C What’s Included In A Lawn Maintenance Vs Lawn Care Service
Some companies offer more than standard lawn care packages. They might offer fertilizer or weed control applications. They’ll also provide tips for the types of grass that work best in different climates and with different soils.
A full-care lawn service can even install new grass or lay pallets of sod. For physical landscape changes like tree pruning or shrub removal, consider hiring a landscaper instead.
Does Your Company Use A Gas Mower
Fluctuating gas prices will have an affect on the cost of your lawn mowing and trimming services if your service provider uses a gas mower. Some companies will reflect those prices in their cost per service each time, while other companies may update their pricing yearly. For example, a company may increase prices by $5-$10 after a year if gas prices have continued to climb, but they won’t change their prices on a week-by-week basis.
Some companies use only electrical mowers and trimmers, so fluctuations in gas prices don’t affect them. Their equipment runs from pre-charged batteries or through extension cords plugged into your electrical outlets.
Cost Effective Business Structure For A Lawn Care Business
You have to choose a business structure for your lawn care business. The options include sole proprietorship, a partnership, corporation, limited liability corporation , or more complex structures. Most small startup businesses choose sole proprietorships because theyre the most simple. In this type of business, the owners personal and business assets are considered the same, and any debts can be charged against them.
Partnerships work the same way, but the debts are allocated based on the partnership percentage. If one partner owns 10%, he or she is only responsible for 10% of any debts or liabilities. Corporate structure can protect your personal assets as separate from corporate assets. You should consult an attorney for help in choosing the best legal structure for you in addition to helping set up your business, but you can do this yourself if youre good with paperwork.
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Is The Lawnmower Repair Specialist Being Upfront
Jones says he lists the prices of common services on his website and tries to be as open about costs as possible. Theres less confusion that way, he says.
If a lawnmower repair specialist hasnt listed a menu of prices online or is dodging your questions about prices, its probably time to move on to someone else.
While a lawnmower repair specialist might be upstanding, you still might be dealing with someone who lacks experience, and you might end up paying more simply because they are not sure of what is actually needed or of their ability to troubleshoot, and they cannot make the repair in a timely manner, says lawnmower repair specialist Ken Hinton, owner of Kens Mobile Services in Pflugerville, Texas.
Before any repair work is done, be sure youre clear on what kind of work is being done , how long itll take and what itll cost.
How To Find A Lawn Mower Repair Shop In My Area
Start by searching our list of local mower repair services in your area, then compare reviews and costs. After finding and contacting potential pros:
- Compare at least three free estimates.
- Ask for recommendations from family, friends, and neighbors.
- Select companies that are licensed, insured, and certified.
- Verify their insurance, workers compensation, and bond guarantees.
- Read reviews and check out their previous work on HomeGuide, Google, and the Better Business Bureau .
- Ask for a price list of standard repair services.
- Ask about their warranties and guarantees.
- Ask for a written contract, warranty, and detailed estimate.
After asking questions and verifying their credentials, hire the best lawn mower repair service in your area.
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Do You Really Save Time And Money By Mowing The Lawn Yourself
Are you really saving money by mowing the lawn yourself?
Have you ever wondered if the time you spend performing lawn care could have been spent doing something else?
Worse still, do you know the dangers associated with lawn care?
Interestingly enough, lawn care is one chore that most people believe saves time and money but does it really?
Lets find out!
How Do You Choose The Right Lawn Care Provider For You
You may never know by looking at someone that they are going to provide high-quality lawn care services, but you can certainly improve your chances in a few easy ways. The first thing you can do is ask for recommendations. Talk to family and friends and other people who hire someone to mow their lawns.
If they like the job they are getting from their lawnmower, then they will be happy to recommend them. Whats more, many lawn care professionals are only too happy to receive referrals from their loyal client base.
If you dont know anyone who hires someone to take care of their lawns, then look online. Check out online reviews for local lawn care companies and find out what people are saying about specific people, companies, and franchises.
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Lawn Mower Repair Price List
As with automotive repair shops, some lawn mower repair services may offer standard pricing for common services. For example, The Lawn Mower Guy charges $50 for carburetor cleaning and $40 for carburetor replacement . Pricing for larger projects, like replacing a blown engine on a riding mower or replacing the transmission on a self-propelled mower or riding mower, are often determined after the repair professional has had an opportunity to diagnose the problem.
Companies that handle lawn mower repair may also work on other equipment powered by small motors, such as powerboats, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles . According to Scotts Lawn Mower Repair, some of the most common lawn mower repairs include cleaning or replacing carburetors, replacing air cleaners and sharpening and replacing blades.
