An (apparently nice) elderly couple recently asked me to clear x4 large (25 x 15 feet) flower beds…and also a raised terrace (all full of weeds and dead foliage), then to re-edge the borders in their big windswept garden. It took me 2 full days of hard slog to complete the job. Not once did they pop out to say hello or show any interest whatsoever in what they’d asked me to do. Not a peep. They paid me by BACS. I hate working for people like that...who don’t even offer any feedback…even if it’s critical. It’s amazing what a friendly “hello” and maybe an offer of a quick brew can do to motivate and raise our spirits when we’re worn-out!
I know exactly what you mean. On the flip side I'd far rather that than someone who is stood on your shoulder watching your every move 🤣 but yes, someone who is pleasant and acknowledges you but let's you crack on after making you a brew is ideal 👌 and maybe a biscuit too...
I let a miserable old woman go on her doorstep. I'd taken her and her neighbor's garden from quite a state to being lovely. Fairly large gardens, front and back, all through 2023. First visit of 2024 I come, speak to her, be nice, play with her cat and get to work. The heavens open but I finish the lawn which was the part she most wanted fixed as it's had all the winter growth. Now drenched I finish and pack up early, it's been about 90 minutes. I usually stay a fair bit longer than that but it was getting so wet I'd ruin her lawn walking over it. I begin to say to her that her garden doesn't take me as long now I've made it nicer over the course of last years' hard work, and I would reduce her price from £50 to £40. I was also in the process of saying that as I only did the lawn and a few other bits I wasn't expecting full payment this visit, maybe £25-30. She screwed her face up and said "I think about £15 an hour is right for you". I'd been so nice to her and had never experienced something like that. I kept professionalism and said I didn't think that was going to work for me but it's been nice working on her garden, all the best for the future. She seemed to panic then and gave me £40 and asked me to reconsider. I just said goodbye. Hope she finds a kid on the street willing to work for £15 an hour to keep the mass of bindweed that's coming over from next door's fence at bay, in a month it'll look like Jumanji back there.
Really good advice mate. I’ve been a self employed gardener for 17 years now. Used to price per hour in the early days. But found for some customers you could never do enough or please them. Better to let one or two go every year, and keep building a better round. There not bothered about how hard it is for you to run a seasonal business, with all the weather issues. buy new tools and keep a van on the road. Only do priced work now ( job and knock) took me years to realise what works best
We will always come across the odd one or two customers who are not suited, either they are an issue or just a clash of personalities, like you we won't stop until the end of the year, unless its causing us undue stress.
Up to now, ive only dropped one customer mid season and that was from constantly forgetting to leave the gate open... Any others that i want to drop, i put their prices up (slightly higher than normal) at the end of the season and let them leave me instead
Apart what you mentioned, there's one thing I will not tolerate. I work with my wife, who is Japanese. Most people are lovely with her but a few seemed to think she was either deaf or stupid and they had to shout at her..she speaks perfect English. 🙄 They got sacked.
Last year I had an old boy muck me about. Had him booked in after multiple hard work phone calls because he's deaf. Turned up, only wanted a chat and only wanted to pay £10!!!! Block and delete. I've had 4 missed calls from him in recent weeks. I don't like ghosting but in this case it's a valid ghosting.
Hi mate I've got a pressure washing job to price up! It's around 80m2. How would you charge for this and what cleaning product is best when washing a block paving driveway? Many thanks Adam
Either by the meter or just by eye. A lot of people use sodium hypochlorite. Obviously the dirty it is the more you probably want to charge. I'm talking if there's bug weeds actively growing on it etc
Adam’s right saying Sodium Hypochlorite. Just be careful with it. It’s a powerful caustic bleach. Dilute with care. Wear rubber gloves & eye goggles when diluting and applying it. Even if you’re scrubbing flags with it diluted, it can splash on your skin, face and eyes. And don’t let “run-off” seep into the edge of a lawn or flower bed. It will kill the roots that are touched.
An (apparently nice) elderly couple recently asked me to clear x4 large (25 x 15 feet) flower beds…and also a raised terrace (all full of weeds and dead foliage), then to re-edge the borders in their big windswept garden. It took me 2 full days of hard slog to complete the job. Not once did they pop out to say hello or show any interest whatsoever in what they’d asked me to do. Not a peep. They paid me by BACS. I hate working for people like that...who don’t even offer any feedback…even if it’s critical. It’s amazing what a friendly “hello” and maybe an offer of a quick brew can do to motivate and raise our spirits when we’re worn-out!
