I was an electrician before setting up my external cleaning business. If you’re a plumber, electrician, gas engineer etc, people are happy to pay for work. When it comes to something customers feel they can do them selfs they don’t want to pay is my experience. They don’t see gardeners, window cleaners, pressure washers and such as a trade. The amount of customers I’ve quoted for who have tried to clean their driveway with a small electric pressure washer and haven’t got a good result is amazing. As you say it’s always the bigger houses that want to pay less. Until society views us as a proper trade I don’t think it will change
@@funkyduckproductions.8844 yeah I totally agree. I loose a lot of work to people that are trying to make a quick buck but I refuse to lower my price. Usually get a call a few months later when it all needs done again
I get this a lot - gardeners aren't respected at all amongst the trades! Used to be a decorator and it's the same kettle of fish. A lot of builders call gardeners "Flower Fiddler's", which infuriates me a lot. Customers and other tradesmen alike, gardeners are on the lower eschelon. I'd love it for a customer or a plumber to do a days graft in the garden, they'd both get a rude awakening.
I’m a self employed gardener in Suffolk 25 miles east of Ipswich and I can tell you for two men and a van load of waste I would of been Charging anywhere between £500/£600 and that’s cheap . Also he would of got a snotty email back 😂 good luck rob love the content
When you stated you didn't win that one, you were spot on with your second assessment that you dodged a bullet! Put that customer on the PITA list! Price was good, maybe even a little low. You should calculate in an additional profit margin. I shoot for a minimum 250/day per man plus espenses and profits.
Funny that Bob a job 😂 theres plenty of people around like that alright , Rob £300 each be more like it plus waste,me personally I like to hit them with a price at the door on the spot let them haggle with me there and then seems to work OK for me that approach Rob saves time sending emails back and forth etc keep er lit Rob weather great here in Derry too 👍
Good fair price you can’t go any less , don’t loose any sleep over these tight wads, bigger the property the tighter they are. I find it’s the least well off that’s most generous.
Put it this way I bet he wouldn't work for what u quoted especially having a lovely big house and garden.and your right the ones with money and big properties etc are the ones who don't want to pay much
Been involved in the trade professionally for near on 39years your price is very reasonable a lot would say a bit too cheap. When customers query waste removal ask them to ring around for a skip , current prices will horrify them then they will think your charge is very reasonable! Don’t let em grind ya down mate 👏
A very fair price a bit cheap id say ..some people just don't have a clue they don't understand whats involved thats why I'd talk them through it on site if possible ..i just feel there all penny pinching this time of year..they want it done but don't want to pay stick to ur guns.
Hi Rob I reckon around the £600 mark. £200 each for the day £140 for waste and £60 for the next day and incase you don't get it all done before the light you have a bit of time the next day.
I genuinely put my price in before you said and before I read the comments and I'd seem about right. N wales by the way. I used to hate getting knocked back on a quote Rob but once you realise that if you win every quote you are to cheap. Your business needs to make money and profits otherwise you won't have the machines needed for the job. Onto the next quote have a good Christmas and thanks for all your advice this year
Here in Ireland very similar job rob Really long grass over massive area of 3 different gardens ( bare in mind had to strimmed Raked off and then mowed it was that long) Plus a hedge reduction at the back 90ft long Wanted 3/4ft taking off And all taking away ( €100 to get into dump / 30min drive to and from this job ) Use of equipment And still refused to pay €500 Thoughts?
I went and quoted a grass cut during summer medium sized lawn. Nice big house with a bently and merc on the drive. Grass was about knee high and wanted a little border weeding. I quoted £120 and the lady said that was too much. I said what budget did you have in mind ? They said £50. I literally lol'd
I paid £500 for practically the same job in Norwich, UK. I felt that was a fair price. Your price was more than reasonable. Some people have no clue just how much work and overheads goes into this type of job.
