Lawn mowing charges seem excessive

[ryoungs]

When I bought my villa last spring, I contracted with Choice Maintenance to mow my lawn while I was gone back north during the summer. They charge $50 each month ($600 per year). I have been back in The Villages since Christmas, and I they have been here once (although I admit I may have missed a previous visit.) I happened to be outside the last time, and I watched the young man go rapidly door to door around the neighborhood. He spent no more than 3 minutes at my property where he did some (unneeded) edging along the street side and one side of my driveway. The $50 charge seems excessive to me. I called the company, and was told they do not do a winter "vacation". I do understand the company needs $600 a year so that they can keep a steady cash flow. It is not that I need the money, but I can't help but feel used. If I were here all year, I would do my own lawn. My wife says I should not drop the service. Comments?

[retiredguy123]

I pay $40 per month. They should be mowing almost every week in the warm season. I don't think you will find anything much cheaper than that.

[dewilson58]

it's a year round service

[Swoop]

Do you feel undercharged the rest of the year while they are mowing, edging and blowing for $12 a visit?

[Stu from NYC]

Ask your neighbors who they use and get another price.

[STLRAY]

Six hundred per year seems like an incredible bargain. The poor kid has to eat after all.

[Papa_lecki]

If you can get it cheaper - do it. But $40 or $50 a month seems like a bargain.
You need a service, they provide a service.

[Fredman]

I use choice maintenance to maintain the weeds in my CYV they do an outstanding job

[C4Boston]

Buy your wife a mower for mothers day.

[Garywt]

I have had 2 different landscapers over 2 years. $35 for our Villa to include cut, trimming and blowing off the driveway and patio. I pay extra quarterly for trimming the bushes and weeding.

In the winter they come every 4-6 weeks and the summer it is weekly for the most part.

[karostay]

Bargain try mowing 90 degree plus heat 100% humidity

[John41]

When I bought my villa last spring, I contracted with Choice Maintenance to mow my lawn while I was gone back north during the summer. They charge $50 each month ($600 per year). I have been back in The Villages since Christmas, and I they have been here once (although I admit I may have missed a previous visit.) I happened to be outside the last time, and I watched the young man go rapidly door to door around the neighborhood. He spent no more than 3 minutes at my property where he did some (unneeded) edging along the street side and one side of my driveway. The $50 charge seems excessive to me. I called the company, and was told they do not do a winter "vacation". I do understand the company needs $600 a year so that they can keep a steady cash flow. It is not that I need the money, but I can't help but feel used. If I were here all year, I would do my own lawn. My wife says I should not drop the service. Comments?

Remove sod in front yard. Treat soil. Install washed gravel with heavy duty weed mat.

[Joe V.]

Bargain try mowing 90 degree plus heat 100% humidity

I do. It sucks but then I am use to the heat.

[EdFNJ]

Bargain try mowing 90 degree plus heat 100% humidity For sure .... I did it for almost 3 years then gave up. I figure I saved 20x the $50/mo fee over the 3 years because I don't smoke so I'm way ahead of the game. :D Even better I made a $45 profit when I sold the $125 used mower I bought to DIY !! :1rotfl:

[RaunchyRich]

You drink that a week!

[Art cov]

Check other places, but your rate seems acceptable, a new year, rates could go up. When in doubt, listen to your wife!

[graciegirl]

When I bought my villa last spring, I contracted with Choice Maintenance to mow my lawn while I was gone back north during the summer. They charge $50 each month ($600 per year). I have been back in The Villages since Christmas, and I they have been here once (although I admit I may have missed a previous visit.) I happened to be outside the last time, and I watched the young man go rapidly door to door around the neighborhood. He spent no more than 3 minutes at my property where he did some (unneeded) edging along the street side and one side of my driveway. The $50 charge seems excessive to me. I called the company, and was told they do not do a winter "vacation". I do understand the company needs $600 a year so that they can keep a steady cash flow. It is not that I need the money, but I can't help but feel used. If I were here all year, I would do my own lawn. My wife says I should not drop the service. Comments?

You would pay much, MUCH more than that in OHIO.

I think fifty bucks a month is very reasonable and that is given that there is a dormant season where not much is growing or cut. BE HAPPY....fella.

[tophcfa]

It all balances out, the charges seem cheap in the summer.

