Customer says mow/then we will see about

[kenrichlandhaul]

Past experience

It's been my experience that (unless they have a "good" reason, wedding, graduation, birthday party, etc...) that the people most anxious or want it done the fastest are the ones that take the longest to pay (if they do). Have't had more than 1-2 problems in 3 years though so.....

[Seascape]

Okay, talked with the guy this afternoon, Wants it done Saturday, no problem I expressed my concerns of not having the contract and doing business before getting paid in this situation, he said he understood completely. So we reached and agreement of him meeting me out on the property during or right before completion of the work with pay in hand. Seem to be fine with this arrangement. Being that we have not met face to face yet (just phone talk) we need to walk and talk about the bids and whats expected from both sides. Looks like the beginning of a good relationship, at least I have my fingers crossed for that

Thanks for all the replies you all have helped

Thanks, Mitch

He will take you more serious now to. If you had ran out and cut on a whim like he asked,, he would think your a joke. Now he knows differant. Regardless if he was going to stiff you,,, you did yourself a huge favor.

[Envy Lawn Service]

First of all you've got to ask yourself...
Are you a Lawn Service or a Loan Service???

Second of all, it's funny because I never seem to have a problem with getting the money up front or at the time of service... either when I show up or right after I'm done. These details are worked out before I arrive. Even my existing accounts are set up this way and I avoid so much headache. I don't do jack without getting some jack.

If I run into any kind of snag, it usually works out just like it did for him. Just fine. If I have any reservations about getting paid on a no-contract job and they don't want to pay, I'm not about to go against my better judgement. Maybe it is as some say, playing it safe to the point that you cost yourself. Personally I think of it more as a matter of principal. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE, THEN PAY FOR IT!

I have no use for these types that have a death grip on every last dollar and squeeze it until the ink runs out. These are the people/businesses that have the money, but it just kills them to turn it loose. So they make every attempt to hold on to it as long as they possibly can and only pay right at the bitter end. It's senseless!

So what's the big deal about asking to be paid? And why not impose some terms of your own? Are you a man or a mouse? Don't be afraid to ask for some money or negotiate terms with the prospect. It is a 2 way street right? What's wrong with a little 2 way communication?

BOTH parties should be trying to make a good impression on the other. What better way is there than to communicate and get started off on the right foot by building mutual trust? You don't know each other from Adam, so why not meet in the middle somewhere and prove yourselves to each other? Meeting in the middle is atleast 50% if I ask for money up front. If I ask for money at the time of service, then meeting half way is payment as soon as I'm done.

If they can't meet me part way, then frankly they are not making a good 1st impression with me. So right there you have a business relationship tht's getting off on the wrong foot. It's looking more like a dictatorship than a democratic business relationship. I'm just not into that. If it starts out on the wrong foot, then it will stay on the wrong foot and get worse. Pretty soon they are calling all the shots and you are foolowing them around saying yes sir and what else can I do to please you? In this situation all the while you are waiting around on your money until the last minute or until they feel like paying you. That's not the kind of business relationship I'm looking for. If you are then more power to ya.

So yes I strongly agree with seascape and P&C Lawn Care 100%. And yes I strongly dissagree with mh1314 and Phil to an extent also. Taking into consideration that the contract end of it is being delayed already because a BUDGET has yet to be approved, if you jump in the truck, go sqeeling tires down there and jump right on the work without any negotiations just because the propsect asks you to.... IMHO this looks bad on you. To me you look bad anyways and my guess is you've already made quite the impression on the prospect. You actualy come off looking like a hungry nickel-n-dime outfit that's desparate for work, an easy pushover and eager to please as well.

Honestly chances are, if you are willing to take that big of a gamble and act that way in hopes that there is a buck in it for you now and a few more down the road, then you probably are all or part of the description above.

Now moving on, I'm confused here... have most of you never learned or just forgotten some of the basic fundamentals of salesmanship that you must use in these situations?

[htexas]

Well Guys, The job is done and the customer showed up and we hit it off right away, walked the property. He paid me on the spot and looking foward to a long relationship, of course I say that knowing I'll have to work to keep him as I have heard here on this sight.

As the job went, I under estimated the amount of time needed to weed the beds and I would have probably just broke even if it wouldn't have been for my wife and kids bailing me out. I learned a little more about bidding and luckily I didn't loose my a^% this time.

Mitch

[VALLEYWIDELAWN]

for the past 2 yrs i have lost money cause ppl dont wanna pay. starting 3/1/05 im doing all contracts for new customers that state payment must be paid after lawn service is done or a $10 fee is applied

[Seascape]

for the past 2 yrs i have lost money cause ppl dont wanna pay. starting 3/1/05 im doing all contracts for new customers that state payment must be paid after lawn service is done or a $10 fee is applied

For mowing? Thats suicide.