I know exactly what you mean. On the flip side I'd far rather that than someone who is stood on your shoulder watching your every move 🤣 but yes, someone who is pleasant and acknowledges you but let's you crack on after making you a brew is ideal 👌 and maybe a biscuit too...
@@TheGreyGardener1990 Yep…That too! As Peter (Family Guy) Griffin would say..”Do you know what really grinds my gears?..etc!
@@stevelanghorn1407 🤣🤣
I let a miserable old woman go on her doorstep. I'd taken her and her neighbor's garden from quite a state to being lovely. Fairly large gardens, front and back, all through 2023. First visit of 2024 I come, speak to her, be nice, play with her cat and get to work. The heavens open but I finish the lawn which was the part she most wanted fixed as it's had all the winter growth. Now drenched I finish and pack up early, it's been about 90 minutes. I usually stay a fair bit longer than that but it was getting so wet I'd ruin her lawn walking over it.
I begin to say to her that her garden doesn't take me as long now I've made it nicer over the course of last years' hard work, and I would reduce her price from £50 to £40. I was also in the process of saying that as I only did the lawn and a few other bits I wasn't expecting full payment this visit, maybe £25-30.
She screwed her face up and said "I think about £15 an hour is right for you".
I'd been so nice to her and had never experienced something like that. I kept professionalism and said I didn't think that was going to work for me but it's been nice working on her garden, all the best for the future. She seemed to panic then and gave me £40 and asked me to reconsider. I just said goodbye.
Hope she finds a kid on the street willing to work for £15 an hour to keep the mass of bindweed that's coming over from next door's fence at bay, in a month it'll look like Jumanji back there.
Think I'd do the same. It really puts you off once someone says something like that and you can't really tolerate working for them
Really good advice mate. I’ve been a self employed gardener for 17 years now. Used to price per hour in the early days. But found for some customers you could never do enough or please them. Better to let one or two go every year, and keep building a better round. There not bothered about how hard it is for you to run a seasonal business, with all the weather issues. buy new tools and keep a van on the road. Only do priced work now ( job and knock) took me years to realise what works best
Absolutely mate, you end up coming across a system that works best for you.
We will always come across the odd one or two customers who are not suited, either they are an issue or just a clash of personalities, like you we won't stop until the end of the year, unless its causing us undue stress.
Definitely mate 👍
Up to now, ive only dropped one customer mid season and that was from constantly forgetting to leave the gate open... Any others that i want to drop, i put their prices up (slightly higher than normal) at the end of the season and let them leave me instead
Ahhh the gate thing is a pain!
I don't pick it up. I just use the blower to blow on to a bit of grass cut
I could write a book on customers odd moments i shall call them 😂 Card reader now ,payment on the day ! No messing
What would you recommend as a minimum price for a grass cut for someone just starting out?
Mines 20 although I do have two at 15
Apart what you mentioned, there's one thing I will not tolerate. I work with my wife, who is Japanese. Most people are lovely with her but a few seemed to think she was either deaf or stupid and they had to shout at her..she speaks perfect English. 🙄 They got sacked.
I don't blame you. I think most of us would do the same. Some stupid people around mate
Last year I had an old boy muck me about. Had him booked in after multiple hard work phone calls because he's deaf. Turned up, only wanted a chat and only wanted to pay £10!!!! Block and delete. I've had 4 missed calls from him in recent weeks. I don't like ghosting but in this case it's a valid ghosting.
Gotta do what you gotta do mate. Most of us would do the same I think
Hi mate I've got a pressure washing job to price up! It's around 80m2. How would you charge for this and what cleaning product is best when washing a block paving driveway?
Many thanks Adam
Either by the meter or just by eye. A lot of people use sodium hypochlorite. Obviously the dirty it is the more you probably want to charge. I'm talking if there's bug weeds actively growing on it etc
Adam’s right saying Sodium Hypochlorite. Just be careful with it. It’s a powerful caustic bleach. Dilute with care. Wear rubber gloves & eye goggles when diluting and applying it. Even if you’re scrubbing flags with it diluted, it can splash on your skin, face and eyes. And don’t let “run-off” seep into the edge of a lawn or flower bed. It will kill the roots that are touched.