[B-flat]

That price is a bargain. Last summer I was here in Florida it cost me $40 PER WEEK for lawn cutting services at my home up north in New England

[JimJohnson]

When I bought my villa last spring, I contracted with Choice Maintenance to mow my lawn while I was gone back north during the summer. They charge $50 each month ($600 per year). I have been back in The Villages since Christmas, and I they have been here once (although I admit I may have missed a previous visit.) I happened to be outside the last time, and I watched the young man go rapidly door to door around the neighborhood. He spent no more than 3 minutes at my property where he did some (unneeded) edging along the street side and one side of my driveway. The $50 charge seems excessive to me. I called the company, and was told they do not do a winter "vacation". I do understand the company needs $600 a year so that they can keep a steady cash flow. It is not that I need the money, but I can't help but feel used. If I were here all year, I would do my own lawn. My wife says I should not drop the service. Comments?

$600.00 per month is on the low side. Try this for an alternative:
$20.00 to mow your lawn.
March thru September = 1 time per week = $560.00
October & November at 2 times a month = $80.00
December January & February 1 time per month =
$60.00
1. That is $720.00 per year.
2. PLUS!!! Tell me where to find someone that will drive a truck & Trailer to my home every week, unload equipment, mow, weed eat, edge, clean up, load up equipment and drive away for $20.00!

[MandoMan]

Remove sod in front yard. Treat soil. Install washed gravel with heavy duty weed mat.

Of course, that may cost you what four or five years of lawn mowing would cost you. (Grinning)

The summer after eighth grade, back in 1968, I worked full time with a lawn-cutting company in Denver and cut about forty lawns per week for a dollar an hour. I worked about fifty hours per week. Back then the cheapest rate was about $6 PER WEEK for a tiny lawn we mowed in under ten minutes, and the average suburban lawn was more like $20 a week. One lawn was over an acre, and we charged $40 a week. $6 a week would be about $24 a month, and 1968 was a long time ago. I’d say we get a good deal here. Part of the reason is that companies often do many lawns in one neighborhood on the same day. Back in Denver, we often had to drive a half hour between lawns, which wasted a lot of time and gas money.

[J1ceasar]

The funny thing his lawn services is the most efficient ly priced product in the central Florida. I paid $50 a month going back literally 20 years. Yes it was a slightly larger lawn but the price has not changed at all and this is with gasoline going up insurance going up the price of the lawn mower going up.

[J1ceasar]

And if you're here half a year why don't you do your lawn yourself and then contract out for the other half?

[Villages Kahuna]

Wow! I live on a cul de sac with a large lot. My grass cutter, a private individual with her own trailer and equipment, charges only $65 a month.

Don’t ask for her name. Her schedule is full and the only cuts lawns within about a square mile from her house.

[sallyg]

Most lawn services charge a monthly fee for all 12 months. The grass is dormant in the winter and rarely needs cutting. They more than earn their keep in the summer in the heat and humidity. $50 a month seems like a lot for the tiny yards so many of us have, but it's the going rate.

[Catalina36]

$50.00 a month for lawn cutting seems reasonable to me. I am paying Massey $75.00 a month. Massey says they cut the grass 46 weeks a year??? Up North on Long Island I pay $35.00 a week from mid April to mid November, that's about 32 weeks. Then up North we have fall clean up (getting rid of all those leaves) for $250.00 and then we have spring clean up for $250.00. So really living in the Villages the landscaping fees I found to be reasonable. When I moved here in October I called three recommended landscapers who worked in the neighborhood for service and estimates. Two of them never returned my call? One called 4 days later stating he was too busy. Massey was the only company who answered the phone and scheduled a appointment. When the Massey representative arrived he wore a facemask was in a uniform and wrote out a work out with the estimate and started the cutting services within 2 days. I found Massey services to be a extremely reliable company for customer service, accounting, etc. Why look for another landscaper to save maybe $10.00 a month who doesn't return your calls???

[DaleDivine]

I have a CYV on an oversized corner lot. I was paying Choice Maintenance $45 a month to cut my yard. He contracts out his lawn service and we had different mowers a lot. They came when they felt like it in the summer and missed lots of times.
I finally fired him and now have a great young guy that only lives about 3 blocks from me. He comes every Monday in the summer and every other Monday during the winter.
He charges $60 a month but its worth it to have a regular mower.
:coolsmiley::coolsmiley:

[chrissy2231]

I pay $260 but guy is selling his biz.

[camaguey48]

When I bought my villa last spring, I contracted with Choice Maintenance to mow my lawn while I was gone back north during the summer. They charge $50 each month ($600 per year). I have been back in The Villages since Christmas, and I they have been here once (although I admit I may have missed a previous visit.) I happened to be outside the last time, and I watched the young man go rapidly door to door around the neighborhood. He spent no more than 3 minutes at my property where he did some (unneeded) edging along the street side and one side of my driveway. The $50 charge seems excessive to me. I called the company, and was told they do not do a winter "vacation". I do understand the company needs $600 a year so that they can keep a steady cash flow. It is not that I need the money, but I can't help but feel used. If I were here all year, I would do my own lawn. My wife says I should not drop the service. Comments?
Listen to your wife.

