Introduction: My name is Jim Lower and I have mowed professionally for several years. I am currently an adjunct professor at three, yes three, local colleges and studying to become a CPA. I hold a master’s degree in jazz studies and I am very active in the Kansas City jazz scene. Why would I tell you all that? Why would you care about these things when you are looking for someone mow your lawn? Because I am trustworthy, honest, will be upfront and show up when I say I will. I do enjoy the fresh air and being outside but more then that I am trying to pay my way through school (again).
With all these things in mind, I am looking for a handful of lawns to maintain this summer in Grain Valley. At one point I was responsible for 48 properties, by myself, but now that I am going back to school and teaching nearly full time I am trying to take on a reasonable amount of properties that I can actually handle and I am no longer able/willing to run all over Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Independence and even parts of Blue Springs trying to get everything I can.
If you live in Grain Valley, Blue Springs (North of I-70) or even parts of Oak Grove I may be your guy. Many of the customers I still have, I let a bunch of people go last year, I have had for 4+ seasons and my main account I have kept since 2009 (5 duplexes, 3 commercial buildings and some vacant investment property). I know as someone who has done this for a while being too picky is not the way to go if you want to build your business but I know the customers I am looking for and really only want to work with the right customers.
1. Weekly Customers ONLY- “Bi-weekly” or “once-a-month” lawns are hard on equipment and no matter what you do they never look good
2. Customers who will pay me – Seems like an obvious thing but you’d be surprised how many people will let you mow for a month or two and then not feel obligated to pay.
3. Flexibility – With my crazy schedule there will be days I need to mow you a day early or a day late. This doesn’t work for some people and I understand completely but know if you are on my schedule it will be done in a timely manner and I will always communicate anything related to your property.
4. Customers that are open and honest about what they need from me. I am always happy to receive constructive criticism. Communication is key, I try to communicate everything I can via text and keep my customers up to date on everything.
Yes this is long, and if you’ve gotten to this point I may be the right guy for you. I haven’t gone out of my way to say this to be rude or picky, I want to find the ideal customers for me and if you aren’t an ideal customer that is fine. You can find someone that works in a big crew and can buzz your lawn down once a week and be in and out in 15 minutes, but that’s not me.
I trim everything first, generally double cut (so you don’t have windrows) and then take my time to carefully blow off everything including mulched beds and back patios. I will take my time and make sure not to leave ruts, divots and will alter my patterns every week so you don’t have any tracks in your yard. I have maintained everything from half-duplexes to 12-acre million-dollar estates so I know I can tackle your lawn and do a great job. I only have room for 5-8 lawns in Grain Valley and specific parts of Blue Springs and Oak Grove hence why I am so picky.
