Lawn Estimating Tips (for Beginners)
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- In this video I'm going to share some of the best tips for lawn estimating. It may be difficult to price your lawn care service in the beginning, but make sure you watch out for these hang ups as well. They can be very costly when you are estimating your lawn service.
My 3 Favorite Lawn Care Tools:
For Pruning: Dewalt Hand Saw amzn.to/3hCWYPJ
Best Multi Tool: Leatherman Skeletool amzn.to/34n8YlV
Best Boots: Merrell Foresbtound amzn.to/3sXaCoo
My Story:
In 2016 I had been in law enforcement for almost 7 years.
I was not in control of my schedule, I was hardly making any money, and I was away from my family working nights and holidays. I was capable of more,, and I was silently suffering. I knew I was selling myself and my family short.
I started Florida Turf Pros as a side hustle in 2016 before going full time in 2017.
My lawn business changed my life. I control my own schedule, my own income, and I am proud of what I have built.
On this channel you will learn the steps I have taken (and am still taking) to have a lawn care business that serves ME and my family’s needs.
We are a small owner operated company (2 full time mowing trucks/crews, and now a sod installation division).
If you are interested in starting a lawn care business this channel will provide the direction.
This really is a great industry to be in…
And I hope that by documenting my journey it will help you too.
🌺🌺🌺Thanks for letting me know that my content is useful and love your content as well, Jonathan! 🌺🌺🌺
Great tips Jonathan! I'm up here in Pennsylvania and can't wait to get back out on my customers lawns and feel that nice warm sun. I'm a solo operator and just picked up 2 new customers for this upcoming season. I took your advice on estimate comments on Yardbook that you shared a couple of videos ago. I didn't copy it word for word but used it as a guide to communicate with a potential customer. Always enjoy your tips and can't wait for your next video. Take care!
Right on! Keep in mind that the estimate is also kind of a sales letter. It needs to reinforce why you are the right company to work with. Glad the videos have helped.
Love all ur content man! Can you touch on the subject of pools at some point? I have some pools in my area and it’s very difficult to avoid getting grass clippings in home owners pools. Mostly from string trimming.
Good information. Thank you. Johnny is a good guy 👍🏼
My man is cranking out content. It ain’t easy! Thanks 😊
I always walk the property with the homeowner. I document any existing damage while talking to the client and start building the relationship. I explain what is and is not in normal service and if there will be any upcharge during the first service. They don't get a surprise on the price and we are both on the same page. This also gives me a chance to "feel them out" to see if I even want to work with them. If I get a bad vibe, I up the price so that I probably won't get the job or I'm going to be very profitable. I've quickly learned to avoid people that try to steer me on price by saying "the last guy was charging XXXX, before I even give them my price.
Good information. Sounds like you're going the extra mile in customer service so make sure you're getting a top shelf price!
Hey man waiting on the new pricing video you mentioned you would put out at the end of this one.
That "Drive-by" got me more than once as well.
It's gotten everyone I'm sure 😂
@@FloridaTurfPros yep 10 fuit trees so mest up shaped with branches pretty much on the ground nightmare to mow under and to weed around and the client do want them cut fml
Front yards are indeed deceiving. I quoted 60 over the phone one time then showed up and realized I needed to be charging at least 85 because the back bank was suuuuper steep and I could just barely mow it sideways with a push mower and it was a big long bank. I explained this to the customer honestly. I said I made a mistake and need x amount by using google maps and find my lot size. and she was so nice and said ok no problem but going forward I need to go on site.
We don't service yards with pools. Too many headaches and the lawn service always gets blamed for everything. Not worth it. We have serviced yards with pools for clients who moved to a new home. But we know them and they know us... Good quick video.
Ok on the how to price. Get to see you back to making videos again. Great info I get from your videos. TY
You're very welcome, and thanks for watching.
Great stuff !!! Good to see you back active and providing great information !!!
You bet!
Man 100% truth. My very first lawn was for a renter it was small in size, i just did the drive by method. Turns out that lawns back yard was full of holes and uneven terrain. Nearly broke my mower it was so bumpy. Lesson learned there.
I did the same thing too... lesson learned for sure.
Here in central VA hills can make or break you. I don’t take hilly or pot hole ridden properties. It’s relatively flat here but there are some hollers.
Pictures and video are key they have saved me numerous times. I also make sure when doing a estimate I always do a walk through on the property with the client to make sure we are doing exactly what the client is looking for and that way I can price accordingly. I love in Western North Carolina and about 90% of the time if you look at property from the street there is no way to give a good estimate. Take care and stay safe man.
where are you in WNC, I'm in Canton
@@lawncommander just over the hill in Brevard
Walking the yard with the client is a good thing to do. Sounds like you're going the extra mile for them, so make sure you are charging for the extra attention they receive from your company.
👍thanks for all the great information man take care
thanks man you put alot of detail into your videos,i appreciate you keep up the good work.
Glad you like them!
Golden content as always. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another great video and looking forward to the new pricing video!
Coming soon!
Hey Jonathan great device 💯 true had my share.
Very helpful man!
As always great content. Looking forward to your next video. I’m sure you will cover it on next video but I really want to get all my clients switched over to cc payments but not sure if I should pass fees on to clients and how all that works. I use yard book but just the free service they offer.
You'll create a Stripe account and link it to Yardbook. I highly recommend it, and yes you can just bump the price up a small amount to cover the processing fees.
@@FloridaTurfPros thanks so much!
Yea man exactly why i walk every property. Check for drainage issues, dog crap and now with the newer properties my dam 36" scag is too big to fit through the sides and the drianage issues on these properties good lord. lol
Drainage issues are a huge deal. Glad you mentioned it. That's one of the main things I look for.
I remember that swimming pool video. That was unbelievable. I was doing a preliminary visit one time and the Lady started telling me how I was trashing her neighbors’ property I turned and walked away and said, have a great day, she said are you leaving I said I sure am. She said does this mean we’re through I said it sure does. Remember guys y’all are the bosses you call the shots.
Excellent tip, did you get a different phone or camera? The clarity is really good. Anyway, thank you for sharing with us
Yes I did, thanks for noticing.
So when you come across siding like that and you have to trim. What do you do to avoid damaging it?
Busted window before you start mowing. Then they blame you.. For replacement
Has happened to me twice.
Burned myself one time with the “drive by.” no more. That was over with. Every property has to be walked to receive an estimate.
I quit doing the yardbook thing. It’s bit my ass to many times. I drive out to meet them now
I understand. There are a handful of subdivisions that I feel really confident in giving them a price online. Other times I have to drive out to meet them or physically see the property.
@@FloridaTurfPros I normally give them a ball park over the phone just incase they are tire kickers
Do you use carbon copies to give estimates?
Awesome brother! Is there a way to automatically include that into all estimates or yardbook, or do you copy and paste that each time?
In yardbook *
There's a default setting you can implement in the estimates and invoices.
@@FloridaTurfPros awesome thanks
Hey Jonathan I use yardbook as well I can’t figure out how to put that disclaimer at the bottom of the estimates is it something you typ every time or is it Automatically put on the estimate could you do a video on that thank you
When you're about to send your estimate through email there is a link that allows you to make adjustments to you default estimates/invoices/etc... I can't remember exactly what it's called, but I believe it's right before you hit send on the estimate.
Hello 👋
I do not and will not service rental properties. Homeowners only. Tenants don’t care. Landlords don’t care. I can’t care.
I have to check. Every tenant is different.
Hey is there any way that we can do a video chat together? I would do one with mike I’m just not trying to build a big business if you know what I mean just looking for a little guidance and could use a 2nd opinion