawn mowing right ? WTF ?
G Packard I wasn't trying to be a dick, just never seen anyone else with one of those hats (I have the same one). Sorry if I came off that way. Enjoy your videos!
A good thing too doo is what I see a few people doing is too video tape your work. So when something goes wrong and a customer is trying to say you broke my sprinkler head you can say no I didn't watch my recording it was already broken.
Yep, open gates for sure. My contractor has done it twice this summer despite my asking them to please be careful after the first instance. The first time, it happened, I didn't notice the open gate and my Labrador Retriever escaped and was gone all night. He thankfully was picked up by the Humane Society but I had to pay to get him back. The very next week, same thing except that I caught it before the dog got out. Now I don't trust these guys and I walk the yard and check both gates before I let my dog out after a mowing. The contractor seems unconcerned and has basically said that it's my problem. I'm in poor health and need the service but I'm shopping for a more responsible service provider. Also scheduling. I'm supposed to receive a Thursday cut and I understand that weather can affect the schedule. No problem. I try to be accommodating even to the point of paying for a pet waste removal service to come every Wednesday to pick any dog poop so the lawn guys have a clean yard to mow. Not good enough. If rain delays the cut a day or two and they show up and spot a dog turd or two, that's it, they walk off with no cut done. I apologized and explained that I am trying to be accommodating but, I am often at the hospital and, not knowing when are going to arrive, I can't always get out there five minutes before the cut to grab a stray turd or two. Am I being unreasonable? Btw, they charge me $140.00 a month for a weekly cut. My lot is small, (50 x 110') mostly taken up by the house and a double garage. I've never seen a cut, trim and blow off take more than 30 minutes. I'm not in arrears with them, in fact, I insist on paying a month in advance just in case I am in hospital. They basically have done 2 cuts for August, one trimmed and the second got no trim. And they want more money to start Sept. service. I started with them last spring and they charged me $300.00 for the first cut which involved the leaves from two trees on my front lawn. The yard was otherwise clean, no dog crap, garbage or anything else. Just some leaves and rather tall (6-8") grass by the time they got to me.
+Merlyn Sk your paying them well, and they should take your concerns to heart. If they do not, then look for another company. Look, I've never sen your property, but it sounds like they really don't care about your concerns. my advice is to move on. There are plenty of other companies that would love your business !
my complaints are :: crushing my gutter ends with zero turns. Half A$$ trim job , not blowing off my patio, Always in a rush. oh and raising the price all the time
Things that bothered me about my lawn service (NOT THIS MAN'S/YOU TUBER'S SERVICE!! - Let me make that perfectly clear. I don't know this guy or live anywhere near where he works!) and reasons I'm not going back (not being a b*tch - just incite into why customers may leave) 1) Think about the job BEFORE and the bid CAREFULLY! I know it's a big job. That's why I have hired you. - But once you make a bid, accept the work and don't complain. If you can't do it or handle it, figure that out BEFORE bidding. 2) (Along the same lines) If you don't have the skills to do a specialized job - don't say you can. It will frustrate us both while it wastes your time and the client's money. 3) If we agree to payment method, don't then complain about it. If the method is not acceptable - don't accept it or agree at the start. (Agreeing to pay in lumps during the season, or completely at the end of the season...that's the agreement. Figure out what you can do BEFORE you bid and accept the work.) 4) Admit to damage that you did, and then MAKE it RIGHT without insulting the customer or making excuses. If there is any policy regarding this - make sure they know it first off, but hey - if you break it, replace it! Example: If your riding mower didn't turn fast enough and you broke the fence - SEVERAL TIMES - fess up and make it RIGHT. 5) No matter WHO your client is...elderly, disabled, female, single-living alone (and I mention these because these are the ones who ARE taken advantage of by businesses and disreputable workers)... be HONEST. Be thorough with you discussions without talking down to the client - no matter WHO or WHAT they are. If you can't do something, make it clear and understood. There is nothing worse than being left feeling that you were conned or taken advantage of. (Isn't working honestly worth more than the buzz your business would get from unsatisfied customers?) Again, if you don't want the business - don't bid on it. If you bid an amount - stick with it without announcing over and over that "this is tough work. This job is worth MORE than the ____ I quoted." But that's what YOU agreed to before the client even said yes. IF you find you can't do it - time-wise/skill-wise, announce that BEFORE the work starts. Don't do a half-assed job because you don't have the skills, don't want to take the time, or are unhappy you bid too low. They believed in YOU, make it RIGHT.) Again - seriously, I'm not b*tching. I am not coming here to rant. (For some reason I find i am liking watching videos regarding small businesses and entrepreneurs.) But this video is to help others to understand why clients get mad - and I thought I would add to the discussion about what caused me to leave a lawn care guy who worked on my place the other year.
