I do not generally provide bids prior to a job since my experience is that there is too much unpredictability, and I neither want to feel guilty for charging too much nor frustrated for charging too little. I addition, much of the work I do is ongoing and even for large jobs may customers like spreading the work – and cost – out over a season
For multi-day one time jobs what I usually do is one day’s work, and if the homeowner is satisfied with what I have done in that amount of time, and is convinced of the value, then I keep going.
For jobs that create lot of debris that needs to be taken to the street I may hire a worker to help out, since most customers are not paying me to drag stuff back and forth to the street. Homeowners may reduce costs by helping with that part of a job in particular.
My basic charge is $30 an hour when I am working alone. This does not include time offsite of course – such as a quick dollar menu run. It does include five minutes an hour rest as well as some business calls while I am working.
I work almost exclusively with Cooper’s Nursery for purchasing plants. Coopers gives me a contractors rate which I pass along to the customer for reimbursement. I do not make money on materials but I do include time picking up and delivering plants from Coopers i my work time.
I work with a local landscape designer Amy Bledsoe for planning new beds, which usually in my work means new beds on established lots, perhaps a small bed in a corner, or new foundation plants in a front bed, or a new bed along a patio and walkway. Amy is very reasonable in her rates, extremely knowledgeable, and up to date as to newer cultivars. I have shown some examples of her designs in the page “Design and Planting.”
I look forward to hearing from you.
