How much $$$ to ask for this mower?

[Scaper-S2k]

The more and more we get into landscaping, the less and less mowers I need. I have sold off a few already to a local guy.

I have a few ZTR's that that are a few years old that I may consider getting rid of. The newer ones will likely be kept because we will always be mowing at least what we have right now.


So anyway, what should I consider asking for a 44" ZTR with the 17hp Kaw. It has 700 hours on it. I can not recall how many years old it is though. It runs pretty much like new and has no problems.

I sold a 44" ZTR and a 36" walkbehind late last year to a neighbor, but it was a 'package deal' and had more hours. I'm not sure what I should ask for just that one listed above.

I may also move out a few of our older 52" ZTR's (19hp) and 62" ZTR's (25hp) as well and buy new, just not sure if that makes sense as they are all under 500 hours. I haven't decided on those yet. I think we have 8 or 10 walkbehinds, but I'm fairly confident those will all be kept. I need to ask the employees what they think about that.




Any help would be appreciated. I'm thinking around $2500? But I just don't know.

[Scott]

who are you and what have you done with Erich!?

[Scaper-S2k]

Yes, I had a feeling I would get a response just like that Scott!

I'm fairly pleased with the way my business is running right now. Real pleased actually. But after 2 very close people to me died last fall, I am going to reevaluate what is more important right now.

My best foreman of 12 years will be taking over most of the mowing aspects of the biz for me this year. I've talked to him about it over the winter. He can run that side pretty good with our current employees.

I am going to ease back a bit myself and try to enjoy things in my own life a bit more. I'm going to try and cut my hours way back this year and enjoy 'the fruits of my labor', so to speak. I will try to cut my hours down to 20 or so per week? I feel pretty lucky that I can actually do that and still not really change the income of the biz. But ya know, I should have done that a few years ago.

I'm not getting out of the biz of course, quite the opposite. I just want to take some time off for a year and work on my house, the shop, and a couple other things I have been putting off. I'm probably not explaining it very well, but all I can say is that when those 2 close people passed away, I realized that I don't have too many others in my life that I want/need to 'impress' anymore? That is pretty sad huh? So it's time for me this year.



It was actually the head foreman's idea to move out some of the equipment and possibly buy new. I'm going to let him run with it.


2006 = part time biz owner, full time personal life! Let the games begin!

[Sammy]

.....So anyway, what should I consider asking for a 44" ZTR with the 17hp Kaw. It has 700 hours on it. I can not recall how many years old it is though. It runs pretty much like new and has no problems......Any help would be appreciated. I'm thinking around $2500? But I just don't know.

If you know the make and model number of them machines, maybe that would help Ya, think ?

[Scaper-S2k]

Ha, Sammy, you make a great point!


They are all Toro brand mowers.

[Scott]

I am going to ease back a bit myself and try to enjoy things in my own life a bit more. I'm going to try and cut my hours way back this year and enjoy 'the fruits of my labor', so to speak. I will try to cut my hours down to 20 or so per week?

no fair!!! you're just doing this to scope out more quality shots!

why are you scaling back on the mowing,, just expand more. There's been plenty of times in my career that I wish I just mowed lawns for the continuing revenue. I guess it's a two edge sword. I like the nice checks that come with landscaping but I don't care for inconsistency that they come in. One month I'll have 10 projects the next I'll be at home reading this forum.

[Scaper-S2k]

no fair!!! you're just doing this to scope out more quality shots!

why are you scaling back on the mowing,, just expand more. There's been plenty of times in my career that I wish I just mowed lawns for the continuing revenue. I guess it's a two edge sword. I like the nice checks that come with landscaping but I don't care for inconsistency that they come in. One month I'll have 10 projects the next I'll be at home reading this forum.

Scott, I may not be explaining myself properly. Don't get me wrong, I'm not really scaling back on mowing. I am only scaling back on my side (as in my hours). But my foreman will not. We have mowers that just don't get used very often and he feels we should sell some of them. If he does get more accounts, we will buy new mowers to match those accounts.

There really won't be too much change in the business, just change in how I work in the business. Our mowing accounts will go on like normal, and will likely grow as well, just like always. If I put a lot less hours in this year, it would make sense to put those hours into a landscape side to grow that as well. Because the foreman is well versed in the mowing portion and he can handle that by himself with curent employees just fine.

So if I do put in the hours, no reason to put them in on the side he can handle, I will put the hours in on a different aspect of the biz.

Not much will be changing, except my hours. And again, that's really only for this year right now.

[Scott]

The more and more we get into landscaping, the less and less mowers I need.

I gotcha,, I just read this line and thought you where changing your bizness' focus to landscaping.

Equipment: why sell them? Just rotate them. If your maintenance contracts keeps climbing you'll need them soon or later. It'll save ya some cash.

Did ya promote your foreman, $$$ too?

I'll run ya landscaping division.

[Scaper-S2k]

So what do you guys think?

[MASTERMOWER]

Between $3-4k? Account for the appearance of the machine and it's maintenance records. If you can prove it has been well cared for and had regular maintenance the value will be more. I'm no expert, but I wouldn't pay more than $3,500 for a used 44" ztr w 700hrs.

[Scaper-S2k]

Heck, I didn't plan on even $3000. Maybe I'll put it up for around $2700 or so.

[Seascape]

Be careful. Ive found once they start seeing the #s,, they bail and start up theyre own gigs. And it dont matter what you pay them.

[Scaper-S2k]

Seascape, I won't be selling it to an employee.

By the way, I have found a way to scare employees out of starting their own business. I don't post the income per month, but I do have QuickBooks print up a pie chart showing where money went out, and then the total money spent that month. That alone makes them think twice because I always tell them how expensive it can be just to run it.

[MASTERMOWER]

Heck, I didn't plan on even $3000. Maybe I'll put it up for around $2700 or so.

Sounds like a bargain.....what Toro model is this? It's not one of those homeowner 44"ers...is it?

[Scaper-S2k]

Not sure what model number. It's their 44" with a 17hp Kaw. 700 hours.