Right so we agreed on a fee of £300 including waste removal to the tip for an end result / outcome, but part way through the job the client decided the waste could be left on site, & spread around under the hedge's, This was not expected! this was not in my plan, so that reduced the price to £250 which was o.k, but I did do more work around the front than I was expecting too do, as I was really only quoting for just the grass to be cut. When I got to the job the client asked me to start at the front ,and I had planned to start around the back because I knew that the back was by far worse than the front and would therefore take longer ,therefore my time management would of been rock solid and I would not of over ran, The customers alway's right😩🙄, so in doing more than I quoted for around the front (lots of weeding) paths and paving driveway etc and spending to much time out there ,that meant I had to go like the clappers around the back. I would of preferred to of got the grass done first and then done some weeding IF time aloud so in my opinion He got his moneys worth and then some, Also you have to think, how did it get so bad in the first place. It had not been done for some time. Someone said they would of done it for free , to that I would say I have a large mortgage and 3 children to feed! I'am Sorry , I should probably make a video on it. Other Cost to think about quoting cost that was another visit that you didn't see on camera 1 Hour Time spent writing the quote - 1 hours travelling too and from the job, loading and unloading the tools ,The bags for waste that as it turns out I didn't need & oils, fuels, tool maintenance , office cost, office staff, heat, light, electric, battery charging for the trimmer, land line phone, mobile phone, clothes and equipment that need cleaning , And not to forget all the shit that the strimmer shoot up into my mouth, van running costs & costs of buying the van Advertising costs , this list goes on and on ,but you get the point, I am sorry, I did have to delete some really stupid comments, That I just wouldn't rise too. 💚 I hope that sharing this Business information is of help to someone? That is one of the points of making this type of video Thanks for watching All the best Steve
It happens mate. Especially around the Hurn / Golf links area. I'm local (Christchurch) and work in the same industry. Glad to hear you got paid and settled.
@@samyeli3162 Hello Mate , I will post a few more jobs as I get them , if peep's like watching them , might not put the prices on them get to many haters on here, to cheep or to dear they say lol 😂 Thanks for checking in 🙏 Have a great weekend Mr 🧀
you did a great job Steve, and thanks for the video, very interesting. As for the money as long as it enough for you to make a decent living without hurting yourself in the process. If you worked like that every day not sure you would last till 65. But anyway, well done and thanks again
Everyone has their own method of tidying a garden. In your video, you are strimming some grass about 7-8 inches high, I would have raised a mower and slowly lowered it there's no grass to rack up. Then trim the hedge around it and pick it up with the mower, this has to be easier and much quicker. Hope you don't mind me telling you how I would go about it.
Yeah 🙄 my 12 year old mower , would not touch it Mate , And I would get your tape measured checked if you think that's what 7-8 inches in length looks like. more like 2 feet plus or 3 in place if you counting to the top of the seed heads 🤣 IF THE MOWER WOULD OF CUT IT ,I WOULD OF 100 % USED IT that was a price job🤣🤣🤣 all the best Steve
Personally you should have an agreement contract between the customer and yourself. Sign it so it covers you for the work carried out. Any additional work that’s not quoted then can be discussed and maybe done on another day. It always seems to me once you’ve started the work they will say can you just. Then you have an obligation to do so, so that you get paid for the work carried out on that day. It’s always worked for me and if the customer is happy you both know where you stand. Time is essential don’t spread yourself thin running around too far either. Or you will spend more time travelling than doing work closer together. Also factor in waste, not all gardeners have waste licenses, so if you don’t leave it with the customer it’s costing you to get rid of it. Think if you were to factor in a skip how much ? Never underestimate the value of your time and expertise. Look at your out going’s tax 20%, insurances to cover your self and the customer if anything goes wrong. national insurance pension, accountants, it all needs to be factored in. The list is endless as you say, but anyone can work for nothing. You take pride in your work just like any other profession, remember that. You’re not just a gardener. Know one ever questions a plumber or electrician and if your like me I’ve done a lot of city and guilds qualifications to get where I am today. That’s because I do trees and have got my lantra certification and I’m very knowledgeable about TPO and conservation areas. If you don’t check them out before starting a job you could land yourself in a lot of trouble and cost. I just don’t like it when someone says gardening is anyone’s job or hobby. It’s hard graft but it’s the out come when you’ve finished the work. Carry on you’re doing a great job. 👍
Mate , I needed that, Had some really nasty comments that I had to take down, People saying what gives me the right to charge the prices I charge, I have been gardening for money since I was 14 years old , I spend so much money and time on my business, its crazy, one comment said I should of done it for free ,lol, I used to do Japanese Knot weed removal , I don't know what people would say if they sore what we charged for that service or the tree work my team have done in my younger years 🤣 I really thank you for your comment !! , I am as professional as they come, I would not of entertained doing a channel like this if I was not proud of my work or qualified. I have to many qualifications, and no one ever ask to see them. I should frame them and put them on the wall behind me 🤣 Have a great weekend Steve in sunny Dorset
I charged an old woman £20 an hour to mow the grass , next time she refused to pay £20 so i said £15 , took the money and scalped it back to mud. Never went back again. Anoying thing is her grown up kids won't help her
A looong time ago i had a gardening job between Uni and getting into something with my degree. The guy i worked for new all the angles. We'd take the cuttings from the small housing estate gardens and put them in the waste pile of the larger houses we worked on. I doubt they ever asked, although I'm sure he could spin a yarn about free compost!