What Influences The Prices For Lawn Mowing Jobs
Time, Place, Accessibility and Size
The typical lawn mowing cost is affected by several factors, some of which weve previously mentioned in the last section. Supply and demand tend to shift, depending on where you live.
The size and accessibility of your lawn can play a part in increasing prices due to the difficulty of the job, requiring different mower sizes to be utilized.
The time of the year can also be a big factor in whether you can take advantage of seasonal discount prices when demand might be slowing down.
Equipment Models
Lawn mowing services may also charge you depending on the equipment they use. Electric lawn mower variants may not cost that much but make use of your electric line to charge up instead.
Gas lawn mower models will have to consider gas usage and possible maintenance costs, raising the price but providing a more effective clean sweep of the lawn.
If your lawn only needs the barest of maintenance, they may opt to use a lawn cutter instead, which might lead them to charge you less for equipment use.
Cordless mowers allow a more quiet and compact way of trimming grass, although the limited battery life can be a barrier to a thorough cutting.
Ride on mower prices are the highest-prices of lawn cutter models, reaching up to $6,999 per unit, but arguably give the most convenient services provided your lawn has reasonable ease of access.
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Change Lawn Mower Oil
To ensure it performs up to its maximum capacity, make sure you change lawn mower oil at regular intervals. Old oil that is black or contains debris should be drained and replaced. This will improve performance, reduce costly repairs and extend engine life of gas lawn mowers. A push mower has an oil capacity of 15 to 18 ounces. It should be changed either every 50 hours or annually, whichever comes first. A riding mower has an oil capacity of 48 to 64 ounces. It should be changed either every 100 hours or annually, whichever comes first.
- Before changing the oil in the lawn mower, disconnect the spark plug.
- Remove the drain plug underneath the mower and allow it to drain into an oil-safe container.
- If the mower does not have a drain plug, use an oil extractor kit to remove oil from the compartment.
- Add new small engine oil to the compartment up to the dipstick fill line. Oil formulated for small engines will keep your mower running at its best.
- Be sure to recycle the old oil properly.
The Bottom Line On Hiring A Lawn Care Provider Vs Diy Lawn Care
Time to compare… It would take about $36 to cut your lawn yourself. With about 30 times a year, that equals out to $1,080 to cut your own lawn each year.
Choosing a credible company would be about $45- $50 per 1/2 acre lawn. Multiply that by 30 mowings per year, that equals out to $1,350 a year.That is only really saving you $270 a year.
Even worse, it will take about seven years to recover the $1,750 that was invested in equipment.
That is not even including replacing or repairing equipment that breaks.
So, will you save yourself the headache, time, and money and hire a trusted company?
Or do it yourself?
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Does Home Depot Fix Lawn Mowers
Before replacing an old tool that has stopped working, consider taking it to The Home Depot for repair. Our experts are experienced in power tool and lawn mower repair and will service your broken tool no matter the brand or where you bought it. We also offer a 90-day service warranty on all tool repairs.
Petrol Strimmers & Leaf Blowers
The process and cost for a petrol strimmer or leaf blower service is relatively very similar to a petrol chainsaw service. This is because the engines are very similar. For a 2-year-old machine, you should budget between £89.50 £110. These services consist of the following. Service prices correct as of Season Beginning 2020
- Clean or replace the air filter as required
- Clean or renew fuel filter as necessary
- Clean or change spark plugs depending on the condition
- Check fuel pump function
- Test run the machine and check the operation of both the machine and safety system
Petrol strimmer and leaf blower services also include an hour of labour at £56.25+VAT.
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What Do Lawn Mower Repair Services Include
Our mobile lawn mower repair experts can come to your location to inspect your landscaping tool and do necessary tuning, adjusting, or replacing of damaged parts that are causing the rough movements. They can also help assess your lawn mower after the repair and provide lawn mower maintenance so you can safely use it again. The exact repair process depends on the specific service that you need from us. Here are some examples:
Who Are You Going To Hire To Service Your Lawn Mower
When you need to have a lawn mower fixed, you shouldnt have too much trouble finding someone to help you. You can go with either a lawn mower service located in a brick-and-mortar location or a mobile lawn mower service.
But you should be aware of the fact that different companies are going to charge different prices to work on your lawn mower. Its why you should shop around for the one thats going to extend the most affordable prices possible to you.
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See What Your Exact Lawn Mower Service Cost Will Be Today
Its difficult to pinpoint what your exact lawn mower service cost is going to be without knowing the answers to the questions listed above. You should answer them yourself so that you can move one step closer to getting your lawn mower fixed.
Find out what itll cost to fix some of the other things that you have lying around the house by reading through the many articles on our blog.
How To Clean A Lawn Mower
A couple of times a year, give the mower a good cleaning.