Mc Kenna boy that's a mouthful . LOL You get that guys ? This person did really nail it. I wish i would have gone into more depth on this subject. anyway, thanks for commenting.
You are complaining that your customers want you to be reliable? That's a standard expectation for any business. All businesses have challenges to their reliability, including weather, and it is the responsibility of the business to have a plan that counteracts those challenges. I may have people coming over at a certain time or I maybe don't want strangers on my property when I can't be at home. Whatever my reasons are you don't need to understand them, you only need to be on time. I don't care what your business is, if you can't be reliable, I'll find someone who can be.
Michael Humphreys I have no problem being reliable, in fact we pride ourselves on it. but unexpected things happen all the time. and it's idiots like you who can't make any exceptions to your god almighty plans ! do you think i want strangers on your property ? of course not. but the fact is that we hire and fire all the time because no one wants to work anymore. and you think the shitty little bit of money you are willing to pay makes you think your some kind of god OH HELL NO ! i WISH YOU HAD NO ONE ELSE TO CHOOSE FROM ! then you wouldn't be so ARROGANT ! prick !
Michael Humphreys Mower/truck breaks down, rain, emergency, another job takes longer than normal, traffic accident prevents you from being on time, etc.. 99% of customers would understand that stuff happens and their yard may need to be rescheduled or pushed back a couple hours. I cut my own grass, but 3 people on my street have a company cut their yards... and they have had to reschedule for a lot of reasons... really is not a big deal. I would rather someone reschedule than rush through and do a crappy job.
Love the upfront honesty and personal anecdotes! Keep doing it!
right on brother
Ahh we just reviewed the 12 Commandments with our guys this week. Gutters, put gutters back on the house!
THE TWELVE COMMANDMENTS
1. Close gates
2. Put gutters back on home
3. Do not run over the ends of gutters.
4. Do not scalp the lawn.
5. Do not blow grass clippings onto or into street or landscaping.
6. Do not damage turf with tires when making turns.
7. Read job notes each week.
8. Pick up trash before mowing.
9. Pick up excessive sticks while mowing.
10. Change directions every week or so if/when/where appropriate.
11. Leave a service note at the door.
12. Notify customer and office if there is damage.
Great points. All good stuff to know and build upon. Thanks for sharing.
thanks for your comments Stanley I really appreciate them .
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the tips and all are very useful. I run into dog poop and have to clean it up first, I try to tell the owners to clean their lawns. Some customers hate the guys with sit down lawnmowers since residential properties are not particularly level like a park or school grounds and they bare their ground in spots. Some ask me about cutting a pattern like the golf course at Augusta Georgia, I try to explain the problem as best I can or if they want stripes I charge extra. Moving children's toys, trimming fence lines with old wooden fences that peel paint or wood, asking me to cut the lawn too short or asking me about which shrub to plant all takes my time. I learned never to park in their driveways or assume I can ask for a drink or bathroom at any time. I smoke in my car only and drink my water there. Maybe it bugs people when I answer my cell phone, I try to keep calls short. I do little extras, level patio stones, roll up water hoses, fix drain pipes and quickly trim a shrub if it looks sprawled, doesn't take me long and the customer remembers and sees my eye for details. I am having fun and enjoying the life but I can always learn more..
thanks for sharing
You have to do these "little things" because if you don't, there will be another guy, like me, that will!
Hey there George, I think you did a great job communicating the top customer complaints. I can relate to a lot of what you are saying being a turf and landscape maintenance professional myself. Some of the things I do to address some of these problems are " I'll mow only my commercial customers earily in the mornings and on weekends, all of my residential customers lawns will get done after about 9 or 10". this eliminates the "wake-up call" to those still sleeping. Also I do a final walk through on all my propety's before I even leave, this way you can see if anything was missed, or if there are any problems that need to be brought to the clients attention.
Just a few of the things I do, I should probably make a video about it too, maybe a day in the life of a lawn service professional, the do's and dont's.lol
+Complete LawnCare Solutions
good work habits. makes sense to me.
