Hello all. I am still new to providing maintenance and I'm grappling with pricing of even the smallest of jobs. Is there anyone who could give me clues to cost for trimming a hedge and a smallish tree right beside it?
I haven't talked directly to the customer yet (friend of a friend) but have been given a picture/dimensions etc.
Both hedge and tree are in a small front garden with easy access from both the garden and the pavement. From the picture the hedge is (I think) Leylandii, about 12' long and 5' deep. Looks about 8-10' high.
The tree (also maybe Leylandii) looks about 4' across and about 10-12' high.
Customer apparently usually takes about an hour to do the hedge. It's a one-off job as he has broken his arm.
I don't know yet about taking away waste, but assume they will want it shifted.
We are in the North East, near Newcastle.
I'd really appreciate any advice, numbers etc. if anyone could help and I hope it's not out of order to ask!
Thanks
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Replies
Here's a big one never price off pictures learnt that mistake this year .
Go see the job get a feel for it work out how long it will take you to get there remeber it will take probably your whole morning up .
Ask about rubbish clearance
I'd work out how many hours to complete job add an extra hour just in case as you've never done the job then give him the price don't bother giving an hourly rate
I reckon an hour as he mentioned is probably a conservative estimate along with clearing up as well, which always seems to take longer than you think.
I think you're right - I'll have to go round and have a proper look at it. I need to get an idea of what people round these parts are charging for their hourly rates - I mean to themselves not the customer. I have a fairly good idea what I think I should be charging but have no idea if it's competitive or not. Time will tell!
Thanks Michael.
Mitchel ingham said:
To do front/back/sides & clear up is going to take you the best part of 2 hours, if not more depending on your work rate & equipment, and as Mitchel says what about getting rid of the waste ?.
I think he's telling you a "porky" unless he's a fanatic & trims it every month, but I think £65, is a minimum price.
Good luck either way
Rob
If he can cut that in an hour he's worth employing. Or is that how he broke his arm!
8-10" might not sound high, but make sure you have a stable ladder/platform and take your time.
Never take the word of a new client when they say it will only take X long.
Austin, if you are struggling to price this sort of work because you are new to the business then don't worry too much about the specific price just now. Particularly if it is just a one off and not a regular contract. I would go in low-ish and win the work just for the experience. You've already effectively spent far too much time on it anyway through posting this thread so forget about the specific money for now and just use the job as a bit of a learning experience. How to estimate, how to quote, how to deal with waste, how good your equipment is etc. You will get the hand of pricing but it will take a bit of time.
Even if you knew your internal charging rates well, you would probably still be way off the mark with many jobs due to inexperience with estimating time and costs. So just accept that you are going to be way off for a few jobs early on and use them as learning experiences.
That said you do need to have a firm handle on your own internal rates so have a search through the site and pick up some tips.
When pricing also just pay attention to what is beneath the hedge, some plants don't want your waste from cutting landing on them and breaking them.
whilst on the plants beneath front, it takes a lot longer to clear up than paving or lawn.
Also when was it last cut as the wood could be thicker than you think if it has missed a season.
Pricing, don't forget to add in travel to and from site as for an hour or two's job that is effectively writing your morning off, and also add in the time it takes to go and look prior.
Hopefully this is of some help.
James makes a good point: you only learn by experience, and I'm sure we all still make mistakes in judging how long a job will take!
My only concern would be whether you go in so cheap you might be stuck with a repeat job that's too low, or the guy's so happy he recommends you around to all his friends and neighbours at that rate.
If this was to happen, make sure you push the rate up in the fututre. You can always say it was mate's rates as it was a one-off for a friend of a friend.
Hi Austin, its correct as mentioned by other members that the hour it supposedly takes the client is more than likely not true. Have a look at the job from every angle, if theres an inconspicuous telephone line skimming the top that you dont notice, thats all your profit gone in one fell swoop if you cut it. also, weigh up wether the job could be done off the ground using long hedge trimmers, i save a lot of time using them instead of regular hedge trimmers and ladders, not to mention its safer working with both feet on the ground. Another thing to bear in mind as mentioned by Robert and Peter is clearing up time, it can on occasion take longer than the job itself! add it all up, make sure the rate is what you want to earn and give them the price. Im not a great believer in purposefully giving a low price for experience, the problem with that is its expected every time you re trim it, in some cases years later!
conifer cuttings are heavy, load a ton sack full of them and you know about it.
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