Getting prepared for the new world order

[lorenzo piedra]

I live right smack in the middle of a good 30K+ smaller, older, 2 story frame residences on 25 to 50 foot wide by 100 x 150 deep lots owned by senior citizens.

As the current administration causes the middle class to erode into non existence the above demographic of home owner (most outright) will still be getting the SS checks, pensions, and will be enjoying a 9% return on CDs.

So I have decided to explore moving into this direction. I have a high top dodge maxivan that will get a rear door ramp gate (it's hidden from sight inside the van) two 21", a 44" mower plus handheld equipment for summer and two new snow commanders plus an S-200 for winter.

Now here comes the twist: home handyman services

To shake the bushes let's start at $99 per month for mowing (7 to 14 days), some low growth fert and weed control, and snow blowing on a 12 month perpetual agreement tied to automatic withdrawal.

The handyman services can be built into the monthly pricing by using a coupon system say in 15 min. blocks. Any unused handyman hours would roll over into the next contract year.

I already own most of the handyman stuff like a pressure washer, furniture dolly, hand-truck, carpenters tools, painting equipment which will all fit inside the maxi van.

The bottom line is I need to generate some year round cash flow.

[Seascape]

I thought you struggled w/ haggle,picky,rude homeowners?

[lorenzo piedra]

If I have their money up front it won't be as bad kissing the frogs to find the princes.

This type of client is not long term so you just get yours before the house is sold and they hit the nursing home. It's a grin and bear it, one ear out the other situation.

I have a contact at the county bureau of aging so I could have my name listed at the top of the "approved" home service providers. This means zero advertising costs and a constant supply of fresh meat.

The residences are all located in a 3 x 5 mile area and my location would be on one of the blue lines as compared to a hockey rink. Gas is going to be $3 and that maxivan gets 11mpg so a tight route with heavy cloverleaf marketing will be a must for maximizing profits.

[Seascape]

This is in conjunction w/ your sports field gigs right?

[SodBuster]

It's been years since I stopped mowing services. It was the best decision for me. I took this pic a couple weeks ago because I felt it represents the future of mowing services. Getting very competitive and if there is going to be profits then density is key.

[lorenzo piedra]

The situation is that I am going to set up my Dodge Maxi van for use as a part time fert and squirt wagon and wanted to maximize its usage.

The limiting factor is that you can only snow blow and salt so many homes in a 6 to 8 hour period. But I guess I could mount work lights off the side of the van/pickup and use an inverter hooked to the RV battery.

Forty minimal $99/ month accounts would generate $4k a month but the larger properties and the add ons should bring in $6k a month for just that one segment of business.

At $1200 a year thirty site visits of say 22 mow maintenance and 8 snow events gives an average of $40 per 1/2 man hour stop.

[Seascape]

The situation is that I am going to set up my Dodge Maxi van for use as a part time fert and squirt wagon and wanted to maximize its usage.

The limiting factor is that you can only snow blow and salt so many homes in a 6 to 8 hour period. But I guess I could mount work lights off the side of the van/pickup and use an inverter hooked to the RV battery.

Forty minimal $99/ month accounts would generate $4k a month but the larger properties and the add ons should bring in $6k a month for just that one segment of business.

At $1200 a year thirty site visits of say 22 mow maintenance and 8 snow events gives an average of $40 per 1/2 man hour stop.

I dont know man,,, one would think w/ your turf skills youd stick to your guns. I dont think your going to find it as easy as you thinl to establish 40 accounts ,,, its going to take time. If your lucky,,, youll have 40 by seasons end. And if your even luckier youll still have 40 come spring 06.

If i had your turf knowledge id think about expanding my turf program. I would suspect w/ a good reputation the sports fields would go a long way. Youd have to travel further that 3-5 miles,,, but i think if you honed in on that arena,, you would do well. Of course it wouldnt hurt to toss a bunch of residential in the mix.

Dont get me wrong,, theres money in the "handyman" theory. I do anything and everything i can get away with if theyre willing to pay $65 an hour and i have the tools on hand to do the job. But i only do it for existing clients that are spending thousands anyhow. But i dont advertise handyman services ,, the stuff just comes up. And it gives me a break from the "lawncare" shiit.

If its something you think will work,, go feel it out.But i wouldnt give up much of anything else you have until youve seen it work,,, or you develope it.

Good luck.

[SodBuster]

Stone...consider moving to Ireland where you can still get a Trugreen/Chemlawn franchise. Work from home, use the power of the trugreen name to get customers fast and easy. $100.00/hr all day every day.

NO SELLING...Trugreen provides all the hot leads...only need to do the quotes.

http://www.franchisedirect.co.uk/directory/trugreen.htm

[Allan]

I dont know man,,, one would think w/ your turf skills youd stick to your guns. I dont think your going to find it as easy as you thinl to establish 40 accounts ,,, its going to take time. If your lucky,,, youll have 40 by seasons end. And if your even luckier youll still have 40 come spring 06.

40 accounts can be done. I have been advertising for about 1 month now and have added 40 accounts. The season has not even really begun yet.

I think that the idea is good. I would kind of hesitate with the handyman part of it because my experience tells me that customers will think that it is worth less than you will when they are billed by the hour and not the job, but the rest of the plan is good. The handyman thing might just prove to be a nice bonus though.

Myself, instead of doing 40 properties with handyman services, I would do 60 properties with no extra services. When you do the same thing for every customer, you can get very fast at it and can increase your hourly profit but with handyman/add ons, every job is different. It does cut down on the monotony though.

Hope you can make it work.

[lorenzo piedra]

What was I thinking?

It looks like I will have for new business this season a 6+ acre (3 acres of turf) industrial site and 3 little league associations plus I will retain 100% of last years nut.

Mike your right there is way too much wide area action to have to return to scrubville and duke it out with the newbies.

I have two 62" and two 52" mowers plus the ride on spreader/sprayer that are bought and paid for so I really can be competitive with profitability riding the open range.

Snow sucks and I have a free place to park my RV in SW FLA this winter so cancel this pipe dream.

[Dr.Bizzaro]

The BEST UNITS are mobile, sub divisions...they can attack and regress prior to IRS recon....

Much better life not financing Israel...

[Seascape]

cancel this pipe dream.

I knew you would come around.