Has anyone ever negotiated with ONE lawncare service for multiple homes in a neighborhood? (subdivision)

[lovebrentwood]

Maybe I'm dreaming, but it seems to me that, especially in this economy, a group should be able to negotiate with one lawn care service for a lower price if multiple neighbors sign up for it.

Has anyone ever done this? Where? How did it work out? Any recommendations for lawn services?

Thanks!

[fester600]

At least the two or three lawn services that I spoke to about trying to combine my neighbor and my lawn did not go for it. I guess they have some rule against it. If the subdivision went for it, maybe, but 2-3 homes it seems like they are not interested.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

I doubt you will have much luck with that with most reputable services. They usually require individual contracts and dealing with multiple homes via one contract would be a headache. What happens when one or two of the participants moves or decides they want to go back cutting themselves? Does the discount still apply to the remainder of homes? Does the contract get renegotiated. Too much trouble to deal with. In the end I doubt the discount would be more than just a couple of dollars and probably not worth the trouble for the lawn service or your neighbors.

FWIW, I don't think most reputable lawn services are struggling "in this economy". Clients come and go but most places I know are very busy and aren't looking for ways to discount their services outside of one time teaser rates to drum up business.

[falafel77]

I have done it (negotiated group rates) even in good times. some of the issues raised can simply be worked out by talking to the lawn guy. and as nrg mentioned, it is a few dollars you save PER treatment. Depends if you care about it or not.

If someone moves out or discontinues, my guy kept providing me the discount. It makes more sense for him to have me as a customer than not.

I used nc turf care

NC Turf - Home

ask for ryan.

[lovebrentwood]

Thanks! There are 1400 homes in Brentwood. It's like a small town. I'd think it might be worthwhile for someone.

Originally Posted by falafel77

I have done it (negotiated group rates) even in good times. some of the issues raised can simply be worked out by talking to the lawn guy. and as nrg mentioned, it is a few dollars you save PER treatment. Depends if you care about it or not.

If someone moves out or discontinues, my guy kept providing me the discount. It makes more sense for him to have me as a customer than not.

I used nc turf care

NC Turf - Home

ask for ryan.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by lovebrentwood

Thanks! There are 1400 homes in Brentwood. It's like a small town. I'd think it might be worthwhile for someone.

Right. If you try this, I would focus on getting neighbors grouped together on your street to band together. The arguement for a discount is weakened if the customers are spread out among the 1400 residents in an entire community unless you are talking about a LARGE number of people signing up. If you only get 5 or 6 people on board but the lawn guy needs to pack up his equipment onto his truck to drive over to somebody in the "group" the value having a bulk of customers in one location is somewhat diminished.

[cry884]

I did this with a small company, but the deal was that the rates would go back to the norm if a bunch of people canceled.