Very good price, I’m Cambridgeshire uk and would have charged £550 and other bigger firms in my area would charge the same but with vat on top. Your price is great you definitely dodged a bullet keep up the vids 👍
And I’ll add ^ that’s without the pain of going back next morning I’d have rounded to 600 for that for sure as that would take out half my morning at least as I’d have to get rid of waste before resuming my working day.
getting rid of rubbish where i am is to much trouble and expensive so i never take rubbish away so cost accordingly what you charged is a completely fair price rob lots of folk around here think we remove rubbish for free they have no idea…there’s plenty of good customers around that will appreciate you rob 👍
Hi Rob, sounds like good value. I'm based in Devon. Would of charged £500.00 Really enjoy your videos, and totally relate to the Mr and Mrs Cannybodies!
£500 would have been a fair price. People don't realize the price of the tools, the cost of removing the waste, insurance ,fuel for both the tools and the van.
The amount of times. You can go to a 2 up 2 down, and they say. Yeah, happy with that price, crack on. Turn up to a big house . How much!! Ive had 3 big gardens in ten years of doing this, where they haven't commented on the price or tried to wittle it down. Bonkers. I think that was absolutely a fair price. It's probably a little cheap due to the next 😢 to the tip, to be honest.
By the description of the work involved for two men with waste removal it should be around £300: for each man. Thankfully there are still people who value our services.
It's a fair price I work in the northwest and all gardeners work hard and in all weathers there are time wasters don't let it get to you there loss keep your head up and start the new year I would charge that much fair price like I said 👍
500 to 525. Based on assumption that its about 5 miles to the job. And I ALWAYS take photos on day of looking to quote, morning of work commencing, a couple during day if unforeseen happens and then finished and waste pictures. Just because I've found even what I thought are 'nice' customers can try it on afterwards with agreed price. Then I just say no worries...small claims court it is and an independent assessor can see my pictures. Really enjoy your videos. Have a great Xmas
I agree with you 100 percent. I always take lot of before and after pictures just in case the client forgets how bad it was before we started our magic. All the best.
Hi rob, I'd of charged £350/£400 for that one my own(s/w) . Waste is expensive to get rid of, without costing diesel, extra time etc. Very reasonable I'd say. All the best to you, Paul.
Only just caught up with this vid Rob.. from your description I was straight away 4/500 so I was virtually bang on.. I’d have been about there 4/450-500 and I’m South London.. it’s a perfectly reasonable price.. like you rightly say.. it’s going into the next day as well.. it’s basically three days of faffing you and Ian is two days (day for two persons) and then you’re into the next day. Some people are literally unbelievable.
Absolutely right about the bigger the house!! Only people who ever ripped me off and didnt pay were millionaires. Not all are bad obviously, but most have let me down as they think we're just another one of their minions on min wage who can be treated like rubbish. They need you, not the other way round!
I'm in Norfolk.. would have been £440 labour for two men plus £5 per full ton sack after the trailer is full- priced at £70 for a full 6x4 trailer If its further than 20 miles then £10 on top for fuel
Thank you Rob for sharing your experience. I have come across many people who are shocked by our pricing (average £30 per person per hour)and don't treat us as people running a business with real business expenses. It takes a lot of capital to have a full kit of tools. It costs us five figures or more to just have our toolkit. Then insurance, taxes, and salary on top. I just think in my head "You better learn to kneel as you need to do it yourself mate" when someone complains about prices. I copied a template email response to comments for anyone who wants to respond to clients like that. I personally just say: No worries and leave it to that. You will not teach someone something they don't comprehend.
