Help me price a job

[trook]

I live in a nice college town neighborhood in Mississippi. When my neighborhood was plotted, property lines were marked by driving metal fence posts about 2 ft into the ground. Last week, I used my tractor FEL to pull out a post for a neighbor. To my surprise, the post was really tough to pull and definitely needed a tractor with a FEL. Many other fence posts are still there, and they will probably need a FEL on a tractor to pull them out. I am considering passing out flyers to advertise that I will pull out the posts for a fee, but I am not sure of what to charge. That is where I need your help.

I know this task will only take about 5 min per post, but the job will require a tractor. Further, the average house in this neighborhood is valued around $250,000 and they are proud of their nice manicured lawns. For example, many of the people in this neighborhood use professional landscape companies to maintain their 1/4 acre yards for $50 per cut. For many homeowners, I believe that a metal fence post in the corner of their front yard is an eyesore they would like to eliminate for a reasonable fee.

The goal would be to pull as many posts as possible while I have my tractor at my house instead of at the farm. This area of the neighborhood consists of approximately 100 homes. Probably 1/4 of them still have posts in their yards. What fee should I mark on the flyers? $20? $25?

 

[beenthere]

Seems to be the wrong approach, to pull out property line posts. They will serve to solve a lot of future disputes over where those property lines are at.

Best idea (and may be that is just my thinking) is to pound (drive) those posts down so they are just below ground surface. That way they can be located in the future with a metal detector.

Usually property lines are understood, but as time goes by and properties are sold and resold, those lines get confused as to who's property is where. The surveying companies and the lawyers and courts are then the ones that rake in the money, and it will pale to the $25 you are thinking of collecting.

If you do it, better consider having the insurance for any liability you have or damage that you might do crossing lawns. And which property owner do you charge, as the post is on the line between two properties?

You'd best look into the legal ramifications of plucking out the posts. I wouldn't be happy if my neighbor decided to pull out property line posts. They are driven down below ground level and can be located (also not visible and can be mown over).

 

[trook]

All these properties have fenced in back yards. Between these and the driveways, the propertly lines are very obvious. Also, all these posts are on the edge of the front yard/driveway next to the main road. Just think of the most manicured and well maintained neighborhood you could ever think of!!

I would not have to place my tractor onto the grass in order to pull the posts. If I do, you are talking about being 1-2 feet onto the grass at the most.

I believe most homeowners would jump at this chance, as long as the price is reasonable, primarily for asthetic purposes.

 

[beenthere]

So, do you get approval from both property owners?
I don't argue that removing the posts would look better. Removing the back yard fences would "look" better too.

But over the years, I've been involved or aware of too many disputes where property lines are located. What is obvious today, is forgotten tomorrow.

But carry on with whatever your plan is, and wish you luck.

(I'd still say, easier to cut them off and drive the underground part a bit further into the ground for future reference. )

 

[deepNdirt]

I think for the time and effort and as mentioned future references to property lines, One would simply cut them off close to the ground, No fuss No muss and perhaps spray paint the tops of them a bright color so's not to run over them by a mower
but if you can make $$$ doing this go for it.... but be careful not to cost yourself money from tractor tire damage on the sod even if only 1 ft on it, etc,etc,,

 

[2458n]

Included in the price- repair for bodily damages you are likely to incure from someone who likes to know where their property line was. The post serves two people and this should not be forgotten.

 

[bjr]

You're being funny, right. I can't believe anyone would hire or pay for some thing like that. City people are hard to figure, though. bjr

 

[trook]

Yeah, I agree. However, you know how most college professors are (can't screw in a light bulb)....especially liberal college professors

 

[DAY]

Right, bjr, but some people have more money than brains, and it our civic duty to help them decrease the one and increase the other!
Around here we pull posts with a little elbow grease and a sky hook, so there are no wheel marks on the marks' lawns.

 

[beppington]

I'd suggest wrapping a chain around them & lifting with the 3PH ... Better leverage there. Might do less turf damage, too, since your bigger rear tires would be pressing on the ground instead of your smaller front tires.

That said, maybe offer something like "10 posts removed for $30" ... or whatever price you need to get to make it worth your time/ effort/ expenses.