matthew Fitzgerald

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Business / personal name

Hortensial Landscaping

Primary telephone number:

01795539889

About you and your business ( please complete)

Realised I would only be happy working for myself after getting trapped in the shirt and tie life after college. Finally made the jump and have been running own business for 3 years. Set up and run a Landscape Division for some one else for 5 years before that and contracts manager for 2 years before that. Interest in Landscaping began whilst living in USA. Worked on building large scale gardens on fantastic island of Nantucket in early-mid 90's. Recieved HND qualification and Chelsea Gold Medal whilst in college at Newton Rigg, Cumbria after returning to England in 1996.

Business category

Landscape design, build and maintenance

Where did you hear about Landscape Juice

browsing the web

Lee Davis replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?

"Hmm thank you very much (and others who have commented). Clearly need to rethink how I do things. I suppose I was trying to be transparent, but now they all trust me and know that I do a good job it's a bit different to when I first started. "

Vic 575 replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?

"As stated above, price per job and definitely not an hourly rate. Any hourly rate is only kept in your own head [and never shared with the client] in order for you to calculate the price for the job.
Price per job is far better for the client. It…"

Peter sellers replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?

"All our work both domestic and commercial is price and has been since starting 40 years ago and is all regular maintenance
We work out the time needed per visit to do the work requested and then multiply by our charge eg one visit of one hour per…"

Peter sellers replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!

"There"s 3 settings it was probably on lowest"

Vic 575 replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!

"Just unleaded.
The v-twin 18hp engine on my Stiga Parks 740 Pwx has just 'gone'.
It is compressing into the sump and blowing oil out as white fog from the sump breather. I look like one of the red arrows or Wesley Pegden. Not good breathing it…"

Graham Taylor replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Gadgets that were surprisingly useful: catcher on hedge trimmer

"Bought one of those myself a year or so back for my HSA86 Really handy for doing tops and you can add/remove it in seconds..................... never bothered with the metal clips..... not sure why we even need them as it works fine without…"

Lee Davis replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!

"Thank you that's very helpful. The only thing I didn't like with it was the handle seemed low down and I'm only 5' 8"."

Mjc replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!

"Hi, I bought the honda hrx476 Hy this year. Very pleased with it. It's light weight and good balance makes it so comfortable to use. Seems to work well on the half mulch half collect setting. Cutting some fairly wet grass last week and the pick up…"

PRO

James replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?

"Price per visit.
Tell the customer it will be X amount per visit.
In you head charge £30ph or £35/£40 whatever it is worth and work out how long it will take you.
Half a day is half a days money.
View the garden. Take pictures. Tell the customer you…"

Lee Davis replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?

"How do you do price work for a weekly maintenance job though? Part of how these bigger clients justify knocking me down a bit is that they are 52 weeks a year, lawn jobs are only march - October really. "

Lee Davis replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!

"Wow that's impressive, what fuel do you it in it? The engine that has failed on my Hayter is Honda, but that's because I hadn't checked the oil level."

Peter sellers replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?

"Exactly, you the supplier are in charge of the cost not the customer"

Peter sellers replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?

"The underlying issue here is charging by the hour.
The only way to achieve realistic rates is price work, the customer will always have control of the cost along with a perception of what they "think" is a good hourly rate ( or bargain) . The odds…"

PRO

Honey Badger replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?

"Vics right there's money in machines.
Do not negotiate rates with new customers what you want to charge is up to you, its not for them to set the rates you are offering the service. If you don't get what you need walk away to another that will…"

PRO

Honey Badger replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!

"The decks are very strong with no rusting issues. Honda claims in there marketing as tough as a rhinos hide."

Vic 575 replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!

"I have an Efco self-propelled hand mower. I am not here to recommend Efco particularly, but rather the Honda engine that is fitted. The Honda engine is as sweet today as when I first bought the mower in, wait for it, 2005. So 19 years on and the…"

matthew Fitzgerald

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