I had a neighbor right next to me move in last April. Older couple. They hired a lawn service company to mow their lawn but the frequency was very sporadic. They would come when the grass was like a hayfield and leave wind rows and clumps all over.

They never even came beyond October 1 and my neighbor ended up with big patches of fallen leaves in some parts of the yard, which are still there now. Some of that grass underneath might be toast.

Anyways, I talked to him a day last week and offered to take care of his lawn this season. He said he would like to have me do it because he saw how meticulous I am with my own. His daughter manages his finances now so she is going to call me and discuss this.

My question, what is a reasonable charge? I told him I would do it once a week as long as it kept growing/raining. His yard is very similar to mine and I estimate it would take about 90 minutes each time with some minor trimming using the weed whip.

I've tried to do some research online about this in my area but there's very little info out there. Most services require a seasonal contract or say "call for estimate."

I figured $50/hour so that would make it 75 bucks each time. Does this sound reasonable? I'll be using my Toro lawn mower and cordless trimmer. I find this sort of yard work to be very therapeutic so I thought it might be a good opportunity. I just put head phones on and go to work.

Thoughts?

About how much property is it? When I mowed lawns, I charged around $50 for the 1/4 acre lots that I could mow and whip in about 30-40 minutes once per week. To bag the clippings I charged $10 or $15 more.

Factors to take into account are size of property which determines not just how long it’ll take but how much fuel you’ll use, frequency of mowing, and whether they want it mulched or bagged.

It's about 0.4 acres in size.

I figure it would take about 90 minutes just like mine does. I don't plan to bag it. I would mulch it.

Not that I would trust the results of an AI search, but I asked Chat GPT about lawn mowing costs in your area for a 1/2 acre lot and it came up with about what you are suggesting. Professional lawn services have taxes, insurance, fuel for mowers and the vehicles used to transport equipment, labor for workers, equipment costs and profits to consider.

Do you have any idea what he was paying the people who were doing it before? I think you might be a bit high priced, but that’s just me. I’m a cheapskate!

I was paying $50 a week for an acre, sporadic service got me doing it again. $50 included hauling away the clippings as necessary and trimming. This was a crew of 2 or 3 and took about 30 min. This was 2 years ago.

I think $75 would be fair, especially considering fuel costs which may be about to spike.

@padlin $50 per week for an acre and they hauled away the clippings? That’s a great deal.

8 minutes ago, Scott F said:

Do you have any idea what he was paying the people who were doing it before?

I was going to ask the daughter that when we spoke. But I want a ball park in mind before that conversation so I know what to expect.

Also, he doesn't have sprinklers so if it gets dry, I won't be doing it as much.

52 minutes ago, gim said:

I had a neighbor right next to me move in last April. Older couple. They hired a lawn service company to mow their lawn but the frequency was very sporadic. They would come when the grass was like a hayfield and leave wind rows and clumps all over.

They never even came beyond October 1 and my neighbor ended up with big patches of fallen leaves in some parts of the yard, which are still there now. Some of that grass underneath might be toast.

Anyways, I talked to him a day last week and offered to take care of his lawn this season. He said he would like to have me do it because he saw how meticulous I am with my own. His daughter manages his finances now so she is going to call me and discuss this.

My question, what is a reasonable charge? I told him I would do it once a week as long as it kept growing/raining. His yard is very similar to mine and I estimate it would take about 90 minutes each time with some minor trimming using the weed whip.

I've tried to do some research online about this in my area but there's very little info out there. Most services require a seasonal contract or say "call for estimate."

I figured $50/hour so that would make it 75 bucks each time. Does this sound reasonable? I'll be using my Toro lawn mower and cordless trimmer. I find this sort of yard work to be very therapeutic so I thought it might be a good opportunity. I just put head phones on and go to work.

Thoughts?

4 minutes ago, gim said:

I was going to ask the daughter that when we spoke. But I want a ball park in mind before that conversation so I know what to expect.

You know I am a grass cutting fool.

But only my own.

I think this whole thing is a bad idea.

You're not insured for this—and life's too short.

No one has ever said on their way out of this world,

"I wish I had cut more grass".

