09/26/2020
These late summer rains are blowing up my mowing business.
Yesterday while mowing for a customer in Joshua, a lady from across the street saw the company website I painted on the trailer and came into the back yard.
She was standing at the gate and trying to wave me over, so I finished the patch I had sectioned our, then made my way around the boarder of the property until I reached the gate.
She asked how much I changed for a little over an acre?
I responded to the question with a
location of the property question, and found out it was across the street.
BINGO!!!
The customer I was mowing for came out to see who this stranger was and I introduced them and went to my truck for a business card.
After setting up the appointment for next Friday and explaining to the lady that I needed her to go to
CoViLandServices.com
And send me her info:
First and last Name
Phone number
Email
Billing Address
City
Zip code
All I asked for was her name, number, email, and address and I know the rest.
After getting her scheduled for next Friday, I returned to my mowing and left her with her neighbor, and their conversation lasted for 10-20 minutes.
I am in the process of training myself to get all the information I need to get my Yardbook accounting software setup.
This is a free, cloud based software service that is going to get my lawn mowing business to the next level and help me get organized.
Also, from the first part of the last sentence you can see that I have not changed the structure of my foundation for starting a new business; “If it’s FREE, it’s for me!”
After completing this project, I was off to the next which was in Godley.
I was able to make a pit stop at the house and have lunch.
I can get used to working for myself, close to home.
The customer in Godley was Another situation with the grass almost waist high; app 1 1/2 acre.
This customer is a transplant from Iowa, and I have already started the conversation about doing some dirt work. Their back yard has the design of a canyon and I started the conversation about the equipment I had to make it more of a “U-Shape” with solid grass (kinda like the neighbors).
Pretty easy sell when I had somewhat of a picture next door.
Feeling kinda giddy about getting a new customer after the last mow, I made four stops on my way out of the neighborhood at some properties with high grass and just left
business cards in places I felt would be noticed.
Got me thinking about one of the advertising techniques I learned from flipping houses about leaving business cards on drivers side doors in Walmart parking lots.
Not that I have ever done that; just saying.
I made a stop for water 💦 and a “Power Aid” at the little convience store where I filled my lawn tractor 🚜 and a 5 gallon gas can before mowing, and I have started planting seeds of conversation here for a chance to steer it to a new customer that I can work a deal with about putting up a sign.
I can see a lot of potential at this location with the way the area is growing, so I am being cautious about the conversations with the owner.
Now on my way to Cleburne to complete my schedule for the day, and when I pull up to the property, I can see that I’m not gonna be mowing with my Toro.
Knee high grass; so it looks like Egg and I will be mowing another.
I did notice another commercial property on the way that has “nee-high grass” and if I leave town that way, might just pay them a visit.
This customer in Cleburne I call my “Pistol Packing Grandmaw”.
She’s kinda spunky, and not a bit shy about giving you her piece of mind.
Her husband is retired Navy/Truck driver, and has some medical issues is the reason I was able to get them as customers.
They have a somewhat new riding Troy-built mower along with two new looking push mowers in the back yard I have never brought up in our conversations.
I always throw in some hedge trimming on a couple bushes in the front, and she always gives me a $10-$20 tip.
MY KINDA CUSTOMER 😎😎😎
On my way out of town, I did retrace my foot 🦶 steps and made a stop 🛑 at the commercial property with knee high grass, and when I entered the store with business card in hand, 4 people were at the counter.
I could tell they were most likely the key 🔑 people for the business, so I said;
“Gee; I bet I can find somebody important out of this group!”
We all kinda chuckled, and then I said;
“Which one of you is the decision maker?”, and the man sitting down dressed in business casuals pointed at the lady behind the counter in business attire, so I handed her my business card and said (while wearing grass covered close);
“I have some more customers to mow for tomorrow and would like to stop by and take care of your lawn”.
Then, without waiting for a response, I waived and started to turn around and all of them sounded off like I had road in to save the day.
Approximately an hour later, the manager called me and let me know the maximum amount the owner would pay ($50).
I hey-hawed a bit, but finally agreed to that as a fair amount for the first time and left it opened for negotiations later.
I was thinking more like $40 for no more than there was, but now I’m thinking the next conversation will be with, “ $60 as a usual fee for this type of property, but if I can put up a sign, I can take care of you for $50.”
I learned the “Waltz of Negotiations” during My time in Beijing.
They seemed to get mad at you if you didn’t haggle about the price.
Cindy and I finished the day at the “Auction Block” in Rendon.
I have thought about building an online store and test out some buying and selling, if I only knew what would sell.
Don’t forget to go to
CoViLandServices.com
To schedule your lawn mowing, and
Checkout
DFWLawnMower.com
And send me a message; “Should I call this website my Online-Man-Cave?”
Home admin July 21, 2020 July 21, 2020 CoVi Land Services Our Specialties | Free Quote | About Us | Our Work | Contact Us We Specialize In... Lawn CareLawn CareFrom Perimeter Walk. Crisp cut lawn. Accurate edging of sidewalks, driveways, walkways and bedded areas. Evenly cut weed-eated areas. Clean....
