Open Association of Landscape Industries
Pricing a commercial contract by the M² and the Linear Metre?
I’m in the process of pricing up a commercial quote for the local council housing association. They have asked me to give a price per M² for grass cutting communal areas and by the linear metre for the removal and disposal of hedging and shrubs. Of course they don’t give you any idea of the size of the hedging – so I’m assuming that it is of a it won’t be more than 4-5ft – naive maybe. I’m expecting the grass to be average condition. I was estimating about 15p/metre for the grass. This is a new area to me so any advice would be greatly received. Thanks
Replies to This Discussion
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Dan Frazer Gardening on -
Try in the key business objective group
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Gary RK on -
Hi, I would take this opportunity as a pure trial to see how you fair in putting it all together.
If you don't know at the moment, you are going to be left very every exposed.
The contracts are won small price points per M2 etc.
You really need to be sure of your costs and pricing or you will get slaughtered if you did win it.
Worth searching LA or parish council websites as due to public information act you can often find last years tender and costs. At least its a starting point and you can extrapolate..
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Grayfox on -
Thanks for the advice
What is the key business group and how could they help?
Point taken on board Gary - hate to miss a opportunity - Will have to do some more research and be ready for it next time, thanks
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Gary RK on -
Go to Forum button above, select Groups on drop down and ask to join.
There are lots of info sensitive posts covering business topics to review.
Wasn't meant to be a negative response, but accept you need to know what you are getting into beforehand.
Do progress it as a learning exercise.
Remember your cost base is different to anyone else's
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on -
Hi Jonathan
The Key Business Objectives group is here: http://www.landscapejuicenetwork.com/group/keyobjectivesprivategroup?
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Permalink Reply by Ben White on -
Hello Johnathan,
I would expect per occasion rates for grass to be £0.005 to £0.03/M2 and the hedge work £0.80 to £1.20/M2.
This would be dependent on quantity and spec e.g one side and top/both side and top/cut&disperse/cut&collect.
Work your figures as tight as you dare if you want the work, otherwise walk away
Ben
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Grayfox on
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The contract is for 60 properties (mixture of gardens and communal areas). I did get to view two vacated properties - grass was long, not cut for a month so two, normally would price at £40 per cut each.
Anyway I worked it out as follows,
Garden grass cuts - £20 - Fortnightly (March-Nov)
Communal areas - 15p/M² - Fortnightly (March-Nov)
Removal and disposal of hedges & shrubs - £15/M
At a guess I think I am well over the odds especially if your figures are anything to go by Ben. Normally I would survey all the sites and do costing and timings but a guess with this quote you would have to allow a bit extra to cover all eventualities. Its the first time I have been asked to quote in this manner.
My local council website is like a rabbit warren (once you enter you may never come out) but I think I will give them a ring and see if it is possible to see a few winning tenders.
Thanks again for all the advice.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Dan Frazer Gardening on -
I think Ben's lower figures must relate to huge areas cut with large machines mulching and done very rough/quickly. No other way to make them make sense otherwise. 60 properties is a decent contract - do they all pay you individually? Best of luck.
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Grayfox on
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No, council pay - probably 3 month wait though.
Dan Frazer Gardening said:I think Ben's lower figures must relate to huge areas cut with large machines mulching and done very rough/quickly. No other way to make them make sense otherwise. 60 properties is a decent contract - do they all pay you individually? Best of luck.
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Permalink Reply by Andy Thorne on -
A residents association I do the lawn care for ends up costing 6.6ppm2 to mow, never thought to work it out like this before...
That's cut and collected with G23, edged all round (there are 4 seperate lawns). Job looks spot on, not rushed (much ;) ) No bits missed out.With a 4' mower at a decent speed you've got to be doing 20+m2 per minute...
Dan Frazer Gardening said:
I think Ben's lower figures must relate to huge areas cut with large machines mulching and done very rough/quickly. No other way to make them make sense otherwise. 60 properties is a decent contract - do they all pay you individually? Best of luck.
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Grayfox on
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When you think a full size tennis court is 855m2, cutting at 6.6ppm2 works out at £56 - thats got to be about right Andy
Andy Thorne said:A residents association I do the lawn care for ends up costing 6.6ppm2 to mow, never thought to work it out like this before...
That's cut and collected with G23, edged all round (there are 4 seperate lawns). Job looks spot on, not rushed (much ;) ) No bits missed out.With a 4' mower at a decent speed you've got to be doing 20+m2 per minute...
Dan Frazer Gardening said:
I think Ben's lower figures must relate to huge areas cut with large machines mulching and done very rough/quickly. No other way to make them make sense otherwise. 60 properties is a decent contract - do they all pay you individually? Best of luck.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Gary RK on -
Would agree with Stuart.
You need to be sure of the specification level and whether it is Performance or Task based.
This fundementally effects the approach, time and hence cost.
In my experience, they are not interested in 'perfect' jobs, just a job done in a basic/utility mode...
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