[site]

We are not done yet, but it's getting late in the season. What did you learn this season? Did you have any huge successes? How about disasters? I'll start-
This year wasn't as easy for us as the past few have been. We had some really good jobs, but we also pieced together a bunch of weaker ones to make it through. For the previous couple of years we have had one really big client and a few smaller ones. This year the big client didn't have much for us- so we had to fill in a pretty big gap. They will have more next year, and a ton two years from now. From that experience I learned to ask ask ask the big clients what is on the horizon in order to plan ahead.
The biggest disaster was a job that was supposed to take 8 days took about 20 days. It was a challenging hardscape job, and nothing went right. Guys misread the plan, the quarry cut the stones wrong, The landscape architect made a big math error on the plan, violent thunderstorms attacked at exactly the wrong moment two different times, The asphalt paver made me wait too long for his services. Needless to say we didn't get rich on that one.
It definately wasn't the best year ever, but it sure wasn't the worst. I learned a lot more than will fit on this little screen, and plan to use it next year to do it better.

[jwholden]

Site,

I find that most of my hardscape jobs take longer than anticipated. Especially when there are grade changes or steps to be calculated. The bluestone patio with granite edging job/thread taught me that I can make (or surpass) the grade with anyone regarding quality, but that quality takes time.

I raised my rates modestly this year and did less work with increased profit. I am still spending too much time chasing my tail on estimates that aren't looking for my type of services. Still need to work on the screening ....

On a positve note I discovered what is possible when you have employees show up on an 'almost' regular basis. It was nice to have jobs keep moving along and be able to leave the guys alone for a while. I'm confident that until the day I die I will have issues in one form or another with employees, as I'm sure they will have issues with me.

My highlight of the year - A total landscape of a house, front and back, where my client brought us hot chocolate daily and did nothing but compliment our efforts.

My low point of the year - When I got lazy and failed plan ahead and lost time on jobs. I have to learn how to nip fall burnout in the bud so it doesn't nip me.

[bcx400]

I just finished one of those hardscape jobs that takes twice as long to complete. Many changes in grade with curved walls and steps- live and learn. I have been in business for 6 years now, and worked for several large landscape contractors for 12 years prior- and still find that I am learning something new every day, and still making mistakes (learning from them too).

This season has been ok. In the last couple of years, I have gone from 75% planting work to 75% hardscape work. I find there is much more profit in planting jobs.

This is the first season that we will have several jobs that we can't get to this year. Spring 2005 is looking to be very busy!

[AZTLANLC]

Seem like I have some of the same problem, specially bidding it seem that I attrac people that is just price shoping and when I tell'em my price they just freak out and then there are the ones that want to spend a small fortune, but they don't have confidence in my job, How can I gain that?
Overral it was pretty good I did much more hardscaping this year then before and I really like that, compare to mowing lawns.

[justgardens]

Had a good year. All I do is plant and do natural stacked walls. I sub out the rest. I had a 25% increase but worked my butt off in those 8 months for it. My only disaster was dealing with a client from Hell and lost my cool. I'm learning ALL the time new ways to become better at what I do and how I do it. I want to improve next year by setting my goals and reaching them! On my list: new dump trailer and and new Trenchmaster edger. Check in next year same time same place to see if I made it!....

[cutntrim]

Dollar-wise my gross is the same as it was last year, but my net is down 20%. Mainly due to the fact that I've purchased some new equipment (skidsteer & dump trailer), and a couple of large maintenance accounts were lost. One I dumped, the other got underbid on.

Did more landscaping this season compared to any other year so far. My goal is to run one maintenance truck and one installation truck. I've got the capacity to do so, now I need to generate the work.