Cutting Acreage for $$$$$$$

mitchdb · Jul 21, 2004

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 · Jul 22, 2004

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 · Jul 22, 2004

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

( I've never checked into cutting the grass in my area, I hope there is some potential there. )

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.

( But most of them have tractors that put mine to shame so they probably take care of it themselves. )

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 · Jul 22, 2004

On average, I've found out that the bill is generally about $150.00. 

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 · Jul 22, 2004

( They currently earn about $1.75 per lot per cut ($10.50/year). )

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 · Jul 22, 2004

Guess your Dad's company isn't making their profit off of that contract, huh? 

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

mitchdb · Jul 22, 2004

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 · Jul 22, 2004

( Yall don't have snakes?????? )

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

( 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? )

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

( 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!
)

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 · Jul 22, 2004

( the City charges the lot owners $36/year )

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 · Jul 23, 2004

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.

mitchdb · Aug 23, 2004

UPDATE!

I got my first mowing job last week. I had a few a problems though! I popped my front tire but didn't know that I popped it due to the fact that the grass was really tall, so I ended up tearing the tire to shreds (I know, I know, I was supposed to walk the field 1st). It rained the 1st day so I had to go back to finish the job. I charged $40/hour for work time, travel time and setup was on me. The guy paid me up front for 10 hours work, I actually worked about 12 because he had several things that he wanted me to do and I couldn't get them done in 10 hours. He offered me more money because I was supposed to leave at 6:00pm and he showed up a little after 7:00pm and I was still there, I told him not to worry about it, I set out to finish the job. I'm happy to say, he was quite impressed with the work though. I'd be in bad shape if I had to make a living doing this!

All in all it was pretty fun though, he had a 500 acre ranch out in the middle of nowhere and he just turned me loose. No, I didn't mow the whole 500 acres!

-Mitch

Golfgar4 · Aug 23, 2004

( I got my first mowing job last week. )

Well, congratulations Mitch! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Now you at least have an idea of what's involved. Did you figure out what it was that popped your tire? Have you sat down and analyzed the job to see how you can be more efficient and operate more cost effectively? I think that's a very important part of doing the job.

Did your customer tell you if he'll want you back to do more later? If you don't hear from him in a week or two, send him a post card thanking him for his business, and offering him a 10% discount on any future jobs you might provide. Heck, even if you do hear from him, send him the card. You're trying to build up a business here, right?

One other update for you. You recall that I mentioned that I was going to find out how I might get a list of empty lots in our community. Well, I did that. And it turned out to be much easier than I thought! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I went to our Assesor's office and asked if they had, or could get, a listing of all of the empty lots and their addresses within the City limits. It turned out that this is a standard report that they prepare for the Planning department on an annual basis. Since it was already created, they didn't even charge me for it. It not only included the location of every empty lot, but also the owners name and address, the type of zoning (commercial, residential, etc.), and the size! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif With that information, I'll be able to put together a mailing that I can send out to find out what kind of interest the owners would have for using my services.

Oh yeah.....there were 1,352 empty lots on the list. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

So you might check with the assessing department in your community to see if you can get something like this also. It's going to be a tremendous help! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

mitchdb · Aug 23, 2004

I never did see what popped the tire, I assume it was something small because I never had anything hard go through the cutter. I bought an 8 ply tire (6 ply was stock) and added tire sealant, hopefully that will stop a leak.

I did look at my costs, the guy's property was quite a ways away so I spent more on truck fuel than I expected, especially since I had to go out there twice. The paper that I put the ad in covered several hundred miles but since it was my 1st job I was excited and took it, knowing that it was going to be a pretty good drive even if everything went right. I couldn't imagine trying to do pricing per acre, I can cup my property at about 2-1/2 - 3 acres per hour, I did a 7 acre section of his in 5 hours! The grass was really tall and thick, I went back over most of it after I finished because there was a lot that it didn't cut on the 1st round.

I don't have his address but I thought about calling him to see if everything was OK. He said he's recommend me to anyone that needed my services, he was a really nice guy. He said he might get me to come back out there and cut some duck hunting rows in his marshy land, I can just see me getting stuck and spending the day trying to get un-stuck!

That's a pretty good lists you've got there! Are the lots 1/4 acre on up? What are you going to set as your minimum?

I really did have fun though, it was really relaxing when everything was going OK! Part of the job was front end loader work too, I really like doing that! he had a big pile of old blacktop that he wanted me to put on a culvert. That just kinda broke up the mowing stuff.

Golfgar4 · Aug 23, 2004

( That's a pretty good lists you've got there! Are the lots 1/4 acre on up? What are you going to set as your minimum? )

The lots range anywhere from under 10 acres, with the majority of those roughly 1/4 acre residential lots, all the way up to 84 acre commercial lots.

I won't know exactly how much I'll be charging yet, but I am confident that's it's going to be somewhere between $35.00 per hour to $45.00 per hour minimum. The final number will be dependent on the final costs of everything.

How long did your ad run before you got the call? You actually drove several hundred miles one way for this job? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I think I can understand why you feel $40.00/hour wasn't enough! If I ever get into a long distance possibility, and for me, that would be +50 miles, I intend to have a flat rate for the driving time above the regular hourly rate for doing the job. If you're going to be considering more of these long distance jobs, you might want to determine a mileage charge for the distance that is based in on all of your maintenance costs for you truck and trailer.

Kyle_in_Tex · Aug 23, 2004

So, how many acres did you get done? What size is your mower? Did you have to take it easy on speed due to the grass being so high?

Sounds like you made roughly enough for this month's payment or some nice cash if you own it outright. How much for the tire? Did you buy from Jaeger's? Or down by the coast?

