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OT: Landscaper question

PS4814

PS4814

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2016
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The State of Paranoia
Need some input as to whether this is a "too good to be true" or a "you get what you pay for" scenario.

Historically I've always taken care of redoing the mulch beds on my property but with the addition of two large ones last year it's become too great of a task for me to handle in a reasonable amount of time. In searching for a landscaper to take care of the job I've received two quotes from local established nursery/landscape businesses and then a third quote from a guy that's new in the area, within the last year, who is looking to grow into a year-round setup. The two quotes from the businesses came in around $1300 and the "startup" guy was around $700. The new guy has multiple positive reviews and comments about his work on neighborhood facebook pages from the surrounding area, which is where we heard about him in the first place.

Is there anything I should be asking, looking out for, or could be missing with this?
 
Most of the big guys are terrible,especially TruGreen. I've tried several of them and they are always hiring new people who don't know what they are doing or don't care. Find a good local guy.
 
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PS4814 said:
Need some input as to whether this is a "too good to be true" or a "you get what you pay for" scenario.

Historically I've always taken care of redoing the mulch beds on my property but with the addition of two large ones last year it's become too great of a task for me to handle in a reasonable amount of time. In searching for a landscaper to take care of the job I've received two quotes from local established nursery/landscape businesses and then a third quote from a guy that's new in the area, within the last year, who is looking to grow into a year-round setup. The two quotes from the businesses came in around $1300 and the "startup" guy was around $700. The new guy has multiple positive reviews and comments about his work on neighborhood facebook pages from the surrounding area, which is where we heard about him in the first place.

Is there anything I should be asking, looking out for, or could be missing with this?
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If I were you, I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable paying a price that is substantially less than what the two large, established companies are quoting. So, hire the new guy and send me a check for $600 for my consulting services. We are all winners and will sleep better at night.
 
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Ask each of the three to give you a sample (plastic bag) of their mulch.

Also, how many inches deep does each intend to provide? Over the years in my complex we’ve historically mulched every other year and the amount of mulch has certainly varied by a significant margin.
 
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Any edging required on this job? Beds being redefined? If so then maybe the $1300 is accurate.

$100 per yard is just the mulch and the labor to spread it. You should expect more for edging/cleanups/delivery etc... I always include shrub trimming with mulch (for a fee) so you don’t have to walk through your fresh mulch 3 weeks later and leave clippings everywhere.

so not knowing what other details are involved with this project I can’t give an honest assessment. Nobody just comes in and throws mulch right on top without having to do some prep work.
 
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ILLINOISLION said:
Well, you want to make sure the mulch doesn’t contain chicken shit! :rolleyes:
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Most people get the materials from the closest supply yard ($35-40) to the customers house unless they have the land to store their own mulch supply ($12-15 per yard) and the machines to load that stuff. If they have that, they’re doing something right.

Either way the rate is $100 to provide and install the material. Some companies are able to get $80 for labor return, but most are in the $55-60 range.

The point is that your idea is terrible. And there are people who do exactly what you suggested. I hope you’re not that guy. As a company owner in this industry, this time of year, I don’t have the time to drive across town and get a handful of mulch, put in a bag and take it to a what if customer... and for free at that.

Maybe the startup guy doesn’t have a lot of work and will jump through the hoops to establish himself. But people see this and like to take advantage so tactics like that pisses me off.
 
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PSU1282 said:
Most of the big guys are terrible,especially TruGreen. I've tried several of them and they are always hiring new people who don't know what they are doing or don't care. Find a good local guy.
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The big guys didn’t get to where they are because they’re terrible. TruGreen deals exclusively with chemicals.. lawn care. Fertilizing, etc...

This thread is about mulch not lawn care. 2 different animals. If you’re going to knock something at least get the industries right.
 
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jim cummings said:
Most people get the materials from the closest supply yard ($35-40) to the customers house unless they have the land to store their own mulch supply ($12-15 per yard) and the machines to load that stuff. If they have that, they’re doing something right.

Either way the rate is $100 to provide and install the material. Some companies are able to get $80 for labor return, but most are in the $55-60 range.

The point is that your idea is terrible. And there are people who do exactly what you suggested. I hope you’re not that guy. As a company owner in this industry, this time of year, I don’t have the time to drive across town and get a handful of mulch, put in a bag and take it to a what if customer... and for free at that.

