Negotiating landscaping prices

[simpsongal]

There's no harm putting it out there, e.g., "We really want to work with you - I've seen your work and it's great. However, we budgeted 5K for this project - can you work with me on some of the numbers?" 5K is such a round and reasonable number, it's a believable ceiling.

Maybe you could get him down to like $5250? Could you clean up the old stuff yourself?

[treedimensional]

I don't think this is out of line, considering:
1. local rates/competition
2. company responsiveness, experience, and service
3. education/credentials of landscaper
4. insurance

Why not offer him 5 grand if he finishes by a certain date?

I would NEVER hire someone who was inexperienced/unresponsive/broke appointments. I would only hire unskilled/uneducated person for grunt jobs I'd already researched thoroughly (like things I could do myself if I had more time). If I needed design, or plant recommendations, I would require a LOT of education.

[treedimensional]

May 9, 2013 11:12:35 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

May 9, 2013 10:53:15 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

I don't think this is out of line, considering:
1. local rates/competition
2. company responsiveness, experience, and service
3. education/credentials of landscaper
4. insurance

Why not offer him 5 grand if he finishes by a certain date?

I would NEVER hire someone who was inexperienced/unresponsive/broke appointments. I would only hire unskilled/uneducated person for grunt jobs I'd already researched thoroughly (like things I could do myself if I had more time). If I needed design, or plant recommendations, I would require a LOT of education.

I'm surprised you are saying to negotiate the price. I agree with the idea of negotiation, but what happens if he doesn't finish on time? Less money would be my instinct, and I doubt that's a viable negotiation here.

I think everything is open to negotiation. The worst thing that could happen is that he will say no.
The terms of the offer aren't spelled out here, so there could be lots of wiggle room. If this were my client, I'd be delighted to discuss where we could save money, and where we couldn't.

I'm the first to admit my prices are very high, but I'm happy to explain WHY and offer alternatives, including subcontracting. Because the most important thing (to me) is inspiring enough trust to be hired. I'd rather negotiate price than lose a job because the customer couldn't afford me but didn't want to say anything. Most of the time, I can be flexible somewhere. I hope I can make them feel comfortable enough to ask me about pricing, rather than just hire some cheap uneducated dope who won't do good work and won't take good care of them.

[simpsongal]

You're welcome - I did this with our interior reno. The bid came in thousands over our budget so I whittled out as many extras as I could. When from $12,500 to about $7800.

[treedimensional]

My gosh, 12 months is a long time. Of course you want it done! So would I!
I have been in the position of looking for a construction contractor before, and it SUCKS. You call 8, and you're lucky if 4 of them even call you back, then you're lucky if two of them show up for the appointment. It burns me up! I felt like I *had* to hire someone shitty, because he was the only one who returned my call, then showed up (late). I decided right away that I don't EVER want my clients to feel that way, so I keep my appointments and keep my promises.
Hiring people BLOWS.