bidding a contract?

[tailormadelawn]

I'm new to the business and I'm looking for suggestions on bidding a job. The job I'm looking at bidding is a apartment complex with 18 buildings (buildings are two story with 4 apartments each) and 2 office buildings, no fences, the job will be per cut, every 10 days which includes: mowing, trimming, edging & blowing the parking lots. the contract will be for 1 year. I figure about 8 to 10 acres of actual mowing the biggest part will be trimming and edging and sidewalks with every set of buildings, and blowing the parking lots. this is a government low income apartment complex. I know someone out here has a contract something like this one. Please help the newbie!! This is not a full time business for me (yet), I work 12hr shifts at a factory, but the way I work I average at least 3 days off each week. Thanks for any suggestions!
tailormadelawn

[cole1980]

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What area you in, and 8 - 10 acres can be a pretty big difference in pricing. Sounds like a pretty nice job, you need to figure more exact on the size of the job. This will help.

[bwillie]

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What kind of equipment do you have?

[tailormadelawn]

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<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by cole1980</i>
<br />What area you in, and 8 - 10 acres can be a pretty big difference in pricing. Sounds like a pretty nice job, you need to figure more exact on the size of the job. This will help.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

[tailormadelawn]

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I'm in north alabama, and I'm in the process on purchasing my equiptment. I need some suggestions. I've recieved quotes on toro ztr 60 & 72 inch mower (new) what do you suggest?
thanks, tailormade lawncare.

[Seascape]

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10 acres,, At least that.
mike

[cole1980]

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Well, with this job, will you be facing large sections of open grass or just alot of sections between cement. Well, either way you will need at least a 52" go with at least a 21hp kawasaki or kohler, perferably kawasaki. Alot of folks here recommend highly, Exmark. I personally am interested in Exmark and Hustler. Both seem to be top quality. When I get a ZTR I will get one of these.

But to help you any other way as far as bidding or anything, there are so many factors, it will be difficult to give an exact, but if you give some decent details, you will get some good help here.

[zeke]

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The Toro's are as good as it gets! on the bid sounds like an alday job for one man. W/ the Toro you should be able to mow 3-4 acres per hour. charge at least $1 per min for mowing thats the minimum chg. then figure the trimming blowing etc.. 8 acers = $180(mowing) and $30-$35 p/hr (2-3 hrs) for the other I would say around $250-$350 not bad for 5-6hrs

[kutnkru]

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If your a Toro fan try one of these bigger machines:
http://www.turfquip.com/deal_228.jpg
http://www.turfquip.com/deal_224.jpg

Or this lil guy if it better suited to your needs:
http://www.turfquip.com/meg_01.jpg

A Jacobsen could also handle the site you speak of rather easily. The cab protector is FREE too:
http://www.turfquip.com/hr.jpg