Maybe the startup guy doesn’t have a lot of work and will jump through the hoops to establish himself. But people see this and like to take advantage so tactics like that pisses me off.
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Sorry you’re offended and all pissed off Jim. Providing a small sample has been part of the bidding process in my complex of 118 homes for at least the last 15-20 years. Everyone that we deal with has their own mulch on their own site, it’s never been a burden or “jumping through hoops” with the vendors we’ve dealt with.

You could keep a small supply of mulch with you.....handing out a sample when you go out to offer a quote to new customers might differentiate yourself from others you are competing against.

Enough here. Good luck with your business, hope spring arrives soon for all of us.
 
ILLINOISLION said:
Sorry you’re offended and all pissed off Jim. Providing a small sample has been part of the bidding process in my complex of 118 homes for at least the last 15-20 years. Everyone that we deal with has their own mulch on their own site, it’s never been a burden or “jumping through hoops” with the vendors we’ve dealt with.

You could keep a small supply of mulch with you.....handing out a sample when you go out to offer a quote to new customers might differentiate yourself from others you are competing against.

Enough here. Good luck with your business, hope spring arrives soon for all of us.
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Not all mulch is the same from one supply yard to the next. Different batches have different shades. Chocolate from one place looks different from chocolate at the place 3 miles away.

It sounds like you have an HOA and once the contractor is hired, it comes down to color but the costs are the same. That guy is hired for a multi thousand dollar contract. Yeah you take the menu around.

Completely different in this case. 118 property complex vs a 1 and done.
 
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I used to get 10 cubic yards dumped in my driveway for $300.00 that I would spread myself, so $700 all-in seems OK to me.
 
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Perhaps the big guys are sub-ing out the job and taking a fee on top of the actual cost of providing the material and labor charged by the sub.
 
Here... I’ll break down a job I started last week. 7 yards of mulch plus prep work.

Approx: $100 per yard installed... $700
Cleanup/edging: 8 man hours (2 guys..4 hours..) x $60 per man hour... $480
Delivery: $40
Perhaps the other guy charges $70 per man hour which is common. If that’s the case we end up at exactly $1300.

700
480
40
$1,220.00

If I can get away with 5 yards, I’ll charge them $500 for the mulch. This is a lifelong customer.
 
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PS4814 said:
Need some input as to whether this is a "too good to be true" or a "you get what you pay for" scenario.

Historically I've always taken care of redoing the mulch beds on my property but with the addition of two large ones last year it's become too great of a task for me to handle in a reasonable amount of time. In searching for a landscaper to take care of the job I've received two quotes from local established nursery/landscape businesses and then a third quote from a guy that's new in the area, within the last year, who is looking to grow into a year-round setup. The two quotes from the businesses came in around $1300 and the "startup" guy was around $700. The new guy has multiple positive reviews and comments about his work on neighborhood facebook pages from the surrounding area, which is where we heard about him in the first place.

Is there anything I should be asking, looking out for, or could be missing with this?
Click to expand...
You might want to give the start up guy a try. Honestly both prices are not bad....but i have not seen your yard. I paid about $1400 for an entire yard clean up and mulch last summer.
 
CF LION said:
I used to get 10 cubic yards dumped in my driveway for $300.00 that I would spread myself, so $700 all-in seems OK to me.
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Damn - that’s a lot of mulch - your back must have been sore after that day.
 
I understand my post is off topic, but reading the post brought back memories from a few decades ago. When we needed peatmoss for landscaping on the homestead we took a few li kups to Sweet Valley to the peat bog, about four miles west. The owner piled up the peat in the pickups $20 a load.
Wanted to show you a working peat bog. I haven't been there in years, l bealive he sells only commercial these days....don't know, but Backmntnitty may know, i understamd he lives in the Lehman area.

Dropped pin
Near Ross Township, PA 18621
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CruwA
 
jim cummings said:
Here... I’ll break down a job I started last week. 7 yards of mulch plus prep work.

Approx: $100 per yard installed... $700
Cleanup/edging: 8 man hours (2 guys..4 hours..) x $60 per man hour... $480
Delivery: $40
Perhaps the other guy charges $70 per man hour which is common. If that’s the case we end up at exactly $1300.

700
480
40
$1,220.00

If I can get away with 5 yards, I’ll charge them $500 for the mulch. This is a lifelong customer.
View embedded media
Click to expand...

$70/hour to spread mulch! This is why I go to the Home Depot and pick up a couple of guys who will do it for $10
 
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