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Sorry if this is redundant. My daughter and I mow and trim a neighbor's yard for $25 a shot. He's nearby and convenient, so we don't charge much. Helps her earn a little pocket $ & helps him out. He has allergies, etc. 3/4 acre lot with about a 1500 sq ft house. Yard is mostly open, so no major objects to mow around. Aggravating ditch out front.
She mows with a rider, I trim with push mower and string trimmer, she sweeps walk and deck. Takes us about 2 hours all told. We have to chase him down for the $. He use to come over when he'd seen the job done. Now, he never does. He works long hours and sleeps an odd schedule so I leave notes on his door that she needs the $. Last week, he paid her for the previous job while she was mowing. He now owes us for last week & this week. He hasn't responded to my last note. I'm putting one up tonight for the 2 jobs, $50.
I wonder if he thinks we are overcharging him. He is very tight. But I know he couldn't get any landscaper for what we charge, and not many teenagers.
How much are others of you paying or charging for similar lawn work on similar size lawns? I'm just curious.
I paid the neighbor kid $30 +$3 tip when he mowed our front yard the weekend we moved in. We have a smaller lot ~.25 acre. The weeds were almost up to my ankle though, and we do have a hill that's a pain. I think your prices are fair, and it sounds like you and your daughter are doing a great job. I would check with him and make sure that he still wants this service performed.
Poor kid always asks me if I need my yard cut every time he sees me. =0) We'll use him again if we go out of town for longer than a week.
I pay a neighbor kid $25 for mowing a small area.
It is a lot, but I set the price and I can get it mowed any time I want it mowed.
And his dad supervises him and inspects and chews him out if he misses something.
The last "Pro" I had got $30, was unreliable, and didn't want to talk about any additional work.
The two before that were worse.
YOU, On The Other Hand, are doing charity work @ $25 for two of you for a couple of hours, particularly if you can't get paid reliably.
Teenagers don't work to build Accounts Receivable. They want/need their money.
Yeah, you're seriously undercharging. It's probably not a bad idea to have him start pre-paying for the work if he's starting to stiff you. He won't find anybody else to cut 3/4 acre for that. The going rate seems to be $35-50 per cut for 1/4 acre, so a good deal more for 3x that size!
Come and mow my lawn; I'd hire you in a heartbeat. Your prices are way under the radar IMHO. I have .50 acres and pay $35-40 per mow -- same type of lot as you are mowing. I agree with the OP---have him pay in advance. Most businesses would have discontinued servicing him by now. Give him another chance by having him learn the responsibility of paying in advance for services since the other way isn't working. Otherwise,kindly move on.
Thanks, all of you. I knew we were giving him a bargain. i remember when he had a pro doing the yard who mowed, trimmed and used a blower. I asked the guy once about doing our yard. He looked it over and said about $70, as our yard had lots more obstacles, and the neighbor's is wide open. I assume he got 50 or so, that was about 10 years ago.
I left a note about the 2 visits, then my daughter saw him in the supermarket and reminded him. He cheerfully came over later with the $50. I'll be sure to leave a note each time now and see how that works.
I paid a guy $65 for 1 1/2 acres straight land no trees. He wanted more, I bought a $350 rider and it paid for itself after 7 mows...and I still have the rider.
$25 for a residential is NOT outrageous. If it takes two hours, just the time is worth at least $40 not to mention the gas and equipment wear and tear...
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Your prices are way under the radar IMHO. I have .50 acres and pay $35-40 per mow -- same type of lot as you are mowing. I agree with the OP---have him pay in advance. Most businesses would have discontinued servicing him by now. Give him another chance by having him learn the responsibility of paying in advance for services since the other way isn't working. Otherwise,kindly move on.
