[mrusk]

How many of you guys do both hardscapes and lawn maintenace?

I started off with lawns 2 years ago, never got more than 14 and now have dropped them all. I am devloping a good niche in the design/build market. My company is heading in the exact direction i want it to.


However, i constantly think about getting back into the lawns. Ofcourse this time i would not touch a mower, trimmer, etc myself.

I am just worried that people will think less of me as a design build co if i mow lawns also.

Any truth to this?

I know the margains are not as high as hardscaping but its still something.

I would have seperate employees for each divison.


I thought about starting a seperate company, but thats a hasstle.


I am just worried that i am going to present someone a 250k proposal and then the next day they will see one of my trucks parked in front of a 45 dollar lawn and then loose credibility.


What do you think?

[TrickyDick]

I think that as long as the maintenance work you do maintains the same standard of quality that you are trying to establish for your other work it will only add credibility. Most people really appreciate a company that can give them full service from design/install through long term care. That said... if you are trying to focus on high end work then $45 lawns probably aren't going to fit very well. If you're doing a lot of big installs you should have the inside track on maintenance for those properties when you're done.

[mrusk]

I had a feeling i am going to have to stick with the high end properties. I see it taking a long time to build a decent route as i can only do so many big jobs a year. However, these customers could easily be 20k a year customers.

Matt