Commercial Bids

[Lawngodfather]

Grasshopper is what people will think when they see it the first time, you will have to speak slow and correct people with that name. Keep the name simple and easy to pronounce.

[McBillNLex]

A local Former Chief deputy for the sheriffs department (his dad was the sheriff and he was a major) retired and started a Lawn Care company (it lasted a year) called his company "The Lawn Ranger". It might work for you, although I think I would call it "Lawn Ranger". Never have been a fan of "the" names. You mentioned a fire district, is that a volunteer fireman. A local young woman started one that does good work. She calls herself Little Miss Mow It All

[edger]

Its a GREAT day!! As i was driving to a tool sale in town today my mobile rings. Look at the number and have no idea who it is. Hello I say. Low and behold its a gentleman I emailed about 3weeks ago. I was like OMG!!! I asked him to give me a second so i could pull off the road. He was like "sure i understand"

First of all this caught me by BIG surprise. Him calling me and all. So i had to calm down to start with (i said to my self "deep breaths breath just breath)

He is just getting ready to move into this building and agreed with the email i sent him on how over grown everthing there was.

I explain to him that this is my first year in busness and that i'm a firefighter in this area. This was a good thing. ( I run the area this place is located)

He is wanting me to do what i had to do to get him a bid on this rather LARGE commercial site. I got some more information from him and we hung up.

I've just gotten down with a good walk around of this property. I must say its in need of alot of catch up work. Hedges way over grown. Trees growing out of bushes, draniage ditches (yes ditches. like all 3 of them) way over grown. Not to mention the pond on this property. So if anyone is will to help out this little young Grasshopper. Please let me know!! I am getting ready to go and get the roll of film i snapped of this place and will be more then happ to post some pic if any one would like to see the size of this property.

Off the top of my head I'm guess that this could be at least a 50k to 75k job. Wouldn't that be something? If my FIRST year out i made enough to pay for my equipment and look into a shop.

Let me know what you guys think
Thanks
Chris

"Life Is Good"

[mikeslawnservice]

Chris,
I have no advice. I will say congratulations though. You are obviously a real go-getter. You WILL do great in this business. I am sure of this.

[edger]

Come on LGF! I know you and Grassmaster have something to add to this for me.

Ok i'm sitting here at the firehouse today working on this bid.

Do i want to try and get all this work that needs to be right at the start or just get the lawn cleaned up first? Cause i don't know if this client is willing to drop the $$ he needs to get this place back in shape.

Or

Break the bid up into three parts; lawn care, flower beds and others ( being tree clean up (storm got one), hedges, storm drain areas, pond area, shipping area)?

The lawn part is the easy part of the bid. I'm looking at 6hrs first time out for the lawn at about (first time) $1200 to $1500 . After that i can drop it down to $800 per 7 to 10 days. So thats right at 8K for the season for just the lawn. Which includes you edging of the sidewalks, weed trimming and blowing of grass clipping off the sidewalks. Season being April thru Ocober. You think i should just stay at $1200 for the whole season?

So what you thinking?

Thanks
Chris

[Seascape]

Best way to bid a site like that is break everything down.

put the first cut,first prune,first edging, ect.. in the "property Rehab" section of your proposal.
put the actual cost of maintenance items in a "property Maintenance" section of your proposal.
If you think you can cut it for 800 id stick w/ that. xtra 400 per cut could easily loose the bid.
if this site is worth 50k you can rest assure your not the only one bidding it. remember that.
also youll be pouring money in this site if you get it. be certain you think your payment arrangments through as carefully as you do your costs.
mike

[edger]

thanks mike and the rest of you thus far.

Payment arrangments: I was thinking of getting 1/3 up front and then break it all down to a monthy charge.

Just numbers!

So lets say i get this client at $60K. Tell him i will need 1/3 up front before i can start. That 20K right off the bat and $3333 every month there after the first month.

Is this the nom? 1/3

I would think it is due to the site will have alot of disposel fees material fees, ext...

Mike check you pms

Chris

[Seascape]

You may be justified in asking for some of the rehab money upfront. Youll have alot of hrs and costs that youll need recovered quick or up front. As far as the maintenance thats typically seen on installments. You really need to make 2 deals w/ this guy. Id write a rehab agreement and a maintenance agreement.
mike

[edger]

Thats what i'm doing now. Making it a two phase operation like you said. Rehab and maintenance. I think this will work out much better.
thanks

chris

[Lawngodfather]

I would do this in fases and expect to be paid promptly for the grunge work. The normal maint paid monthly.

That's a lot of cash for some one to drop on a building they are most likely leasing at one time.

[edger]

Well sent in the bid for this property.

Mike thank you and others that helped me out on this my first bid. I hope to know somwthing by the end of the weeek on it. I'll post more info as i get.

Chris

[edger]

Nothing else to add to this from anyone? I find that kind of hard to believe after almost 800 views of this thread.

[edger]

OK got a call today from another large place. They have asked for me to meet with them one day this week to walk around the property. Well i kind of asked for this. So i can get some likes and dislikes of their LCO they have now. Also to get a full understanding of where their property line is.

Heres my question. When we get done walking around, do i need to telll this person I'll go and get the proposal ready and be back in two day to talk about it? or Stay there and just have something that i can break thing down for the season with the price?( mow X times per month during season will be X amount) I still have a little light outside so i think i may drive over to this place and get another look before i show up. Yes i know the layout of this property. I just want to get better acquainted (sp) with it.

This call back is from a cold call last week. Just dropped the old card off with one of the guys walking around. He said he'd give it to the boss. HE did just that. This isn't near the account as the next door building. The one i am still waiting on to hear from.

Speaking of THE other client. I have left word with the contact person once and have just sent a follow up email with him. Should I a: wait a few more days and see if he gets back with me or b: call and make contact with him the first of next week?
Thanks

Chris

PS Grasschopper.net is coming to a site near you.

[dschoefer]

So, while reading this thread, I noticed that it ended with a date of Jul 2003. Edger, did you get the accounts or what (it's like reading a novel, hahaha :p )

[edger]

Now my update to that thread:

Update from me on the two large commercial buildings I've got proposals on. Well the first proposal i still in the air. I'm made contact with the main contact person and hes not made his mind up as up now.

The second one, Well you'll all be happy to know that i won the bid!!!! This place is right next door to the first bid. So the score is 1 for 2 so far. I go tomorrow( this was posted on tuesday this week) to have the contract signed for a 2 year deal and maybe a 3 year deal. I think me emailing the proposal and then stopping by two day later and dropping a copy off is what put the iceing on the cake for this one. Well happy to say that at this time my first Large contract has been signed sealed and delivered!! Best part of this is that all the equipment that i've gotten to this point is now paid for. Ahhh thats a big load off my back.

You can now email me at grasschopper@earthlink.net
http://www.grasschopper.net is still being made. Have to get it just right before i go live.

Chris