[GLAN]

Originally posted by spiderlily
Mac, I guess I think it is good that the market is getting bigger. Dual income families with young kids, at least in my area, didn't used to seem to spend much on a landscape. They were more likely to just live with what they had, or do it themselves. Now, they hire and value professional help. I've read that this generation is less likely to "do it themselves", and now I am seeing it in our business.

Absolutely Spider

I have been seeing that some 5 years ago.

Kinda weird how I am going to homes where they are first time home owners and they are like 27, 28 years old.....some younger.

In my area we have crossed the tracks where in the past we were working for folks older than us........now they are younger......

Not sure if I am finding it easier to acquire work from the younger than the older.......some young ones are still $ concious......I do know that my being older than them and having them say........I've seen your company around since I was in school.......good thing about that is..........I don't have to talk as much or try to sell myself as much anymore.

[Cochran]

Ok, I need to get on the lowballer bandwagon--

I recently submitted a bid for a lawn conversion--from sod to rock, with irrigation modifications as well. I lost the bid to a company who bid 35% LOWER than I did!! I figured that up--his proposed cost would not even cover my materials, labor, fuel, disposal fees, overhead, etc.. I would LOSE money doing it at that price!

How do these guys do this? Where do they find this cheap labor? Or cheap materials? This has got to be a corner-cutter!

On top of this lowballed bid, while I was meeting with this client--this landscaper pulls up, leaves his Diesel truck RUNNING, and walks up with a folded sheet of white paper and tells her "I can start immediately"! What type of professionalism is that???

The client did say I was the most thorough and the most professional and complete--guess they were looking for 1/2 a$$ cheap, huh?

I did tell the client that I could not match that proposed price because my standards of quality in the work we perform and I also let her know that we would still be around if she ever needed landscape and irrigation work. Oh yeah, this other landscape company does not have a Texas Irrigator's License--I wonder how he'll perform the work legally?

But, we're growing like crazy, booked 2 months in advance and really establishing a name for ourselves and our quality, so I'm not real concerned with the corner-cutters--they're establishing a name for themselves also, and it's not as good as mine :-)

[familyguy]

I meant to post last week. Too busy.

We won the contract. I am shocked. Even though our price was higher, we won the work. Finally, someone realized that the pricing discrepancy meant that they would get less out of the lower bidder. This is the first time we have beaten them out of a maintenance bid. 1 for 5(?) now I think. All for large maintenance work as well.

The clients are already asking for extras. Large patios. Walkways.

On a seperate but somewhat related note, I heard a saying once that made me look at a lost bid a different way:

"Rejection is God's protection." Meaning (if you have any faith in mysterious works) when you don't get something, maybe someone or something is looking out for your best interests and keeping you out of a crappy situation. Just a thought.

[GLAN]

Hey Guy

That bottom paragraph..........I firmly believe in it.


I can't tell you how many times that has happened to me.


Long time ago I would go East to some maintenance accounts. Would take 1.5 hours travel time round trip. Went out there for a couple years........then I got very busy close by and had to drop the ones out East..........So I wound up with a connection with a property management company......Had to go further East to do a building, but made more money.

I lost the work with the management company......I was begged for years to go back to those houses out East......Raised my prices and picked up 2 more.......My work load near by was always increasing and got to the point that going East was draining my resources............so I had to stop going East.

As a result of no longer going east. I found myself acquiring a 3 acre estate in a private town just north of me and then doing 2 more 3 acre estates a bit more north.........lost the 2 further north then 2 years later the one that I started with...........so.

I moved onto 2 acre estates north and further east....still in my county......and I wound up with a 5 acre estate.........lost one due to nonsense and gave that area up.

Following year I found myself doing the Assisted livings and some surrounding buildings.......now these included my own snow contracts.

Last year doing a property for the developers a management company was given the account.......

This year I lost the Assisted Livings and one other building within one of the complexes...........but........ The management company I just mentioned......we have been discussing my taking on more work from them beginning with this coming winter, that would also result in maintenance contracts for next year.

And although I lost the 2 Assisted Livings and an age 55 and up condo........I have acquired more residential accounts and still signing up new residentials......beginning this week we have to start work on 3 new residentials.

Some people say............one door closes, it opens another.

I prefer to think of this way.......1 - I have a guardian angel....2 - God takes care of me. I give my free will to God and allow him to lead.........everything seems to fall into place. I thank and praise him for everything, the good and the bad. There is no doubt a power greater than me......so why fight it.........Go with the flow.