honestblades
Member
I had a bad experience cutting grass for them down here in Baldwin county, Al. Someone subbed the work out to me. But then again all of them are a pain including Fannie mae, Freddy Mac, cypress,etc. I Pm'd you bud.
Safeguard work.
- Thread starter jekjr
- Start date
Carscw
Lawn Pro
When you get the zones that no one else wants they kinda leave you alone and are not so picky.
I got 5 initial cuts today that are 10 days past due. Because a vender did not do them.
Not sure how we are going to get all our yards done. We are up to 274 a month starting April 1st.
honestblades
Member
Most people sub them out and pay the sub $25-$35 per yard.... But it's hard to get someone to fire up their expensive equipment for a cheap price, not to mention make them take a bunch of before and after pictures and then at the end of a hot day tell them that they have to upload the pictures to their computer and mail them to you. Every time I have cut yards for a vendor they have found my ad on craigslist... Hint hint
Carscw
Lawn Pro
I sub out a lot of work. Been doing this for many years. Just went back to Safegaurd for my third time.
You only need 20 pics at the most per yard.
And all subs can now upload from their smart phones right to the vender web.
I can find 20 guys a day that say they will cut yards. Maybe one will be worth a sh it
This work is not for everyone. If you do it right you can make a lot of cash.
After doing my books for last year. Adding up every expense gas, buying new equipment and maintenance on equipment it cost me $16 to make $100
I know guys that can not even break even. It's the $400 a month truck payment
The two $6000 mowers
The $300 trimmers and blowers.
And then spend to much time using a trimmer on hills because their $6000 ztr won't hang hills.
honestblades
Member
My biggest issue was there being some yards that might be a 60 mile round trip from other yards ( mainly stuff in the country) and then I had some issues with getting paid on time. I've worked for 4 contractors that worked for safeguard AND other companies. I've been smart and never bought a brand new vehicle and I never will. I worked alone, and I only own 1 zero turn. All of my equipment is paid for. It depends on how many yards the contractor has for you really. I ran into one contractor that decided he could only pay the subs once a month..... That was a deal breaker. It's a hit or miss..... You just have to get lucky and get set up with yards that are somewhat close to you.
Carscw
Lawn Pro
My subs get paid every Friday for the work they did that week. My week starts on Thursday and ends on Wednesday.
As a contractor you need to have the cash flow to pay your subs.
I bet they paid him extra for the yards that where 60 miles out. They are very good about paying extra.
I do not use ZTRs I find they are no good in the rain or on hills.
Out here in the country most yards will have road side ditch that stay wet.
Man it is so much easier with two people.
One does the mowing the other does the pics and trimming. My wife takes the pics as she trims. I load up as she takes the after pics. A third person just gets in the way.
When I first started I was a sub waited 30 days for my first pay and the guy gave me $200 The judge made me go to anger management classes.
honestblades
Member
I don't have hills to worry about down here in Alabama. I can get in my truck right now, head south, and in 30 minutes be looking at the Gulf of Mexico. The person that wanted to pay once a month worked for more than just safeguard, and each company has their own special bs list of pictures. It was a female too!! There's more to the stories I have to tell but it's too much to type. I know a good bit about the foreclosure business. Before I started cutting grass for these companies I worked for a mortgage company one winter foreclosing houses, insurance inspections, maintenance ( changing locks), winterizing houses, etc.
dereklawncare
Member
I was figuring about $300 for general liability insurance? I don't have any employees.
I'm planning on 40-60 foreclosures along with 15 residential properties. I'm not trying to make a career out of mowing, just looking to do it for a year or two. I priced a 2014 Toro Titan ZX 4800 for $4,700. Do you guys think this mower will be tough enough?
Carcw, you said you signed up for 70 properties, have you found that that 70 grows closer to 100 as the season goes on? Just trying to figure out how many properties I'm going to tell them I want.
I'm planning on 40-60 foreclosures along with 15 residential properties. I'm not trying to make a career out of mowing, just looking to do it for a year or two. I priced a 2014 Toro Titan ZX 4800 for $4,700. Do you guys think this mower will be tough enough?
Carcw, you said you signed up for 70 properties, have you found that that 70 grows closer to 100 as the season goes on? Just trying to figure out how many properties I'm going to tell them I want.
Carscw
Lawn Pro
We are at 150 every two weeks right now
jekjr
Lawn Addict
I still never heard anything else. I calld the number. They asked me if I had talked to anybody I gave them the name. They said they would give a message and that was the end of it. I sure would have loved to get that 100+ properties. However after this experience I do not know. It amazes me that a company of that size would operate that way.