[mike bricker]

Everything in my area of NW Arkansas is done on trust. Fortunately most people are honest.

I have never accepted a payment before work is completed, but when a customer offers, that sure is a good sign. I have worked for a number of people several years before even meeting them. They phone, I phone back with a price--sometimes from the property while they are at work--I do the work, bill at end of month, they send check.

Almost no one here uses written contracts for mowing, but many use contracts for full service commercial accounts. It goes without saying landscape installs are done after signed contract.

The closest thing to a contract I use for mowing is a letter that basically states "I will do such-and-such for such amount, by such date. (or on such-and-such interval) If this is not acceptable, please contact me."

I will not get beat out of money more than a couple hundred a year, if that. I do a little gut-check screening: No work for a rent house full of college students without a month's payment in advance. (None have ever taken me up on it.) No work for rental tenants if they seem the least bit financially flaky. No work for members of certain "groups" who in my experience have a "won't pay without a fight" attitude. No work for anyone employed by 2 specific realtors here. I never tell anyone I will not work for them for fear of not getting paid. I am simply "too busy" to add anything to my schedule.

I have made use of small claims court, but got my money after filing, did not actually have to appear in court.

BUT (this is a big but) every area is different. You have to judge how to handle this in your own market.

[lclandscapes]

For what its worth, I bill all my maintenance customers a month in advance. When the sign the agreement, I get paid. Some pay for the year in advance, but not often.

[Seascape]

For what its worth, I bill all my maintenance customers a month in advance. When the sign the agreement, I get paid. Some pay for the year in advance, but not often.

I dont have a problem w/ that. But banging on doors after a cut is tacky i think.

[jrservices]

I dont have a problem w/ that. But banging on doors after a cut is tacky i think.

Yeah it is. Makes it look like you aint gonna get thru the week unless you get paid for the cut. All ours are on 30 days, I like doing it that way. Less wasted time, and you keep working, not poundin on doors. Let the mail take care of billing.

[lclandscapes]

I dont have a problem w/ that. But banging on doors after a cut is tacky i think.

I agree. Granted I am not as big a company as some on here, however you would never no it unless I told you. In my mind it is not professional to knock on the door and ask for a check after each cut.

[Acre,s Lawn Service]

I (as of next year) am also going strictly contract, but have about five different versions for an annual contract. One of each I'm sure to satisfy all who I currently serve and for those I will target for Lawn maintenance for the 05 season. Although I have only been in the business about five years now and am fairly new compared to some of the seasoned vets I see in this forum, I am learning that at least in my area, " If it's not on paper, It's not valid." I, being from the country hate that this is the way this country has become, BUT; it is a fact of today's legal (over-legal)society. It's a game. You wanna win? Play ball. Just make sure you cross your T's and dot your I's (which is hard sometimes for this country boy as many of you may have noticed). I spend an aweful lot of time reviewing the wording on the paperwork that matters though and this seems to get me higher paying customers. Maybe not as many, but ones who pay proper money for proper work.

[VALLEYWIDELAWN]

im just tired of being screwed over by everyone. im doing a contract that says payment is do by the 15th of the month. if not paid by the 20th a fee of 5% or $10 whichever is greater will be applied

[Acre,s Lawn Service]

Then apply it. Give them a week or two to pay up. If they dont, send them a respectfull & courteous collection letter ( In my letter I say " I'm sure that this is simply an oversight which is why I have continued to service your lawn" ) ask them to call or write so you may be able to set something up,wait a week, withhold service & send them a second notice this one being more "to the point". explain to them you do not want to turn their account over to collection agency but your leaving me with no other option unless payment is received by ______. If I lose the account after all of this I probably didn't need it anyway but I vow to get paid for the work I have done by any means necessary (within the law, of course) Whether its $40.00 or $400.00. I had to mail the first letter just this past week. I hate it. It doesn't happen to me that often but it isn't the first and probably not the last but by taking this approach I have always gotten paid in the end.

[Clim Cadidlehopper]

If you do not want to have the customer pay up front, make a work order with the price for the cut on it, along with what you will do for that price. Should he not want to sign it before you do the cut then DO NOT do the cut as he will know the work order is a way to make him pay... Make sure the work order states that it is not an invoice and payment is due upon completion of work. It will show you willing to do the work and him willing to pay for it afterwards. In Texas that gives you a leg to stand on should he try to skate on payment.