- With the gas tank empty, turn the mower on its side.
- Remove any debris that may be wrapped around the blade or caked up on the underside of the mower deck.
- Spray the underside of the mower deck with a garden hose to loosen dirt and dried-on grass.
- Scrub the deck with a soft brush and soapy water. Then rinse off with a hose.
- Dry the mower thoroughly before storing.
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Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blades
Lets face it other than that guy or gal across the street nobody has a perfect lawn .
Because nobodys yards are perfect and most are filled with rocks, roots, sticks, and other hard, blunt objects, your mowers blades can take a beating. They endure a lot of stress, especially during peak mowing season.
It is important to keep your mowers blades sharp.
Dull lawn mower blades rip and tear the grass instead of cutting it, causing damage to your mower and to your lawn. Learning to sharpen your lawn mower blades will make a huge difference in your lawns performance.
Plus its super satisfying to learn and do. It was one of my favorite steps when first learning how to service a lawn mower.
If you are not handy, I recommend hiring a professional to help sharpen your lawn mower blades.
Some people use a metal file to sharpen their lawn mowers blades and others use an angle grinder. Doing this improperly can be dangerous. You could damage your mower, so gauge for yourself whether or not this is for you.
I found it pretty easy to master and I find it relaxing and fun. But I also have a blog about lawn care, so I may not be speaking for the masses.
How Much Does A Lawn Mower Service Cost
The prices for lawn mowing depend on the size of your lawn and the degree of work involved. A one-time appointment may cost around $60 per hour while a regular service deal will charge $50 to $40 per hour. $40 per hour is the usual median rate but the per hour cost of riding lawn mower services is usually around $120.
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Lawn Mower Maintenance Tips
Keeping your lawn mower in prime condition will help prevent operating problems, saving you money in both short-term repairs and eventual lawn mower replacement costs. One great way to keep a mower running well is to drain the gas tank at the end of each season. If you prefer not to drain it, you can add a fuel stabilizer to help see it through the coming cold weather.
If you don’t winterize your mower, the old fuel can clog the engine and your lawn mower may not start come springtime. During the mowing season, regularly check the oil levels and be sure to keep the oil reservoir adequately filled to prevent engine problems. Use the oil recommended by the manufacturer for the smoothest performance.
Keep your foam air filter clean or replace your paper air filter as indicated. The air filter keeps all that dirt and debris that gets kicked up when you’re mowing from entering your engine and carburetor. Keep an eye on your tires and test them at least once a season to make sure the air pressure is consistent on all four tires to ensure you get a smooth, even lawn.
Finally, remove excessive grass buildup from the undercarriage of your lawn mower on a regular basis and keep the blades sharp. With a well cared-for mower, you’ll have the best-looking lawn on the block for years to come.
How Much Does Lawn Mower Repair Cost
Daniel W.
Most of us arent fond of mowing the lawn it can be a hot, sweaty, exhausting and time-consuming chore. So when something goes wrong with your lawnmower, that just adds to the frustration.
When you need to get your lawnmower fixed, you might want to turn to a competent professional to do the job. But how much should you pay? How do you know someones legit or not? And is it really worth it to get the mower fixed?
Bruce The Lawn Mower Guy Jones, a lawnmower repair specialist in North Carolina, acknowledges theres little, if anything, his customers cant do themselves with a bit of time, a couple of tools and some how-to videos on YouTube. But I can do it better, faster and neater, Jones says.
When youre trying to find a specialist like Jones who can do a better, faster and neater job of fixing your lawnmower, here are four questions you should ask.
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Its Not Under Warranty
Many lawn mowers these days will come with a warranty for the first few years of use. Without a warranty, lawn mowers can be pricey to repair. Generally speaking, you should be able to get 7 to 10 years out of a new lawn mower, but repairs come up. Things like belts pull chords, or broken cables are easily replaced with little cost. But mechanical issues are much more costly. If your mower breaks down, check its warranty to see if its covered.
What Is Involved In The Costs Of Lawn Care
You may be wondering how someone who offers lawn care services sets their pricing, and dont be afraid to ask. Often, supply and demand come into play, but it can also come down to the services they are offering and your unique situation.
If you require a service that your lawn care provider has to outsource, then this may come at a higher cost. You may also pay less for some services if you initially hire someone to mow your lawns. The more you can pack into one visit, the more competitively priced the costs of lawn care will be.
Where you live may also feature in the pricing structure of lawn mowing. If you are on the outskirts of a township, you live rurally, or your contractor has a per-kilometre rate, then these may appear on your invoice as well.
The best thing you can do is talk to your preferred lawn care provider. They can outline all costs with complete transparency so that you can avoid any unexpected fees.
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