Hi Stephen, nice video and end result is great. I’m a self employed gardener, I take on gardens like that, I get a kick from before and after pics, it makes it worth while. I charge £150 a day and I never quote, it’s all in day rate. I think some people think we must be minted on this money. After all insurances are paid, fuel, breakdowns blar blar blar etc, I reckon that after all tax and NI are taken and accountancy fees etc, I probably take home about £12 an hour. Wouldn’t have it any other way. I keep daily rate low as don’t want another 4k tax bill!!😂 Keep up the good work
Very satisfying to see the before and after. I have a Hayter which i use for low growth gardens but i highly recommend the ALKO with the Honda engine. Its a beast! Amazing cutting power and collection. My price for that (assuming say 30mins to cover one way travel and a bit re quote time and actual time worked) would be £175/£185. Assuming no waste removal. Re the ticks an old hunters trick is to eat 3 paper match heads in advance as you sweat out the sulphur which they hate....or you can get sulpur tablets...or certain vitamin B minerals work also. All best 👌
I Totally agree with you, Hayters are not great for long or wet grass, The shoot to me seems a little bit narrow, I call them a great finishing mower and the client's with good lawns like the stripes that they make. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment Steve 👍
That's a big job on your own, fair play to you. My wife and I work as a team, we charge £240 a day plus any waste away. Some people might say that's too cheap for 2 people, but I'm 64 with arthritic knees, and I don't feel I can push it higher than that.
I agree with your pricing and thought process. I'm 36 with 10 years experience and physically in my prime I explain to people I can't and wont compete with hourly rates of others due to the factors you've mentioned.
Depends how much work you get done I suppose..? But 120 each after tax and expenses is barely minimum wage. At the moment I charge 250 per day plus 50 for waste (which costs me nothing) for hedge cutting
nice video and brave of you to state your fee !! so many people on here that will quickly tell you that you're wrong. Fact is that you're happy and the customer is happy, all is good. In all honesty I would have quoted 150-200 depending on what I saw (can never really tell on a video) but I know I do under charge, I'm still starting up and building customers and a reputation so to me it's worth it. Good luck matey.
I have done that Before, You must remember the blade's on the machine will still be going around if the shoot get blocked ,so turn it off before you unblock it. Other than that good advise. Thanks for commenting Steve 🙏
@@StephenCheeseGardenServices Cheers Steve, probs not the best idea for YT!.. but when on your own - did this caper for 30 odd years, used to raise the mower to the max, hold up the back flap with baling twine and turn me Honda into a combine! Keep up the hard work(the first 20 years are the hardest!). Regards.