Good video man! Answering the phone is a big one also. I've gotten several clients that say the biggest complaint about their previous lawn care provider is that they would never answer the phone.
It's commonly known as voicemail...
Good list George. Another common one I've gotten is getting dirt in CLOSED garages. More often than not, I notice a poor seal on the garage door with the concrete below. Usually how I communicate this to the customer is that it is probably impossible for me to completely prevent it from happening but I will do everything possible to mitigate the problem. That's is usually enough. I mitigate simply by NEVER blowing towards the garage. When I'm up against the garbage, I blow parallel to the door. It seems to work well. The bad seals on the garage doors are usually in the corners.
+Corey James
yeah, but if the seals are bad , then dirt will enter no matter what. My approach ( if they complain ) is to inform them that there seals are shot and should be replaced. If they decide not to ( which always happens ! ) then they can no longer bitch at you.
a true long term pro.... excellent video bro, you pointed out all the key stuff, great job
Bill Thomas thanks Bill, we do try
I fired 2 companies for billing and not providing the service. The last company charged me per week. I paid for 4 weeks of service but the lawn only got moved 3 times, every 10 days. I can't stand it when companies are dishonest.
first time I used that site I found a lawn guy within few min of bids and he showed up not even 10 minutes later. I been usen this same guy every week now
I am sorry, but if I bill for a service, it has already been provided. That is if I did not have to buy materials such as top soil or sod or grass seed.
Yes to everything mentioned.
With sprinkler heads - just go around them, can't break 'em that way. I've done a lot of yards with septic, same thing with access caps, just go around them. Or, carry a box and replace works to.
My second week on the job, I left a gate open, and a dog got out - the owner was there, and not worried at all, so I got to keep my job.
You can most certainly burn lawns with a 21 inch mower, I've done it, and seen guys do it. Mostly it happens on hills, or tight corners if you don't disengage the drive system.
Here in Alaska, we can't take many rain days for mowing, so we just mow in the rain (although, it's like a Florida sprinkle).
Great video G. Theere were some of the points you mentioned that ibhave thought of but a couple i never came across yet. Thanks
I run my own such business, and you are 100% correct about all of this, I am a trully honest person and run this with all integrity. If I cannot get to a customer, or it is raning I always contact them or damage, put in ruts. I put ruts in a long time customer back lawn matter of fact I got my ZT stuck back there. HUGE ruts!! I will be going back om a few weeks when it dries out and put in fresh top soil and sod it down for her.
atta boy, take care of business.
Thank you for sharing your practical experience and expertise. Deeply appreciated. Keep up the great videos.
thanks John and welcome to my channel.
Great points. I'm guilty of all of these at one point or another. I wish i could mow during the week, I can't do that til school is out. Which kinda sucks in a way.
I'm going to try this year and see if i can bring my lawn trailer to school in the morning so I can get going right after to get my stuff done.
Good luck Matt ! And why not bring your trailer ? what are they going to say ? If they say not to then you don't ! Good Luck my friend.
George
thanks for the tips George. I'm getting geared up to start my own new mowing business. Wish me luck.
+Jeff Franklin
good luck my friend.
Great info. Open gates is a big one. As far a morning goes I try to see what costumers are up early, so I start at 7am no earlier.
thanks for commenting
InvisUser Tsal yes open gates are. we also start around 7 : 00
Good concise run down of the customer pet-peeves.
+Bruno TaTa
thanks for finally saying something positive
love your videos. i can say that for my wife, she works third shift at the police department. she plans her sleep schedule around stuff she has to get done around the house. and she likes to lay out by the pool, being a shy-sheldon does not want to do it on days strangers are coming to the house....lol.
thanks bro
George, thanks for the pointers, very much appreciated. I just had an experience with a customer involving "Not Showing Up". Lady called me the other night around 8pm, said she was sorry for calling so late. Needless to say the guy from last year was no where to be found. She had 2 other companies suppose to show up and give her an estimate on her yard and neither company showed up and they didn't even call.
When she called me at 8pm she was so upset cause she needed her lawn taken care of. I met with her yesterday and gave her a quote. Its going to be a weekly mowing and looks like I will be getting lots of extras out of it to through out the year. I "Showed Up" and got the gig.
Whats wrong with some of these guys not showing up.
They are just lazy asses. Thanks George !
