I think it's a good idea.
You talk specifics (eg. Lawn services, lot size) how much
Per month for mowing, etc.
This will help all of us not get overcharged!

Stay away from door-to-door landscape "companies" as you will most definitely get taken as I did. Specifically, TPM Palm and Tree Service and MRM Palm and Tree Service. I believe they are in cohoots with e/o and beware - they are slick and smooth talking. Had to go to Seniors vs. Crime to get an issue resolved.

:clap2::agree:

Gracie, I think this is a great thread idea. And to the naysayers, I think we all have sense enough to understand there may be differences that need to be taken into consideration. I am often surprised by how much more a job is quoted that I expected and occasionally I am pleasantly surprised how much less. There are even some jobs that I have NO idea if we're talking hundreds of dollars or thousands of dollars, so it's nice to have a "starting" point, understood that's all it is....just a starting point.

If I read on here that Gracie paid $35 for power washing and then I get quoted $400, I know to immediately look elsewhere. If I get quoted $50, well then....there might be something a little different about my house, so no problem.

I would still expect to check out the company in advance, maybe ask for references on here or from neighbors, etc.

We were just quoted $3200 to re-stain our driveway/walk/porch. I thought that was high. They would need to remove the old stain and start from scratch....double drive, usual walkway and standard ranch front porch. Decorative stain. If anyone has had that done, how does that price sound? Thanks.

BTW, the stain quote was from the same company that did the original job for the previous owner. I think it was a good job....just was never kept up by the previous owner and we haven't done anything in the 20 months we've been here.

One tip I would add when getting quotes.

First ask how long the job will take?

How many men?

So that comes to X number of hours, now if you take the quote and divide it by the number hours does that make sense?

Say in the post above they say it will take 2 men two full days to remove the old stain and a few hours to coat it it 3 times it may work out with material and overhead profit etc.

But if they say I can do it all in day myself.......Some Doctors don't make that much.

So gauge the quote by the time & materials as a guideline.

Quality, Service and Price. Pick two (2)

Good point. True enough when comparing contractors who are on the up and up. However, rip off contractors around legion around these parts. So, some add-on advice: Get quotes from only highly recommended contractors. Then pick two. ;)

Of course that makes sense. Years ago we received a quote from a lawn service (not in TV). He had been highly recommended by friends. He told us it would take 2 people, 6 hours per visit, every two weeks. We did exactly as you suggest...did the math to figure out an hourly rate for each person, plus supplies, etc., etc......seemed like a fair price. Well, after a couple of visits, he started showing up by himself and finishing the job in 3 hours. When we told him we were paying for 2 people for 6 hours, he absolutely did not understand our point. His view was the job was getting done....why did we care how many people or how long? We tried to explain his quote was dishonest because it was based on 12 hours for the job....not 3. We parted ways....

We just installed undercounting lighting. Quote from Pike Electric was double that of R & A electric. We are very pleased with R &A's work.

And the price was?

We had several landscaping quotes for the front, side of the garage, and 30' along back wall of our designer home. We had a list of what we wanted: the most expensive brown rock (can't remember the name), trees, shrubs, flowers, edging but not curbing or stacked wall. Our estimates ranged from $5000 to $13,000, with 7K and 9K in between. The company with the most expensive estimate could not include the brown rock--mulch instead, with no weed mat. The 7K person tried to change what we wanted.

We went with the 5K (Jamie's Landscaping) and couldn't be happier with the job, the workers, the plants and trees. This was in December of 2012. Not exactly prime season, but I don't know why the prices were so all over the place.

TOTV has been such a fab. source for our soon-to-be move to TV. For a year I took copious notes directly from TOTV'ers in preparation for our design meeting. I have an entire notebook full of business cards from local companies and my impressions of them. I have another notebook of searches I have done on the internet regarding products used in the construction of our home.

Gracie, I think this will be an excellent reference. As I go about making my house a home, I will be glad to contribute any pertinent information about companies, quotes and descriptions of jobs. In fact, in September I will attempt 2-5 projects-small and bigger- I will share that information. So far the only quote i have so far is : Village Movers - 2 men first 3 hours -flat $295. Each further hour $85. I will let everyone know how it has worked out.

reight behind you
 

We will be right behind you Suzi. We are coming down first week of September but we are renting 3-4 months before we buy a house. I will be keeping an eye on this thread to get ball park figures before we negotiate with contractors. Thanks again to Gracie for this thead!:MOJE_whot::ho:

is that for unloading? your pod or truck

rented truck
 

We have rented and will fill a 26 foot rental truck with help from our sons here and the quote I received from the Village Movers was for them to UNLOAD the truck when we arrive.