[bilcon]

I have used Choice Maintenance for the past 5 years and am very happy with their services. I pay $65 a month for weekly mowing and weeding once a month. I have a large piece of property. What a bargain. There is no reason to mow in the winter since most grasses are dormant. In NY I paid $35 a week just for mowing. They have to live in the winter too.

[Lindaws]

In summer ,high heat, they mow twice a week. Your fee is just avg. over a year.

[toeser]

When I bought my villa last spring, I contracted with Choice Maintenance to mow my lawn while I was gone back north during the summer. They charge $50 each month ($600 per year). I have been back in The Villages since Christmas, and I they have been here once (although I admit I may have missed a previous visit.) I happened to be outside the last time, and I watched the young man go rapidly door to door around the neighborhood. He spent no more than 3 minutes at my property where he did some (unneeded) edging along the street side and one side of my driveway. The $50 charge seems excessive to me. I called the company, and was told they do not do a winter "vacation". I do understand the company needs $600 a year so that they can keep a steady cash flow. It is not that I need the money, but I can't help but feel used. If I were here all year, I would do my own lawn. My wife says I should not drop the service. Comments?


The running rate for normal lawns (not villas) in my neighborhood is $50-55 per month. So $50 for a tiny villa lawn seems high.

[dickybaker]

When I bought my villa last spring, I contracted with Choice Maintenance to mow my lawn while I was gone back north during the summer. They charge $50 each month ($600 per year). I have been back in The Villages since Christmas, and I they have been here once (although I admit I may have missed a previous visit.) I happened to be outside the last time, and I watched the young man go rapidly door to door around the neighborhood. He spent no more than 3 minutes at my property where he did some (unneeded) edging along the street side and one side of my driveway. The $50 charge seems excessive to me. I called the company, and was told they do not do a winter "vacation". I do understand the company needs $600 a year so that they can keep a steady cash flow. It is not that I need the money, but I can't help but feel used. If I were here all year, I would do my own lawn. My wife says I should not drop the service. Comments?

that's the going rate. Is he doing a good job ? wake up.

[wmcgowan]

When I bought my villa last spring, I contracted with Choice Maintenance to mow my lawn while I was gone back north during the summer. They charge $50 each month ($600 per year). I have been back in The Villages since Christmas, and I they have been here once (although I admit I may have missed a previous visit.) I happened to be outside the last time, and I watched the young man go rapidly door to door around the neighborhood. He spent no more than 3 minutes at my property where he did some (unneeded) edging along the street side and one side of my driveway. The $50 charge seems excessive to me. I called the company, and was told they do not do a winter "vacation". I do understand the company needs $600 a year so that they can keep a steady cash flow. It is not that I need the money, but I can't help but feel used. If I were here all year, I would do my own lawn. My wife says I should not drop the service. Comments?

Do it yourself then

[Guitarman1951]

All lawn services do the same thing. It is worth it to me as, in St. Louis, I would have to pay more than what I pay a month for just one mowing. I have Choice Maintenance now after having 4 different service over the last 14 years, and am happy with them.

[PennyAnn]

In the winter, the cuts are infrequent, but in the summertime, it can be up to twice a week. The $50 is a good price and it is simply an equal billing situation.

[debb3c]

Who do you use? We are closing on our house there this month

[DonH57]

Bargain try mowing 90 degree plus heat 100% humidity

Exactly! I did mow, edge, and clear ours when we first moved here and eventually it beat me. We 've been very happy to pay 50 for ours.:a040:

[irishwonone]

Love it😂

[Raybemis1]

Read your Contract:

Service Frequencies
Lawn mowing schedules consist typically of weekly visits beginning around April through around the end of
October. There may be subtle variances in this schedule depending upon the yearly climate and how it effects the
growth or lack thereof of the turf. During the “off” season, we will visit the property every 2 weeks. The “off”
season refers to months outside of the April-October time frame. In certain instances, during the off season, our
maintenance team will only groom areas with the weed eater or edge a driveway to avoid damaging a dry or
slow growing lawn. On average, you will receive around 40 – 44 actual service visits per year. The monthly fee
is an amount that has been averaged out for one years’ worth of service and this is done so we are able to offer a
flat convenient rate throughout the year in lieu of much higher internal fees about 8 months out of the year.
**It is also important to note that though we attempt to visit the property during the growing season on the same
day each week, that day is subject to change based upon weather conditions and unforeseen obstacles including
but not limited to: traffic, accidents, equipment malfunction, etc. We do not offer credits or discounts in the event
of a missed service week due to inclement weather.