Did you get to cut during last weeks cool spell (90 degrees instead of 100)?

mitchdb · Aug 23, 2004

I was just excited to do it. My main problem is that I live 120 miles away from my property and tractor. I placed the ad up in that area and then the paper spreads out from there. The place I cut was 85 miles from my property, which isn't all that bad since everything is so spread out around here. I had to go to my property in Industry, TX, then go out to North Zulch, TX (north of Bryan/College Station). It started raining so I just left my tractor and trailer out there and drove home about 40 miles south of Houston. Then drove up 2 days later did the work, then went back to my property, then went home. I know it sounds ridiculous but it was only supposed to be the 1 time trip, the rained pretty much spoiled all my plans! I burned over 50 gallons of diesel just in my truck, then another 25 or 30 on my tractor. Live and learn, hopefully next time will be better!

The ad ran for a couple of days before I got the call. It all happened a lot quicker than I expected, I guess that's why I was so excited to get the call!

After everything was said and done, I had to work 8 hours just to break even. That's why I said I was glad that I didn't have to make a living doing this. If I raise my price I can't imagine anyone would ever call. As long as everything works our (no flats, trip twice, etc.....) I should be able to make a little money. As long as there is at least 8 hours work. I was hoping for 12 hours of work though. It would be hard for me to justify 1/4 acre lots! At least I didn't lose money!

mitchdb · Aug 23, 2004

I did a "known" 7 acre pasture and then mowed a few times each side along some roads. 1 road was all the way through the property, about a mile long. 3 times each side, that's 6 miles! It was very much overgrown, the owner wasn't sure if it had ever been mowed.

I have a JD 4710 48hp motor/41hp PTO. It was struggling at times, the weeds just twisted up in knots and would nearly kill it. I had to turn the PTO off a couple of times and pull out. There were a few spots that I mowed in A and 1st gear, I can walk faster than that!

If you include driving time, I actually pocketed less than $2/hour!

I went to the JD dealership in Bryan, they didn't have a tire though. I ended up buying it from Stouhal tire in Bryan. The tire with the sealant was $141.00. You can see my profit just flying away!

The 1st day I started mowing was when the cold front came through and it rained like crazy with 40mph winds and lightning. When I went back 2 days later, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and it was 68 degrees, I think it set a record low!The humidity was low and it only got to about 90 degrees, it was very nice! (OK, Northerners, don't laugh at that, this is Texas)!

That's one of the things that I really enjoyed about the whole thing, besides I really like to ride around on my tractor! When the weather is nice, I'll do just about anything to be outside! Even work for $2/hour HAHA!

Tractor_Dawg · Aug 24, 2004

I used to "own" a bush hogging business in Georgia when I was in high school. We lived in a rural development where the property owners where required to mow their property (mostly wooded) 3 times each year. We started out charging $28/hr (1990). Each year we raised our prices by about $3. My brother and I made excellent money for a couple of high school punks.

Once I went to college, we didn't have time on the weekends to do any work so we just let it go. My last summer I decided to move back home and try to get things going again. My parents had since moved, so I had to go about finding business. I advertised, went to real estate offices, nurseries, etc., etc. I finally picked up a job from a residential grass mower who didn't have the equipment to mow a 10 acre field for Peterbilt. I gave them a flat price of $500 and they said "do it". That job was a sunrise to sunset deal, and they would always call me when it was up to my chin, but it was good money....and a start. After that, a real estate agent starting giving me jobs mowing lots. I would charge them about $40-50 per lot and could do about 10 in a day. Soon thereafter, my phone was ringing off the hook.

Anyway, I just wanted to give you guys a little advice since I went through the same process.

Advertising and all that crap will help you get a job or two, but it's the word of mouth advertising that really cranks it up.

I would charge $75/hr for the first hour and $45/hr for each additional - 1 hr min. Everyone told me that this was very reasonable.

When I graduated from college and started work as a structural engineer, I remember calling my Dad to tell him I was coming home to cut grass. I was making ALOT more money sitting on the tractor. He reminded me how much he spent on my education.........I'm still an engineer.

I like the retirement idea though, I would definately enjoy something like that. The job is really not that demanding and if you weren't too worried about the income, you could weed out those PITA jobs.

I think you guys should also consider dirt work. These guys down here make a killing with a 50 HP Tractor and a Box Blade.... Maybe to enhance the grass mowing $$$$

Golfgar4 · Aug 24, 2004

( I would charge $75/hr for the first hour and $45/hr for each additional - 1 hr min. Everyone told me that this was very reasonable.
)

Thanks for the input. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I don't know if my area would support $75.00/hr. Maybe $50. I think the region a person is in makes a big difference. I'm in dairy farm country, so getting jobs out in the country could be a little more difficult just because everybody out there has their own equipment. As I mentioned before, I think there might be some potential for helping out when the farmers get too busy and would bring somebody in just to help out on a short term basis.

As far as the mowing (empty lots - not finish mowing) within the city limits goes, there are a zillion guys running around with some beat up equipment who are working out of the trunk of their car or some rinky dink trailer they're pulling with a Chevette. They'll take on that kind of job for $25.00 bucks, but they aren't insured, they show up when they want to, and frequently do a pretty poor job. So I'd need to prove to the property owner that in the long run, it's worth the $50/hr (or whatever) to hire a quality service that's insured, will show up when they're supposed to show up, and does the job the right way. Once you can do that a time or two, I believe that you'll usually keep the customer.

And like you said, if you're doing it as a retirement type thing, then you'd have a lot of flexibility with which jobs you take on. And I also agree with you that once you get things going, the phone will be ringing off the hook. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

MicroPilot · Aug 24, 2004

Something to consider. These lots are likely not being upkept by the owner, and may contain refuse. I would stipulate that their would/could be an extra charge for refuse removal/disposal.