FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I know a lot of customers like a set price for the whole job but as a contractor, I never know what issues and delays I may run into. I like to make about 35 dollars per hour for most of my jobs. That includes everything but the materials I bring to the job. For instance, I would pay for your mulch but than pass that material expense on to you. All you pay is my hourly and the mulch. I charge a little more with mowing because the expense and time to maintain that equipment is a bit higher. 50 dollars for an hour lawn is how I usually figure out mowing jobs but if I am able to pick up a neighbor or two, I will lower that for each of the neighboring customers and the original customer as well. I may also give a slightly lower price for the first mowing to see how long it will take and make sure you like the quality of my work. I am reasonably flexible with customers with when they pay and what they can afford. That personal relationship with my customer is a perk of being a small business. I feel the hourly rate is a way to avoid overcharging my customer but at the same time it sets a minimum that I will make on a job so I can continue to operate as a profiting company. I can still give a solid total price but I will have to guess how long it will take and hope I am right.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I typically meet the customer and take a look at the job in order to give them a price that they can feel comfortable with. I then find out when they would like it done and I try to make my schedule work to convenience customers as much as I can. I always try to hand out my business cards to new customers so they will always have a way to contact me as well. I encourage all customers to call me if they have any questions or requests for work. All jobs will at least be considered.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I worked for a contractor in Norwich for 9 years where I learned a lot about what I like about the professional business and I also found things which I believe could use improving. I take what I have learned and incorporate it into all of my jobs and I am able to do it at a much more reasonable price than those big companies with a lot more expenses.