you did a great job Steve, and thanks for the video, very interesting. As for the money as long as it enough for you to make a decent living without hurting yourself in the process. If you worked like that every day not sure you would last till 65. But anyway, well done and thanks again
@@StephenCheeseGardenServices I have just reread my message, just to be clear.. I meant working till you are 65...not living!! lol. Take care and don't work too hard
I don't take waste away 🤠 in there bin or bag it up or its chopped up and v blown under the hedge ... has worked for me so far .. saves a lot of messing about 🧀🍻🤠
Nice work Steven top job done mate that grass was rather long you done well Yeah that was about a small to medium job 😂 Take care buddy keep up the great work 💪🏼
Yes in my next Video , I will say this is a very, very, very, Very small job compared to Pete's channel of epically massive jobs 🤣 and it's the only job I did that day. lol
@@StephenCheeseGardenServices you done well bro I like the sort of clients who really value your time and effort It’s nice to hear your client was happy with your work It looked great mate well done
Nice one there Steve, me and the wife work as a team we charge £310 a day plus waste - I want more but hard to justify nobody’s paying more than that for gardeners
If you don't ask, you don't get, Everyone else has put there price's up, The job in the video, was no run of the mill job , it was tough and filled with hazards! So £310 is fine but no with boi hazards and tick's and shit flying around ,dirty job it was. Get what you can, better to be working than sitting on the sofa!! top end house for me that was. I Try to show only the best ,I might pop a few small jobs for £30 job videos up one day for you I don't want to make any one feel bad , I have a few jobs that I do for £25 per hour because Customer refuses to pay more🤣 thanks for watching , Its all good 😊 Steve
@@StephenCheeseGardenServices yeah I just get worried if I put our prices up I won’t get much custom, so many gardeners around me doing it dirt cheap, just to undercut, ah well I suppose we just need better clientele, I expect we will put prices up soon, see what happens. No no you don’t need to worry about making anyone feel bad, you’re very experienced and your work is quality so you deserve whatever you want to charge. Keep the videos up All the best Toby
@@tobymitchell4603 I think , I have given my best 20 years away to an estate I used to work for and that was well over 10 years ago, I am about fit for the nakkers yard🤣 You just do what you can do. I mostly make small amounts of money ie 2 hour jobs are the most common services that I sell. £50 to £75 per visit. I am trying to move more towards priced jobs only if I can 😩🤣like hedges ,power washing, small clearance ,Mow blows & go's etc.
@@StephenCheeseGardenServices yeah I bet you’re ready for retirement now 🤣 we’re only 27 been going for 2 years with the business so got a lot of catching up to do 😅 My back feels older already tho mind. Great can’t wait to see the content. Have a great week Steve Toby
Hi there, that was a big job caused by a lack of general regular maintenance, which is what happens when you get older and can't keep up with maintenance in general. You did a great job with the time available because there was so much to do. Was wondering what size Hayter mower you were using. Looks like a 48 or maybe a 56 only I am thinking of buying a larger Hayter (have a small 41 at the moment) owned it for 25 plus years. Thanks.
48 hayter pro it was, I also have a 41 the 56" are to big for me now as they are fairly heavy, 56 is good if you are doing a lot of large lawns , 41 has a big powerful engine for the size of the deck and are really fast imo, New hayters are not made as well as they use to be , or so I am told. I have never really used many other lawn mower, the estate I worked for only used haters Thanks for commenting Steve
Thanks for checking in, Hope you guy's are well. 🌤Steve in Dorset👌 did a few little jobs today , Happy day's 🤣🇬🇧 I have got a lot of planting out to do leeks and pumpkins I got given and beetroots , it never ends 💚
A Steve's Day's Graft - Lot's of editing, I will work on making them flow faster in future,That was 7 hours filming, edited down to 21minute's or so , I had to cut loads of footage 🤣
I was looking for a comment about that plant.. I've seen a few of those plants around while doing gardens, but don't know what it is.. So on looking up what Stephen said, I noticed it's not the honey suckle.. Thanks
Thanks Buddy , I Had to turn a job down today heartbreaking had ALL the red flags 🚩town centre, mega overgrown, no parking, needed permit, walled garden, big mess , I think Lewis garden service ,He would of loved it, it would of made a great video. Never mind. 💚
Yes it is. I worked for a massive estate for almost 20 years and we only used hayters ,they were easy to repair and lasted forever, Not sure how good the brand new one's are as they may have out sourced the some of the parts , my 41 is 4 years. old had two new rear end rollers plastic shit and new roller barrings go fast and the front wheels are waring down fast , but!! I still LOVE it's done a shit tonne of work.
Nice job Steve looked a tough graft in that weather too 👍. I would personally have charged £300 for that, but it obviously depends on where you are in the country I guess.
£250 and that was not enough if you knew how much shit went in my month when streaming 🤣 , and he knock off £50 which was for the waste half way through the job, but there might have been a bit of profit in it ,ie If I composted it myself. 🤣 Its all good - dump charge if I went to the big tip.💚
Your prices are way way too cheap my friend, I’d have charged atleast £400 for that amount of work, and I have the best of the best, fs561c to name one
Yea right. I have owned various properties over time that I lived in. Quite a few rentals I currently own. In 45 years, I have never had anything done for free. Nothing. Even 20 mins work has been charged at over £100 due to call out. It’s easy said….go out there and do free work. There will be an awful lot of takers!
yea should of been , worked me nuts off, defo not had any attention in some time. looks great now though 😅it's £250 good enough Thanks for commenting Steve