Indeed they are, and are probably the same ones that bitch cause OTHER people are making money.
I hear what you're saying about mowing on weekends. I work for a landscaper Mon-Fri then I mow some accounts of my own on Saturday. Nothing I can do about that...haven't had anyone complain yet. After all, a lot of companies work Monday-Saturday anyway
that's true they do
It's true that many older people truly do not have much to do and YOU are the most important thing that is happening that day for them. A lot of them are very lonely so a good relationship between you and especially older customers is very important. A positive comment to older veterans is something that makes them feel important as well!
got it, thanks for commenting
I'm starting off my landscaping company. When is a good time to buy a house/shop for my trailer(s) and equipment? And how do I know? When did you buy your first workshop location?
Thank you for your candid, honest insight . You're treasure will be in Heaven.
Brian Doherty holy smokes, i hope so cause they sure aren't down here. lol
When are u going to make a video of how and why u started? I also want to know the ups and downs and changes in the years.
I'd like to get a foot in the door in the mowing/trimming/bush trimming biz, but wold like to get started with what I have----a weed whip, a blower and a push mower and attention to detail! Is this unrealistic? It seems like the next step up will require a substantially bigger outlay of $$$ for a bigger walk-behind and trailer, which I'm not ready to invest in until I have some work coming in. Thanks for the informative videos!
Good tips thanks George.
Thanks for commenting!
youre right about the sprinklers
+Mario Saenz Landscaping Services
i'm always right. lol just kidding !
Hey George, thanks for making the videos. I don't run a lawn service but I do landscape maintenance and installation.
Some of my customers ask me why the grass is dying, thin, bare on the edges of their lawns. The reason is the guy with the string trimmer burns the lawn to the ground. Most of the people who work for lawn services don't seem to think about what they do or why they do it. Some places a mower could get the edge of the lawn and trimming would be unnecessary. I wonder do they have to make the edges extra short so their boss will know they were not skipped? Also I have seen trees and shrubs scarred careless string trimmer work. Sometimes they do more damage than they do good with the trimmers.
As the owner of a lawn service provider, what is your take on this? could a customer hire you to just now and not trim for less money or would that confuse your workers?
Also I noticed that most of the lawn companies (except the small ones where the owner is out there mowing) never have time to talk or listen to the customer. I think you have a great idea emailing your customers. I have gotten extra work by observing and communicating problems .
my take is they need to give a shit. but the fact of the matter is they really don't.look at there pay scale. that is why i always preach to keep your prices higher !
Excellent insights, Mr. Packard
thanks bro
Thanks. Great points.
thanks for the info George, im trying to get my wife to help out this year
good luck with that one. lol
Also I want to mention. I dunno if you have done a video on this subject already or not. but this is a very key bit of info.... when beginning the process of mowing a lawn take a second and look at the layout of the property. make a pattern in your mind that you can follow that allows you to start and finish in the same spot. basically working in a circle and using what I call landscaping "highways"... working in a circle makes you more sure you didn't miss any spots as you mentioned it also makes it so you aren't constantly going over and back across areas that you have already gotten and messing up the lines.. the highways you create should go diagonal, vertical, and straight up and down every other time in order to keep the grass growing evenly. same with edging and weedeating.. my workers like to hop out grab the edger and start at the nearest edge. I always stop them and show them exactly where to start that they will finish right back near the truck. a bit hard to explain without being able to show someone. but my point is there is a place you can start and work in a circle that will put you finishing right near where you park. and of course park where you know your ending points are. damn I'm good at my job I realize this when I know more than I can even explain
saves on time.. alot.. makes it so you aren't walking back and forth across big properties and keeps the lines and look sharper. uses less gas. you yourself use less energy and less steps throughout the day. I literally go over every step almost in my mind before I begin a new property and figure out the quickest, easiest, and cleanest ways to begin and finish
properties with rental customers in them I mow at the beginning of the week between 9 and 5.. work hours which makes it less likely to have to ask them to move vehicles and be in your way and so forth. commercial properties and plots or lots I do early in the mornings any day of the week I get ready. personal home owning customers I do later in the afternoons towards the end of the week to allow a clean lawn on the weekends also gives them the chance to be home and talk to me if they need more done or something changes.
+The Truth
thanks for sharing.
+The Truth thanks for sharing.
+The Truth
all good ideas . thanks for sharing.
