Cutting Acreage for $$$$$$$

[mitchdb]

Walking 1st would depend on the height of the grass! If I can't see the ground very easy, I ain't walking it without snake boots and I don't have snake boots! We have Copper Heads, Water Moccasins and Rattle Snakes, THAT would ruin my day!

I've never checked into cutting the grass in my area, I hope there is some potential there. There is mainly cattle ranches, hay fields and corn crops around there, I'm sure cutting down the hay fields and corn crops are out of the question so hopefully the cattle guys will go for it. But most of them have tractors that put mine to shame so they probably take care of it themselves. Maybe I could do hay bailin? I don't think my 4710 could run a round bailer, maybe a square bailer though! OK, I'm getting off course! Sorry, just trying to find a ton of options!

 

[mikim]

The folks I know hire out their pasture cutting ... they're busy enuff just keepin' the cattle movin' from pasture to pasture. If you can get hooked up with one guy - he'll keep you busy enough the first year to see how well you make out - from both sides - yours and his. I'd ask in the coffee shop early in the a.m. --

 

[Golfgar4]

Well, I don't think I'd be walking the area either if I had to worry about snakes! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I've never checked into cutting the grass in my area, I hope there is some potential there. )</font>

What I've noticed in my area is a tremendous amount of empty lots within our community that never get mowed. The city codes require that the owner keep the "weeds" under control, so if ther grass/weeds on an empty lot get too long, the City sends out a crew to mow the lot, and then sends a bill to the property owner. On average, I've found out that the bill is generally about $150.00. Understand that we're talking about a single lot that is less than 1/4 acre.

I believe that a guy with a compact tractor and rotary cutter could mow something that size in under 1 hour, not including travel time to and from. Would the property owner who is too lazy to mow his own empty lot, and has gotten used to paying a $150.00 bill at least twice and sometimes 3 times a year, be willing to pay a private person, say, $70.00 for each mowing instead of the $150.00? My information says yes they would. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I'd also be contacting real estate offices, banks, and developers and offer the same kind of service for the empty lots they own. I would also consider doing lot clean up for builders and some low level excavation work. Another potential customer would be railroad companies for mowing track rights-of-way, and the utility companies for mowing their areas around transmission towers and sub stations. I'm even going to contact nurseries and landscape operations to offer that "extra" tractor and/or cutter when maybe their crews are too busy and they need an odd job finished.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( But most of them have tractors that put mine to shame so they probably take care of it themselves. )</font>

I've thought the same thing regarding the farms around here, but I'm hearing kind of what Mike mentioned. The farmers are so busy with their crops and stock, they might just welcome someone else coming in to take some of the "routine" mowing chores off their hands. I certainly will investigate it.

Regardless of how it might work, a person will need to do some leg work in the beginning to get the word out. I believe that once you get going, word of mouth will take over and the phone will be ringing off the hook. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> On average, I've found out that the bill is generally about $150.00. </font>

In Cape Coral, Florida (where my dad does this type of mowing), the City charges the lot owners $36/year ( $6 per cut 6 times a year) to maintain lots that are vacant. My dad's company contracts through the city to do this mowing. They currently earn about $1.75 per lot per cut ($10.50/year).

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( They currently earn about $1.75 per lot per cut ($10.50/year). )</font>

Guess your Dad's company isn't making their profit off of that contract, huh? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

When our City sends out a "crew" to mow these empty lots, they send either two 40hp tractors with sickle bar mowers being operated by "seasonal" employees, or one full time employee operating a Holder with a flail mower.

 

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> Guess your Dad's company isn't making their profit off of that contract, huh? </font>

They cut about 2400 lots per day -- they still are making profits.

 

[mitchdb]

Yall don't have snakes??????

Did you ever think about advertising in the local paper or something like thrifty nickel? I'll probably try that. I wonder if I should put a rate in the ad? Nobody ever does, I wonder why? Maybe that would give me an advantage. I was thinking about trying for $40/hour, that should cover all expenses for now. If not, I'll just have to work more!

I'm still trying to figure out the licensed and bonded rules. I sent the State of Texas an e-mail asking about this but no reply yet!

-Mitch

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yall don't have snakes?????? )</font>

Oh we've got snakes. But around here, they're the kind that you wouldn't mind keeping in your pocket if you had a mind to. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Did you ever think about advertising in the local paper or something like thrifty nickel? I'll probably try that. I wonder if I should put a rate in the ad? Nobody ever does, I wonder why? )</font>

I may try the local advertising later. First, I'll do up a brochure on the computer that I can gave out/drop off/leave around. I don't think I'd include my rates, at least initially. That would allow me to meet the individual that's asking and scope out the potential job. Then I'll know if I want to take it on or let it pass. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm still trying to figure out the licensed and bonded rules. I sent the State of Texas an e-mail asking about this but no reply yet!
)</font>

Doesn't the state of Texas have a web site? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I found virtually all of my information on the Wisconsin website without having to e-mail or call anyone.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the City charges the lot owners $36/year )</font>

Dave, that's really surprising. I can't remember what Dallas charged, but I've found that usually the rates in town are much higher than those in the country. I did just a few occasional jobs for neighbors in the country for $25 an hour (the last 30 acre job took 22 hours), so that was less than $20 an acre. Now if I were in that business to make a living, I sure could not do it for that price, but since I had the tractor anyway, had the time, and it was neighbors, I was glad to do it. But I talked to a guy who had one acre mowed in Ft. Worth and said the best price he found was $75. And now we're living in a mobile home park with very small yards, but everyone is responsible for mowing their own yard, and if they don't keep it mowed, the park mows it at a rate of $50. My grandson mows a couple of them for residents here for $15; one takes less than 30 minutes and the other a little over 30 minutes with a 21" walk behind mower.

 

[Gatorboy]

In Cape Coral there are many places you can stand, look all around you and only see a few houses -- hence the cheap price. It's not like cutting one lot, and driving to the next one. All the lots are mostly contiguous.