Hi FolkI am just organising myself to begin garden maintenance on my own; a complete career change as redundancy is looming so time to plunge into something I love. Studying for RHS qualification and just looking for some support and pointers to start with: appreciate any help or advice to prepare myself.
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Comments
Ian, just post any questions and I am sure the great folks of LJN will be more than happy to offer advice..
Lots of good luck,
I did the same for few years in the past, moved to design for few years and than to trading online.
Same if you do anything that not sure , will be happy to assist.
Yes , it is not the easiest job, but for the time being it is the best thing you can do, well done.
few tips that I can say:
do not start at low prices as it is hard to raise it.
if possible you can ask to charge every month same- so you are sorted for the winter.
when visit a customer first time. walk with them in the garden show your knowledge.
take a clipboard and print to yourself ( that is top tip) a page with all the jobs that you can do.
with boxes to tick
for ex: __ cutting the lawn
__ cutting the lawn edge
-- blowing leaves
-- weeding
-- feeding the lawn
__ planting
than sit with the customer at same meeting or another day, tick all the boxes ( add few empty lines for extra jobs) , write your price.
If the customer will ask for less, say that you just cant but as a good will will do 5% not more.
or if wish can reduce one of the tasks.
+ do not be afraid to offer your customers ideas / other jobs and so ( they may like it a lot)
you will look professional too.
Lots of good luck
Ofer
Thats brilliant Ofer, thanks _ will make a mental note of all those point. I particulalry like the tick list idea. I am a list peson, can't think why I hadn't thought of that before.
Thanks very much