How many lawns do you have in Florida? How many in winconson? You should mention if your mowing all year around you should mow in a different direction bin the winter. If you mow the same way every time you will start making tracts.
cant really share # with you, but I can tell you we do hundred's of properties weekly. we do mow in a different direction each time we mow, and I'll try to put that into a video soon. good idea
Thanks for putting out these video's bro. Gives me some pretty good insight.
Justin West your welcome justin, and thanks for commenting.
George would you ever be willing to do a business conference in Florida? Maybe a paid event so guys can get information to keep the industry going up instead of down.
absolutely ! I would be happy to.
Your videos are so helpful. Thanks!
I also have properties that takes about 4 days to dry out, even after 3 days i get stuck with my mowers.
Good advice sir!
With a new quote It’s best to use terms like “the beginning or towards the end of the week” instead of specifically Tuesday Wednesday etc
thanks for the advice
I subscribed with my other account and every day I am watching your videos. You give great advice that helps me out a lot! Keep it up! Love your videos!
+Leslie Ayers
well thank you for leaving such a nice comment.
hey thanks for you opinion it's help me a lot
one more ??
like how u can change to cut the grass ore to trim bushes ?
luv shop talk. I think you stayed on topic for the whole video
no way man ! That's a first then . lol
I'm 14 I have a push mower and I'm nearly done repairing it
Joboi good for work at it but good tool not the cheap stuff
Great video. George, do you mow more than once a week on the spring? What did you mean by the spring rush? Sorry for the newbie question ha.
no problem Mark. We never mow more than once a week, ever. The spring rush is when you get the majority of your calls for work by customers. That magical time starts about March 1st here in Florida and about May 1st in Wisconsin.
G Packard when pricing weekly do you charge the same for spring and fall clean ups or average it over the year
Thanks for the advice.
Mark Wallace thanks for commenting Mark.
excellent points...
Hey nice channel that video was helpful! Can you do a video on your lawn care setup
what is the best economical mower to buy to get started doing residential mowing keep in mind i live in upstate SC and can have some hilly terrain and i am not rich by no means but would like to get started since i only work weekends i have 4 days a week to do this on the side if it becomes profitable maybe full time and would like to pass the business on to my son when he gets out of the military if he wants it.
+Stevie Ray We (father and son startup) began with a used 21 inch push mower. But in our second year we decided we needed something that either of us could operate, even on inclines, so we went to a self-propelled. Went new so we wouldn't end up with a lot of down time. Might go used for second pieces of equipment, but prefer to pay a bit more for new so we can rely on them.
Ended up with the Honda HRR217VKA which runs $399 at home depot, with a warranty extension from three years to five for an additional $60. Mulches, bags, or rear discharges (nice to not have it throw grass onto sidewalks). Highest rated Consumer Reports. Works much faster, = more jobs in less time. Has dual blades for better mulching and more even cuts.
Our customers have seen a difference too. Better than what they can do themselves with standard home mowers, and less damaging to lawns than zero turns , riding tractors or standers.
You can spend more for an electric start (about $100 more), and there are some other upgrades too, such as hydro drive, but this seemed like the sweet spot for most bang for the buck. If we end up adding a second one and don't decide to cut corners with a used mower, we might try the hydro drive the next time, but this one is really quite good just as it came out of the box.
Only thing some others had that this didn't and that we wish we could have gotten was a hose hookup for quick washout after cutting. But not that hard to wipe it out at the end of the day.
Hey do you think two experienced landscapers with two seasons of lawn maintenance experience using two mowers and two whippers could take care of 15 cuts per day in high season? Weve only ever done large acreage properties and we can do about 12 of those per day with three boys and two zero turns
Henry Caouette Hi Henry , absolutely ! I know we can.
Good video on the do's and don't ext
thanks and welcome coesglec
How do you work around or deal with siding that is installed to low on the house? I've told customers that I won't weed wack at times because the siding is so low to the lawn.
+CHARLES D
Charles, don't lose the customer over that. Instead tell them that you will be glad to take care of their property, but you WILL NOT be responsible for damage to their siding from the weed whip PERIOD ! you will however be happy to spray a 4" strip of roundup next to the house instead. This way they can't complain about it because you ( gave them ) the option !
