Cost of Labor for Yardwork (Phoenix: houses, neighborhood, buyer) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

Xica_da_Silva · 03-18-2010, 07:28 PM

Hi everyone!

As a first-time home buyer, I have little idea what reasonable costs are for yardwork...am hoping someone can give me an idea?

1) I want to hire someone to do my front-yard grass-mowing and hedge-trimming. I only have a small front yard...about 1000 sq ft...probably takes about 10-15 minutes to do. Am I being too cheap to offer $30 a month for doing it twice monthly ($60/hr seems actually pretty generous, no, certainly a lot more money than I make?)?

2) I am having 15 tons of rock delivered to my house this weekend for my backyard (I already used the weedkiller and have purchased the cloth). What's a fair amount of money to offer someone for spreading the rock? Note: I'd do it myself but I'm a scrawny little thing...and I don't own a wheelbarrow. I may have the will of a Chihuahua but...there are limits. Or should I try to enlist a few of my brawnier friends for a 'rock-party'?

asufan · 03-18-2010, 08:55 PM

I pay someone $50 every 2 weeks, and they do the front and backyard grass, trees, shrubs, etc. And my lot is fairly large for Phoenix standards. I think $30 is right in line. It's a great deal for me, as it frees up my spare time to do what I want to do, and I don't have to deal with the allergy problems I get from mowing my lawn. As far as spreading out your gravel, maybe $75-$100+, depending on how long it might take.

adolpho · 03-18-2010, 09:20 PM

I would consider a robo mower for that size.

Xica_da_Silva · 03-18-2010, 10:01 PM

Hi Adolfo, I would, too, but I have no outdoor storage area... or actually I do but it's being used for my laundry. Too bad.

Thanks, asufan for the input. I don't want to spend too much but on the other hand I don't want to be a cheapskate!

azdr0710 · 03-18-2010, 11:50 PM

I may be wrong, but $30/month for two visits per month does sound cheap, even for a small yard.....it will probably actually take more than 10-15 minutes per visit when you add in everything from start to end.....

just my opinion.....you get what you pay for, usually....

I hope the gravel in the back works out well....it usually looks really nice when done and raked out

azriverfan. · 03-19-2010, 04:22 AM

It will take lot longer than 10-15 minutes. Most tract homes in the Valley have yards that are a 1000 sq feet. I know it seems simple enough but try doing it on your own. You will realize it will take you 2 hours not 10-15 minutes when all is said and done. The hardest part is bagging and disposing of your trash. You will also need a blower to make your driveway look neat I'm guessing you have some small trees scattered around too. It's more like $30 per session at the minimum

cap1717 · 03-19-2010, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

It will take lot longer than 10-15 minutes. Most tract homes in the Valley have yards that are a 1000 sq feet. I know it seems simple enough but try doing it on your own. You will realize it will take you 2 hours not 10-15 minutes when all is said and done. The hardest part is bagging and disposing of your trash. You will also need a blower to make your driveway look neat I'm guessing you have some small trees scattered around too. It's more like $30 per session at the minimum

don't forget, part of the "time cost" is getting there, truck expenses, equipment expenses, fuel expenses, etc. It's not like you get there, clock in, a mower , trimmer, etc. magically appears, debris magically dissapears, etc. You may be able to get "cheap" plenty of people do. . . the folks that offer "cheap" are most likely desperate, uneducated (horticulturally speaking), and may not have good english communications skills. Is that what you want?

asufan · 03-19-2010, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cap1717

don't forget, part of the "time cost" is getting there, truck expenses, equipment expenses, fuel expenses, etc. It's not like you get there, clock in, a mower , trimmer, etc. magically appears, debris magically dissapears, etc. You may be able to get "cheap" plenty of people do. . . the folks that offer "cheap" are most likely desperate, uneducated (horticulturally speaking), and may not have good english communications skills. Is that what you want?

If you hire someone that is already doing yards in the neighborhood, you don't have to worry about that, and that is how you get the good rates. The guy that does my yard does other yards in the neighborhood on that same Friday. i have seen his truck at 2 other neighbors houses. And yes, they can be done in 15 minutes, because it's usually a few guys, and they are (at least mine) very efficient. Again, I have the front and back yards done, and it probably takes 20-30 minutes, depending on if they need to trim the bushes/palms, etc. My next door neighbor has a husband and wife team, and I hear them out there working for over an hour at a time, so sometimes they work a little slower, but my yard still ends up looking much better. Ask your neighbors who they use, and that will be your best bet for a good deal, since they will already be there.

cap1717 · 03-19-2010, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asufan

If you hire someone that is already doing yards in the neighborhood, you don't have to worry about that, and that is how you get the good rates. The guy that does my yard does other yards in the neighborhood on that same Friday. i have seen his truck at 2 other neighbors houses. And yes, they can be done in 15 minutes, because it's usually a few guys, and they are (at least mine) very efficient. Again, I have the front and back yards done, and it probably takes 20-30 minutes, depending on if they need to trim the bushes/palms, etc. My next door neighbor has a husband and wife team, and I hear them out there working for over an hour at a time, so sometimes they work a little slower, but my yard still ends up looking much better. Ask your neighbors who they use, and that will be your best bet for a good deal, since they will already be there.

Thanks for the suggestion, I know you mean well. . . but. .. I am a horticulturist, and I know the difference. Unknowledgable yard workers have destroyed or damaged plenty of plants in my neighborhood, due to pruning at the wrong time of year, pruning incorrectly, etc. Lawns, I agree are fairly simple, but there are other aspects of L/S care that really do require more knowledge than is commonly realized!

asufan · 03-19-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cap1717

Thanks for the suggestion, I know you mean well. . . but. .. I am a horticulturist, and I know the difference. Unknowledgable yard workers have destroyed or damaged plenty of plants in my neighborhood, due to pruning at the wrong time of year, pruning incorrectly, etc. Lawns, I agree are fairly simple, but there are other aspects of L/S care that really do require more knowledge than is commonly realized!

The thing is, most of us don't need a horticulturist, we just need someone to mow our lawns, blow out the leaves, fix the sprinklers, re-seed the lawn and trim the bushes occasionally. I have never had any problems in the last 8-9 years of using these services of a plant or tree dying, or any other issues.

Now, if I had an expansive piece of property and wanted a perfectly manicured lawn and garden with all kinds of crazy stuff going on, believe me, I would look into someone more educated and qualified.