Mansion Quote?

[grnwnv]

I'm going to be giving a quote on a mansion this week and I was wondering how you guys handle your big jobs. The lawn is probably worth about $60 weekly but there is a lot of other work to be done. Do you give a price for weekly cut, trim, blow and bid seperately for everything else like garden beds, hedges, pruning etc. Or do you say "I'll charge you $250 (example) a week and I'll take care of everything when it needs doing?

Thanks
grnwnv

[1Chavez]

You have to write up a proposal that will list your services, number of times performed, and the price you will charge. Do a list kind of like so:
Task / # of times/ price / total
spring clean up / 1 / 800 / 800
mowing operations / 33 / 65 / 2145
shrub pruning / 2 / 750 / 1500
mulching operations / 1 / 400 / 400
lawn aeration / 1 / 450 / 450
lawn thatching / 1 / 400 / 400
fall clean up / 1 / 800 / 800

In NY, the lawn care program has to be signed by the customer so I send them out seperately but put a brief company background and contact info with the proposal into a nice folder and submit it. Good luck,
-Rich

[RRS]

I offer every customer either a 7 or 10 month packages. They can pick and choose any options they wish. From basic mow, trim, edge, and blow. To Basic + spring cleanup, mulch install, two prunings, 5 step app, bi-weekly garden and bed care, three fall cleanups, and fall aerating and seeding. They can choose any options they like, and I will spread the cost over 7 or 10 months, or they can go with the basic and pay for add-ons as we go. I'm very flexible with my maintenance packages. You have to be with residentials. Make sure you have the capital to cover a full maintenance program because you won't recoup your money for at least half the year especially if there is a large mulch install involved.

I also have two large estates that are on a basic 10-month mowing contract, but I have a written contract with both to do anything I feel needs to be done to keep the property looking good, and it's all done on a time and material basis. These are the best. I don't even see them from September-April because they're in Florida. We have full reins to do anything we like to they're properties. Several times a year they'll call and tell me they're having a party at the house, and we'll do a nice annual install, or setup planters, whatever I feel like doing. Last year I did a $9500 wedding setup for one of them in conjuction with the florist. Those kinds of customers are rare. BTW both were referals.

[grnwnv]

Thanks for the help!