+CHARLES D You can take a little time and make your fist past to get as close as you can, then slow the rpm down on the trimmer so it will not bust the siding out. I have gotten several jobs due to the other guys busting the siding. Some were old and brittle siding that would break from a gnat flying into it so I made the extra money replacing the siding for them.
I have customers who like to talk and that really slows us up.
me too
Nice hat, how many conveyor belts do you deal with in lawn care?
for your information, my son gave me that hat. He's a Robotic engineer . I have a Harley hat too, let me guess, how does that play into lawn mowing right ? WTF ?
G Packard I wasn't trying to be a dick, just never seen anyone else with one of those hats (I have the same one). Sorry if I came off that way. Enjoy your videos!
i'm also sorry bro. long day i guess. still no excuse. SORRY !
Every day is long these days, no worries bro! Keep the videos coming!
I heard of incentive pay lawn by lawn basis any thoughts on that
Thanks for the info
want-a-be woodworker your very welcome.
Great Information - keep up the work !
thanks man i will try ?
Thanks, Good info.
+Gachitadamunga
your very welcome.
How do you deal with bee's. Especially yellow jackets?
Nathan D Caudell Wd40
Awesome videos man. Thanks
+Hands4Surgery you bet, and thanks for commenting.
A good thing too doo is what I see a few people doing is too video tape your work. So when something goes wrong and a customer is trying to say you broke my sprinkler head you can say no I didn't watch my recording it was already broken.
that's a great idea but not realistic in lawn care because you do so many properties.
great info thank you
your welcome
Do my best to mow M-F and save projects for Sat.
I might mow on Saturday if someone calls me up desperate, but they gotta pay me extra.
Like the advice.
thanks bro
The gravel driveways make me nervous when I go to blow them off I'm always worried about the gravel hitting a car
+Ryan Horomanski
it happens, don't worry too much.
+G Packard your videos are so true on the things that happen in lawn or pro services business or small lawn care business
+Ryan Horomanski, when blowing over gravel or mulch, idle down your blower a bit. I t is slower but you don't create a big mess.
maybe upsale the lawns that are perpetually wet with drainage basins?
always up sell brother and thanks
Yep, open gates for sure. My contractor has done it twice this summer despite my asking them to please be careful after the first instance. The first time, it happened, I didn't notice the open gate and my Labrador Retriever escaped and was gone all night. He thankfully was picked up by the Humane Society but I had to pay to get him back. The very next week, same thing except that I caught it before the dog got out. Now I don't trust these guys and I walk the yard and check both gates before I let my dog out after a mowing. The contractor seems unconcerned and has basically said that it's my problem. I'm in poor health and need the service but I'm shopping for a more responsible service provider. Also scheduling. I'm supposed to receive a Thursday cut and I understand that weather can affect the schedule. No problem. I try to be accommodating even to the point of paying for a pet waste removal service to come every Wednesday to pick any dog poop so the lawn guys have a clean yard to mow. Not good enough. If rain delays the cut a day or two and they show up and spot a dog turd or two, that's it, they walk off with no cut done. I apologized and explained that I am trying to be accommodating but, I am often at the hospital and, not knowing when are going to arrive, I can't always get out there five minutes before the cut to grab a stray turd or two. Am I being unreasonable? Btw, they charge me $140.00 a month for a weekly cut. My lot is small, (50 x 110') mostly taken up by the house and a double garage. I've never seen a cut, trim and blow off take more than 30 minutes. I'm not in arrears with them, in fact, I insist on paying a month in advance just in case I am in hospital. They basically have done 2 cuts for August, one trimmed and the second got no trim. And they want more money to start Sept. service. I started with them last spring and they charged me $300.00 for the first cut which involved the leaves from two trees on my front lawn. The yard was otherwise clean, no dog crap, garbage or anything else. Just some leaves and rather tall (6-8") grass by the time they got to me.
+Merlyn Sk your paying them well, and they should take your concerns to heart. If they do not, then look for another company. Look, I've never sen your property, but it sounds like they really don't care about your concerns. my advice is to move on. There are plenty of other companies that would love your business !
G Packard Thanks so much George. I appreciate your opinion.
my complaints are :: crushing my gutter ends with zero turns. Half A$$ trim job , not blowing off my patio, Always in a rush. oh and raising the price all the time
Ed Yager time is money in this business... literally. but ur other complaints are valid, I see crushed drains alot.
