Hiring Lawn Care Personnel or....

Hiring Lawn Care Personnel or....

Rental Property Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 31 votes

Hi BP! 

I'm attempting to solve a challenge. 

Currently we have 20 units, all needing mowing/lawncare.

Currently I have about 6 companies handling this because the units are spread throughout the Chicago suburbs. Although I have great relationships with my main contractor (handling 6 units), he is unwilling to travel a bit further to handle some of the others. 

This presents 2 challenges-
1) The payroll/admin that my wife goes through each month, isn't worth the hassle. Way to much QC, and back and forth. They submit pictures to a "google form" after a mow, and she uses that as proof to pay. Obviously, they oftentimes don't submit pics, and/or submit same pics twice. Again, the hassle isn't worth it anymore.

2) Cost. We pay either $30 or $35 a cut, depending on size, which in itself, is no concern. However, all of these contractors prefer weekly cuts, and if we go to bi-weekly, cost rises. In a perfect world, I'd love a cut 3x monthly, not 4. With a model of 3x/month, we could be saving $30/month on each property. $600/monthly. 

I'm considering posting a job on Indeed or something for 2022 season, and hiring in-house, purchasing the riding lawn mower and trailer, the whole thing. What is everyone else doing to solve their lawn care with multiple units?

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Colleen F.Pro Member
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
5y

@Bob Wilson   If the hassle isn't worth it forget the pictures, if you have established relationships that is a bit much.  Have them submit their invoices. Trust buy verify doesn't mean you have to check on them every mow. 

Another thought is if you hire someone  it is not a really attractive job.  They would have to want to work only part of the year.  They would have to have a truck set up for towing a trailer.  They would need to be insured. It is too much time commitment for a part time job for some retired person but not enough for full time and its only part of the year. And they would have to be reliable and not want vacation during the summer. 

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  • Rental Property Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 31 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Joe Norman:

    It sounds like the hassle is in the weekly billing, which is understandable. Will the lawn care companies invoice you on a monthly basis? Thats what my lawn guy does and it works just fine for both of us. I don't require proof that the yards have been cut but I've never had a complaint or any inkling that they aren't getting done.

    Another option, as others have stated, is to have the tenant take responsibility for the lawn.

     We do monthly as well. 

    We have had a couple complaints over the last 1-2 years, and we have been invoiced for something "not cu", which we found out through our cameras and tenant feedback. 

  • Crystal SmithPro Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    It looks like. you're getting great advise. One of the things I love about BP is learning about new companies/startups that are trying to solve a problem. We proposed LawnLove to our management company who use to have in house people cutting the grass & we've proposed it to clients we represent on listing where the homes are vacant. $35 every other week for a normal size lawn seems like a good deal. 

  • Denver, CO · Member since 2018 · 133 posts · 97 votes
    5y

    @Bob Wilson You may want to consider a robotic lawnmower to solve this problem. 

  • Matthew Irish-JonesBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    @Bob Wilson managing lower wage workers, buying equipment for lawn care and having a tiny little landscaping company is going to be way more hassle than outsourcing.  Your time is way better spent calling contractors.  

    I am not sure why you need photo evidence to pay.  If you have a good contractor and he does a good job I would assume his invoice is evidence he cut. 

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  • Rental Property Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2019 · 51 posts · 31 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Crystal Smith:

    It looks like. you're getting great advise. One of the things I love about BP is learning about new companies/startups that are trying to solve a problem. We proposed LawnLove to our management company who use to have in house people cutting the grass & we've proposed it to clients we represent on listing where the homes are vacant. $35 every other week for a normal size lawn seems like a good deal. 

    Thanks Agreed! Great advice (mostly), and I now have a solution :)

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