[richobryan]

Contact Bowles Services. 352-292-4272. Best lawn service I ever had and with a villa, I pay less than the $50 your are paying. However it is a year round charge, but they come about every 3 weeks in the off season, which is defined by the weather, but usually late October to early April. I HIGHLY recommend them.

[DAVES]

Buy your wife a mower for mothers day.

Truth, I am shocked, My wife, a city girl does most of the weeding. I hate weeding but I refuse to let her do it alone. Am I helpful? Hey you missed that one.
Martha Stewart had her name on Pink painted garden tools. If, still available, make certain your couch is comfortable to sleep on.

[Bilyclub]

Deans is twice a month year round. Wished they mow less in the winter and more in the summer.

[Dlbonivich]

He wants to see them work for the money, whether it needs it or not. When they scalp the toots because the grass does not grow much in the winter, his lawn will die. Don’t trust the expert

[sloanst]

$600/year. Man, are you getting off easy.

[JP]

$50 seems a little high for a villa but I've seen my neighbors try to cheap it out and what they get is an unreliable service that when it is done, is done poorly. If you like the job they are doing, like others on this post have said, $600/year is OK.

[Rosebud1949]

$50 a month mowing year round. Once a week in the summer, once very 10 days to 2 weeks fall or spring, then 1 once every 3-4 weeks in the winter. Best service.. had the same guy for 13 years.....

[Choice Maintenance]

When I bought my villa last spring, I contracted with Choice Maintenance to mow my lawn while I was gone back north during the summer. They charge $50 each month ($600 per year). I have been back in The Villages since Christmas, and I they have been here once (although I admit I may have missed a previous visit.) I happened to be outside the last time, and I watched the young man go rapidly door to door around the neighborhood. He spent no more than 3 minutes at my property where he did some (unneeded) edging along the street side and one side of my driveway. The $50 charge seems excessive to me. I called the company, and was told they do not do a winter "vacation". I do understand the company needs $600 a year so that they can keep a steady cash flow. It is not that I need the money, but I can't help but feel used. If I were here all year, I would do my own lawn. My wife says I should not drop the service. Comments?


Hi ryoungs,

As stated above by other users, the cost is averaged out for the whole year. We cut weekly during the growing season and biweekly during the dormant season. Its a flat rate billing to make things easier for both parties. We do offer seasonal mowing at a higher rate per month but depending on how long you require the service it may not be that beneficial for you. If you feel the rate you were quoted may be a mistake for your size property then you can always reach out to us for a reevaluation. 352-502-2880


Thanks,
Tate Parada
Owner

[SacDQ]

Back in Connecticut I was paying $35 per week for three seasons for grass cutting only. Extra for tree and shrub trimming on a half Acre lot.

[chas39]

When I bought my villa last spring, I contracted with Choice Maintenance to mow my lawn while I was gone back north during the summer. They charge $50 each month ($600 per year). I have been back in The Villages since Christmas, and I they have been here once (although I admit I may have missed a previous visit.) I happened to be outside the last time, and I watched the young man go rapidly door to door around the neighborhood. He spent no more than 3 minutes at my property where he did some (unneeded) edging along the street side and one side of my driveway. The $50 charge seems excessive to me. I called the company, and was told they do not do a winter "vacation". I do understand the company needs $600 a year so that they can keep a steady cash flow. It is not that I need the money, but I can't help but feel used. If I were here all year, I would do my own lawn. My wife says I should not drop the service. Comments?
We pay 55 a month with Massey for 12 months

[jellybean428]

I pay $65 a month. I know they don't need to mow every week during the winter months but I'm OK with the rate. In NY, I pay $30 per week (and that's cheap for NY) during our season...May thru October. So, $65 month makes me happy

[davem4616]

$600/year. Man, are you getting off easy.


Totally

Be happy.

[DARFAP]

Seriously, you consider $50/month expensive? I once had a contract with Massey that cost me $120/month, every month, and in the winter they did not mow. Needless to say, I didn't do that very long. I now pay $70/month, which I consider very reasonable.

[Buckeye Bleau]

I pay $50 per month as well and they mow, trim and “sweep” each and every week. Do I think that what they do is worth $12.50 each time they visit? Heaven’s yes, there is no way that I can do it for that price.

In Ohio I would pay them, $35.00 each time they come out. I get a bargain in Florida!