The Life of a Custom Mowing contractor

[Hay Dude]

Just had a 5 year field mowing customer ask me for a price to cut long low limbs off of about 20 huge pine trees, cut a bunch of angry brush, run it all through the chipper, and use the chips to make a thin layer of bedding under the pine trees on their 15 acre farm.

Here’s the 2 areas of trees I’m talking about

All low limbs cut up to 10’ off ground, all saplings and brush cut to the ground and all chips saved as bedding under the trees. There’s some other small areas of weed wacking and clearing, too but this is about 80% of the work.
There’s several years of debris, stickers, trash, saplings, etc to clean out of both beds. Pretty decent size mess. I figure me an my helper will need 3 days to do it all.

I already know I probably won’t get the job.

Why?

1. Old couple out of touch with prices.
2. “Neighborhood high school kids” used to do all their odd jobs & yard work for $5-$10 bucks/hr.

 

[BackRoad]

Do you put a "Quote good for 60 days" clause in your bids?

As Plan B, could you plow with a tractor until you found the right truck if you get the HOA contract, even though not desirable?

 

[Hay Dude]

Do you put a "Quote good for 60 days" clause in your bids?

I only do 21 days

As Plan B, could you plow with a tractor until you found the right truck if you get the HOA contract, even though not desirable?

Yes. Might even do that until the end of plowing season, then buy plow truck summer of 2026 when they’re cheaper.

Of course all predicated on me getting the contract…..still waiting on the answer.

However, if I do get it and use tractor, they may decide not to bring me back. Bunch of old people who get angered easily by equipment noise.

 

[LouNY]

I've heard people bitching about the noise of the plow blade scraping on the road, then they repeat if it's not plowed summer clean.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Haydude, out of curiosity, why did you pick 21 days. Personally, I hate waiting for replies, so I would make it 7 days maximum.

 

[Hay Dude]

Haydude, out of curiosity, why did you pick 21 days. Personally, I hate waiting for replies, so I would make it 7 days maximum.

HOA’s usually take longer to reply since it may involve calling board members to a meeting.
I used to do 30 days, backed up to 21. Might do 15 for homeowners.

 

[rontaki]

I only do 21 days

Yes. Might even do that until the end of plowing season, then buy plow truck summer of 2026 when they’re cheaper.

Of course all predicated on me getting the contract…..still waiting on the answer.

However, if I do get it and use tractor, they may decide not to bring me back. Bunch of old people who get angered easily by equipment noise.

Cinch the deal - tell them you'll fix the "Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful" sign for no extra charge!

 

[Molalla1]

Just had a 5 year field mowing customer ask me for a price to cut long low limbs off of about 20 huge pine trees, cut a bunch of angry brush, run it all through the chipper, and use the chips to make a thin layer of bedding under the pine trees on their 15 acre farm.

Here’s the 2 areas of trees I’m talking about
View attachment 4417891

View attachment 4417892

All low limbs cut up to 10’ off ground, all saplings and brush cut to the ground and all chips saved as bedding under the trees. There’s some other small areas of weed wacking and clearing, too but this is about 80% of the work.
There’s several years of debris, stickers, trash, saplings, etc to clean out of both beds. Pretty decent size mess. I figure me an my helper will need 3 days to do it all.

I already know I probably won’t get the job.

Why?

1. Old couple out of touch with prices.
2. “Neighborhood high school kids” used to do all their odd jobs & yard work for $5-$10 bucks/hr.

Hope they carry an umbrella policy in case one of the youngsters get hurt.