Too funny. That part about all they have to do is wait on(list of things). It's true.
thanks man , glad you liked the video
Also - pissing the neighbor off by cutting their lawn (I've seen it, and I've stopped guys from doing it) can make your customer not like you.
How early you start in the morning is dependent on your municipality's noise bylaw. Just sayin.
Things that bothered me about my lawn service (NOT THIS MAN'S/YOU TUBER'S SERVICE!! - Let me make that perfectly clear. I don't know this guy or live anywhere near where he works!) and reasons I'm not going back (not being a b*tch - just incite into why customers may leave)
1) Think about the job BEFORE and the bid CAREFULLY! I know it's a big job. That's why I have hired you. - But once you make a bid, accept the work and don't complain. If you can't do it or handle it, figure that out BEFORE bidding.
2) (Along the same lines) If you don't have the skills to do a specialized job - don't say you can. It will frustrate us both while it wastes your time and the client's money.
3) If we agree to payment method, don't then complain about it. If the method is not acceptable - don't accept it or agree at the start. (Agreeing to pay in lumps during the season, or completely at the end of the season...that's the agreement. Figure out what you can do BEFORE you bid and accept the work.)
4) Admit to damage that you did, and then MAKE it RIGHT without insulting the customer or making excuses. If there is any policy regarding this - make sure they know it first off, but hey - if you break it, replace it! Example: If your riding mower didn't turn fast enough and you broke the fence - SEVERAL TIMES - fess up and make it RIGHT.
5) No matter WHO your client is...elderly, disabled, female, single-living alone (and I mention these because these are the ones who ARE taken advantage of by businesses and disreputable workers)... be HONEST. Be thorough with you discussions without talking down to the client - no matter WHO or WHAT they are. If you can't do something, make it clear and understood. There is nothing worse than being left feeling that you were conned or taken advantage of. (Isn't working honestly worth more than the buzz your business would get from unsatisfied customers?)
Again, if you don't want the business - don't bid on it. If you bid an amount - stick with it without announcing over and over that "this is tough work. This job is worth MORE than the ____ I quoted." But that's what YOU agreed to before the client even said yes. IF you find you can't do it - time-wise/skill-wise, announce that BEFORE the work starts. Don't do a half-assed job because you don't have the skills, don't want to take the time, or are unhappy you bid too low. They believed in YOU, make it RIGHT.)
Again - seriously, I'm not b*tching. I am not coming here to rant. (For some reason I find i am liking watching videos regarding small businesses and entrepreneurs.) But this video is to help others to understand why clients get mad - and I thought I would add to the discussion about what caused me to leave a lawn care guy who worked on my place the other year.
Mc Kenna boy that's a mouthful . LOL You get that guys ? This person did really nail it. I wish i would have gone into more depth on this subject. anyway, thanks for commenting.
Don't ogle the lady's at the yards, that's unprofessional, but I seen it happen a lot, I'm guilty of it to. ( . Y . )
Tanasi Tim~ that was a good one lol
You are complaining that your customers want you to be reliable? That's a standard expectation for any business. All businesses have challenges to their reliability, including weather, and it is the responsibility of the business to have a plan that counteracts those challenges.
I may have people coming over at a certain time or I maybe don't want strangers on my property when I can't be at home. Whatever my reasons are you don't need to understand them, you only need to be on time. I don't care what your business is, if you can't be reliable, I'll find someone who can be.
Michael Humphreys I have no problem being reliable, in fact we pride ourselves on it. but unexpected things happen all the time. and it's idiots like you who can't make any exceptions to your god almighty plans ! do you think i want strangers on your property ? of course not. but the fact is that we hire and fire all the time because no one wants to work anymore. and you think the shitty little bit of money you are willing to pay makes you think your some kind of god OH HELL NO ! i WISH YOU HAD NO ONE ELSE TO CHOOSE FROM ! then you wouldn't be so ARROGANT ! prick !
Michael Humphreys Mower/truck breaks down, rain, emergency, another job takes longer than normal, traffic accident prevents you from being on time, etc.. 99% of customers would understand that stuff happens and their yard may need to be rescheduled or pushed back a couple hours. I cut my own grass, but 3 people on my street have a company cut their yards... and they have had to reschedule for a lot of reasons... really is not a big deal. I would rather someone reschedule than rush through and do a crappy job.
Godsimaginary74 spot on!
Well, what kind of asshole leaves their dog outside when they know lawncare will be there anyhow?
right ?