Enjoyed your story. im a gardener in the west midlands, and i totally understand where you are coming from.For some reason, people seem to think gardening doesn't have any overheads. I would quote for something similar, and you end up almost having to explain every little detail of the job..Fuel for the tools, the rubbish removal time, and keep all the kit in working order .Im fed up with justifying the job to some people .Sometimes you're at a large property with other trades, all getting paid more than myself, and they never get asked to justify their rates of paid. It's very frustrating
Hi Rob I think your quote was perfectly reasonable. I work on my own ( NW) and if it would take me 2 days and was a graft ( hands and knees job) it would be £500 ( including waste away). Like you said you’ve probably “ dodged a bullet” as clients like that would be a pain and clearly expect us to work for nothing. Great content as always, best wishes to you and your family for Christmas. Gary
With pricing i note you can always come down but never go up So i start at the highest price possible within reason and speak to them face to face outlining all that it entails. If they look shocked then ask them outright what they think a reasonable price is? If their price is lower than what you want but not too low then there should be room for negotiation
Definitely fair price good to walk away from that one sometimes professional work is not for them until they get a cowboy then it’s too late can’t help some people , love the van talk helps a lot of people , have a good Christmas
Spot on Rob. I would have priced at £490. You need a standard email back explaining about overheads tools, van etc, unbillable hours, sick pay, holiday, insurance, training and the true cost of what you earn. Just over minimum wage. Forget about them mate. Keep pushing on. Aim to get 1 in 3 quotes or your to cheap. I price mine to cheap. Keep going mate. Andy
We're based in Oxfordshire and do Landscaping, dry lining, exterior painting. I charge a variable rate which relates to whichever trade. From £160 to £200 per a workman. We have had several well to do potential customers say this year we "should be charging half" what is qouated! Bearing in mind our quote was free of charge, they also expected Digital designs for free. Several landscaping companies I worked for in the past charged the skilled landscaper at £200-250 a day and the labourer at £160-200. Maybe the customer is not aware of materials and services inflation over the past 3 years which can be officially as high as a 50% increase.
Guessing you would charge 450 to 500. Your so right, the bigger the houses etc. You done well dodging that one. You do need thick skin. You've invented a new term 'Bob a job customers' avoid them like the plague
Completely fair price. I paused the video before you told us, and I got to £380 for a long day x 2 people + waste away next morning. As someone else mentioned, customers might be shocked by the price of skips these days. Last time I used a 6 yard one it was £200
Hi Rob, here's my breakdown on it... 2 x guys 9am - 4pm £420 2 × guys unload van/load waste £60 (1 hour) £40 to dump waste Total £520 ...back to the video now to see your price...I'm up in Fife by the way...😊
Evening Rob,i have noticed that no on you tube mentions Duty Of Care regards waste disposal. May be a good idea to inform customers you hold a environment agency waste carrier licence, plus you issue a waste transfer note so the customer has a receipt of the transfer to disposal of their waste.
Hi Rob sounds about right money. I don,t like weeding jobs but thats me so would want more poss £550 do the job over 2/3 days alone. Happy Christmas Shaun.
Hi Rob, your quote seemed more than reasonable- if anything, on the cheaper side of things. Of course, this being an international platform, people will have the ability to charge different rates according to their location, however, you still have a business to run. Based on what you said, as a rough guestimate i would have submitted something around £600 plus VAT. Everyone has different levels of overheads etc but either way, everyone has them. Always stick to your guns!
My lad started a gardening biz this year, and I've been helping him out. We would charge the same day rate and similar for a van load of waste. Whenever we do a quote for a similar all day job, verbally or by email, we always state the day rate per man. Not sure if that makes a difference in how price is perceived. Btw, we are based near Liverpool. Cheers Maxwell good channel, love these honest videos!
Hard to give an exact price obviously but I would have gone in at £130 per man plus £60. That would be competitive here around my work hub of Preston. I will say that I use the council recycling as I have a large car. So my price would have been £310
Everybody has there price. If im looking at a big job i will sometimes share it on gardening forums to see if im pricing fairly but at the end of the day its upto you. I always give i higher price for the first cut if its a big garden then lower for further cuts if its to be done every 2weeks
Hello rob I think yr price structure was spot on ,really good price. I would have been very similar £400-£450 I have a 12x6 caged size tipper trailer for a tip off at contractors skip they charge me £25 for which I think is very good. I can get an enormous amount of waste on that trailer plus my diesel for 4x4 l charge £15 so £40 combined plus our Labour similar price to you .we are based in Lincolnshire. We have had similar clients this way alot will just pay the going rate without any hassle but there is a group who simply won't.so I don't enter into conversation with them stick with the good payers we do.have a lovely Christmas Rob have a good one. Look forward to seeing more of yr videos regards tom.
It’s a weird one Rob. Having read the comments it seems my quote is a good bit off the mark. But £310 would be top end. For example a lawn or lawns taking an hour and utilising the customers bin would be £30. I have tried for £35 to £40 and been shown the door.. or gate!
