How much should I charge (he's definitely willing to pay) to mow about 8/10
acre of mostly treeless property with few obstacles? Also, I will not be
doing any trimming, edging, raking, etc-- pretty much just what my lawn
tractor can do.
I want to charge enough so that they want to find other arrangements sooner
than later, but not so much as to be ridiculous. We just moved here last
July and don't really know these folks at all, so I'm surprised they asked
us (although we're their closest neighbor and have a brand new Deere so they
know we can do it.
I'm in suburban Minneapolis, if that matters.
Thanks,
-Tim
Because it's brand new, cost me about $4000, and it's a ZTR
(zero-turn-radius) and they take a bit of getting used to. Basically, I
don't know these folks well enough. This mower's worth more than one of my
cars, and I don't lend my car to my neighbors either <grin>.
-Tim
> How much should I charge (he's definitely willing to pay) to mow about 8/10
> acre of mostly treeless property with few obstacles? Also, I will not be
> doing any trimming, edging, raking, etc-- pretty much just what my lawn
> tractor can do.
(Just to be clear, is that eight-tenths of an acre or 8-10 acres?)
If it's the smaller, then do it for free, to be neighborly and foster
good will. Why charge to do something that small that'll only take,
what... 20-30 mins? Do it once or twice because you're a good guy and
want to help out your fellow neighbor. You never know when you'll need
his assistance with something.
If he insists on paying, then ask him to fill your gas can.
_____
American Association of Woodturners
Cascade Woodturners Assoc., Portland, Oregon
Northwest Woodturners, Tigard, Oregon
_____
OK, I need to clarify more details.
1) It is about 8 tenths of an acre.
2) We told him we'd do it once for free-- but then they'd have to find other
arrangements. Then the wife and older son comes over and thanks us, and
acts like we've committed to doing it all summer. When we tried to clarify,
they pulled a "desparation act" and asked if we could help them out "for
awhile". I have no idea what their idea of "for awhile" is.
3) If this was once or twice I would gladly do it for free. I've already
done it once for free. But based on what they've told me, they want me to
do it longer. They are not native English speakers and communication is a
bit of a problem.
4) I DON'T want to be in the mowing business. We just moved into this house
last year and I have tons of projects that need to be tackled. I can't
afford the 30 min to an hour a week it will take to mow another property.
Thanks,
-Tim
Just say "no".
BTW: Grow a spine, pussy.
> OK, I need to clarify more details.
Thanks for adding in the additional details - I read your comments in
the repair group as well. Yes, I agree with you that it appears there
may be no end in sight. I was under the impression the neighbor was in a
very temporary bind and after helping out once or twice the neighbor
would have solved his problems and not needed the assistance any longer.
If you feel they're taking advantage of your neighborliness, then by all
means, don't do the work - it'll only foster resentment on your side of
the fence. I'm not sure that doing the mowing and charging a fee is a
good idea either - not exactly sure why, but it just doesn't sit well...
I guess because you're not in the lawncare business and it may still end
up as friction in the relationship.
Do you know any teenagers who might be looking for a few bucks you could
send to their door?
I've read all your comments and can see where a real problem can begin.
Since there is a language barrier, maybe going through your yellow pages and
selecting two or three gardeners for them to call or go through the phone
book with them and then tell them (nicely) that this will be your last cut.
You just have too much to do around your own home.
Good Luck!!
Brandi
"Tim Fischer" <no...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:YKYxa.634948$OV.599440@rwcrnsc54...
I think the problem has solved itself. The other day, a van from Sears
stopped by the neighbors (their mower is a Crapsman) and I believe their
mower is now working -- they used it to mow their lawn, anyway.
Thanks so much for all of the solutions.
-Tim
When they asked what was up, I told them my mower was on the fritz. Believe
it or not, within a week they had a brand new mower to mow their own lawn,
though they never offered to mow my lawn, but a week later I started mowing
my own lawn again and gave them the explanation that I took my mower to the
shop and had it repaired at the cost of $300.00, they did offer to pay me
half of the "supposed" repair bill, but I declined. They now have a new
mower and I dont have to mow their lawn.
"Tim Fischer" <no...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:YKYxa.634948$OV.599440@rwcrnsc54...
: My neighbor is in a bind, since their lawn tractor is on the fritz. He
:
:
:
Why not grow a spine and be honest. Tell them you don't want to mow their
lawn.
You people are a bunch of spineless pussies. You dance all around the issue
and lie to others, rather than dealing with the issues in a straight-forward
manner.
Hmmm, why? Because they are my neighbors and unlike the anonymity of usenet,
I have to actually live with them next door, and telling them I dont want to
mow their lousy lawn and either create hard feelings or resentment is not my
style.
Now go wash out your mouth, you filthy foul mouthed baboon.
Yeah, I'm sure they respect a pussy-footing, lying idiot for a neighbor.
Treat them honestly and respectfully. See how much they respect you then.
Now, they just think you are an asshole.
So one time I finally got suckered into trying to fix a couple of them
for a guy. They promptly went up in smoke and after that, nobody
asked me again.
"GamePlayer No. 1058" <nu...@nospam.com> wrote in message news:<8d31f5105eb80488d6dc754a8e057cff@TeraNews>...
Every one, everyday does not feel like king of the mountain and they come
here to see how others have delt with the situation. Due to those
possiblitities it is hardly resonable to refer to them as a vertabre free
female genatailia.
I think the Oscar is a fish and no doubt smells like one. the Oscar fish
likes to fight. maybe he swam off.
"Oscar_lives" <nos...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:CRyAa.735006$OV.675914@rwcrnsc54...
>