Use the time to support your loved ones.

Let this guy worry about his own grass.

Do you really need the $50 bucks or would you rather fish more ?

Just saying.

Good Luck

A-Jay

I'm with A - Jay on this scenario. But, between my yard, my MILs yard, and the farm I already ride a Zero turn 12 hours a week for 9 months of the year.

My nightmares include the view below.😁

I mow two of my neighbors yards for free and they take care of the pups while we are on trips . Maybe they can barter something (off the books)

8 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I mow two of my neighbors yards for free and they take care of the pups while we are on trips . Maybe they can barter something (off the books)

For years I mowed my next door neighbors yard and he'd keep my A/C unit running at peak performance. He was also dealing with an extremely sick wife and keeping his business afloat, so I took one thing off his plate. I was already hot and covered with dirt after cutting ours so I just keep cutting.

I would charge him 75-100 to mow the lawn.

As long as you enjoy it go ahead and do it. Stop if it starts to feel like an added burden. I cut my in-laws yard for 7 years. I did it for $30 a month, but again they were my in-laws. I would go over after work, never on the weekend. Sometimes it was nice just to be outside in the sun with the fresh air, and other times I hoped for bad weather so I wouldn't have to drive over.

I think the question you really need to ask yourself is why are you doing it. If it's to make money then you might be undercharging. If it's to be neighborly then what you mentioned sounds fair.

@Kev-mo great response. It’s probably a combination of those two.

I'm with the majority, was going to say $50 to $75 a cut depending on the area you are in and how much weed eating youll have to do. More weed wacker time the closer I'd get to $75.

20 hours ago, gim said:

@Kev-mo great response. It’s probably a combination of those two.

Why not ask what they’re used to paying?

I have 1/4 ac and pay $60

I have no idea. I have always believed lawns are for people that don't fish. Roundup and rocks can make a long day of yard work turn in to a great day of fishing.

However I would ask your neighbor if he has access to any good fishing holes, and if he has a boat, maybe a day or two of yard work wouldn't be so bad.

Good on you for offering to mow neighbor's yard @gim! Offer to do it for the same price as the lawn-service charged last year. That would be fair.

One thing to consider...if you double your mowing weekly, you are wearing out your equipment twice as fast. I used to mow lawns in middle-school and high-school to (just had to have those fancy EPI speakers!), and thankfully the neighbor ran a lawn and garden shop, went to Lawn-Boy school, helped me when things broke down.

His theory was this...for every yard you mow, in addition to your own, you are adding years of wear and tear on your equipment. Mow five yards a week...you are putting 5 years worth of wear and tear on your mower each season. That's why those professional yard services run "industrial" type equipment.

I've seen your Toro, it's great. Something to consider.

For the record, I normally mow on weekdays, so not impacting my fishing time. I really love the hour and a half of solitude on the John Deere, cutting straight lines, attempting to make my 2.64 acres look like the outfield at a ballpark. Oddly satisfying for sure!

I would agree with Kev - are you doing it to be neighborly or do you want to make some extra money? And how long are you committed to it? I grew up in the south and we would just do things like that for our neighbors for free; my wife is from Chicago and thinks I’m crazy.

@VolFan , always better to have neighbors on your team than money

Quick update here, the daughter talked to me and said she would like to have me do it this season instead of the unreliable service they used last year. We agreed to "negotiate" an agreement/cost/frequency on it before mowing season starts (usually in May here).

I'm going to try and get my 7 year old son to help with this too so he can begin to realize the value of work and getting paid for that work.

Speaking of lawns, my new hotel complex was taking bids for lawn service this past week. Not full landscaping or even weed control, just cutting the little lawn we have including parking lot islands and the perimeter of a traffic circle out front of the hotel.

The best bid was $925 a WEEK!

I went out and spent $820 on a Toro mower, Toro string trimmer, safety glasses, a gas can, and told my maintenance team to take turns mowing the grass.

Koz- i learned that the lawn companies like residential for volume and steady work but they make their big money and margin on commercial jobs. Looks like you just learned that too.

925 bucks a week?!

Maybe I need to re think my negotiation rate lol