Don't forget your time going around to quote. You're price was reasonable. I would have maybe given them a price for the job with and without waste removal. Some folks are clueless as to the true cost of certified waste removal.
You are spot on Rob. In fact I think a bit too cheap. I would do it for your price for an existing customer who you can trust not to be a pain, but not for a one off who may be more trouble than they are worth. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Chris From Devon.
Morning, yes you are right. My minimum for labour would be £360 and around £90 for waste clearance. I'd be looking to add more as they sound like a pain!! However I wouldn't be driving for an hour to get rid of the waste, and would be asking them to do it, suggesting a skip sounds like a great idea!! A narrow escape there. I imagine they'd be watching you and there'd be no tea and biscuits!! Happy Christmas and some time off.
I am working this out in NZ dollars then converting to pounds 2 person job and the running around with waste. Minimum 420 pounds and I think that's actually very reasonable. Now will keep watching and find out what you actually quoted!
For the North East I think your price is completely fair. Customers don't have a clue what the costs of running a professional business are. You are right to stick with your price - the price is the price. Have Great Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Thanks for all your videos over the year.
Great Viseo Rob, By the description you gave, me being a self employed grounds maintenance person based in the south west, I also have a day rate, which is £120 for me, but by the sounds of the garden it would of taken me two days, so that's £240, plus £75 to get rid of the waste, it's not cheap down here to get rid of it either. Personally that was a bit low for two people. Like you said a few vids back, think some people don't appreciate our work and how hard it is, i feel very undervalued sometimes and have been told to up my prices, but it's getting harder to get people to pay you nowadays. Keep up the great work.
For £120 a day, I'd sincerely consider looking at getting employed somewhere else. Council/Tesco or another grounds maintenance will pay you more than you're making now after expenses. At £120 per day I'm almost certain that would work out at less than minimum wage after all expenses. All the best mate.
He obviously didn’t want skilled tradies! Under quoted it Rob. We are skilled tradesmen and as a result need to be paid accordingly. I personally don’t do work of that size but I’d reckon on double your quote at least on Sussex coast.
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. I’m an external cleaner and no one classes it as a trade. They think they can do it themselves and they possibly can to an extent but they won’t get the outcome we will as trades with the proper equipment and technique.
I guessed 400-450 i think quote is spot on especially as you have to go back the next morning for the rubbish , loading van then going back to get tools ect.i would have replied and said , in reply to your comment i understand if you dont want the job done but i wont be sharpening my pencil my bussiness is working very well for me and take pride in my work, im insured use high grade tools and im proud of my bussiness
Hard to gauge without seeing a garden, but I think I would have been very slightly north of your price - Mostly down to waste disposal - only have access to a council dump and its expensive and time consuming to access. Its amazing how many people have no idea what a job costs nowadays. Have a good holiday break and move on
Whatever you charge some people will try to get it done cheaper especially people in big houses. I bet if it was a poor pensioner in a run down house they would have paid + given tea and cake all day and given you a tip at the end of the day ,
Your price was fair. Some people would have been happy with that, some people are always wanting something done for a price thats not in the ballpark of the going rates of small business's. Keep to your pricing, some you win, some you loose. If you won them all your being too cheap. All the best👍🌲
Hi Rob I’ve watched your channel for sometime now it’s very informative and entertaining. I’ve been gardening in Amersham (about 30 miles from london)for about 30 years on and off now. For the work you’ve described I think your price was very reasonable and fair. I still find quoting quite difficult with new jobs always air on the side of safety and for the work you’ve described in this area I would probably have quoted between £450-£500. Some you win some you lose. By quoting on the high side if the job overruns you don’t feel too bad. He will probably shop around, the ideal situation would be he calls back says he’s decided to go with you anyway and you can tell him where to poke it😂 You have definitely dodged a bullet Keep up the good work Eamonn
I think that is a very fair price, I'm a Window Cleaner and unless it's a very large job I can usually price them there and then and it's always easier to close a job face to face rather than email as that guy would definitely not have used his arsey keyboard skills to your face. But also I get you didn't want to underprice it.
