Horticulture CDHorticulture CD

Unit C 4-4: Nursery, Unit C 4-4: Nursery, Landscaping, and Landscaping, and

GardeningGardening

Problem Area 6: Landscape Problem Area 6: Landscape MaintenanceMaintenance

Lesson 4: Pricing Landscape Lesson 4: Pricing Landscape Maintenance WorkMaintenance Work

How Much Would You Charge How Much Would You Charge for Maintenance?for Maintenance?

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Identify the skills a landscape Identify the skills a landscape maintenance technician should master.maintenance technician should master.

Describe how to estimate landscape Describe how to estimate landscape maintenance costs.maintenance costs.

Describe some advantages and Describe some advantages and disadvantages of using computer disadvantages of using computer spreadsheets in the landscape spreadsheets in the landscape maintenance business.maintenance business.

TermsTerms

Computer Computer SpreadsheetSpreadsheet

Contingency CostContingency Cost Estimate SheetEstimate Sheet Job CostJob Cost Landscape Landscape

MaintenanceMaintenance

Landscape Landscape Maintenance Maintenance TechnicianTechnician

Overhead CostsOverhead Costs ProfitProfit Total Project CostTotal Project Cost

What Skills Must a LandscapeWhat Skills Must a LandscapeMaintenance Technician Master?Maintenance Technician Master?

Identify the skills a landscape Identify the skills a landscape maintenance technician should maintenance technician should master.master.

Landscape MaintenanceLandscape Maintenance

The continued effort to preserve the The continued effort to preserve the existing landscape.existing landscape.

A landscape maintenance A landscape maintenance technician is the person who is technician is the person who is trained and given the responsibility trained and given the responsibility of preserving the landscape. of preserving the landscape.

Landscape MaintenanceLandscape Maintenance

Landscape maintenance technicians Landscape maintenance technicians learn skills through formal and learn skills through formal and informal education.informal education.

The cost of landscape maintenance The cost of landscape maintenance is influenced by the types of skills or is influenced by the types of skills or jobs conducted.jobs conducted.

Landscape Maintenance Job SkillsLandscape Maintenance Job Skills

Safety - safety should be the Safety - safety should be the number one priority.number one priority. An understanding of safe tool and An understanding of safe tool and

equipment operation is essential.equipment operation is essential. Training in first aid is also Training in first aid is also

recommended.recommended.

Landscape Maintenance Job SkillsLandscape Maintenance Job Skills

Reading a plan - the ability to read Reading a plan - the ability to read and understand a plan in order to and understand a plan in order to interpret the designer’s intent is interpret the designer’s intent is crucial.crucial. Measurements can also be taken from Measurements can also be taken from

the plan to calculate maintenance the plan to calculate maintenance costs.costs.

Job SkillsJob Skills

Plant identification and care - the Plant identification and care - the ability to identify plants and an ability to identify plants and an understanding of specific cultural understanding of specific cultural requirements is valuable.requirements is valuable.

Grading and establishing turf - Grading and establishing turf - technicians should be able to level technicians should be able to level and grade an area and properly and grade an area and properly plant sod, plugs, or seed.plant sod, plugs, or seed.

Job SkillsJob Skills Identification of irrigation components - Identification of irrigation components -

since irrigation systems are common in since irrigation systems are common in landscapes, a technician needs to landscapes, a technician needs to understand the function of each part of understand the function of each part of the system.the system.

Programming controllers - irrigation Programming controllers - irrigation controllers are the key that allows controllers are the key that allows precise watering at specific times.precise watering at specific times. Knowledge of how they work and are Knowledge of how they work and are

installed is essential.installed is essential.

Job SkillsJob Skills Lateral line repair and head adjustment - Lateral line repair and head adjustment -

since these are essential parts of since these are essential parts of irrigation systems, knowledge of how to irrigation systems, knowledge of how to adjust and service them is valuable.adjust and service them is valuable.

Trucks and trailers - mastery of the Trucks and trailers - mastery of the tasks required by state licensing tasks required by state licensing agencies is important.agencies is important.

Transplanting woody plants - a Transplanting woody plants - a technician should possess knowledge of technician should possess knowledge of the planting procedures and care of the planting procedures and care of newly planted plants.newly planted plants.

Job SkillsJob Skills

Pruning techniques - an understanding Pruning techniques - an understanding of reasons for pruning and various of reasons for pruning and various pruning techniques is important.pruning techniques is important.

Mowing turfgrass - a great part of Mowing turfgrass - a great part of landscape maintenance work involves landscape maintenance work involves mowing turf operation.mowing turf operation. Knowledge of mowing heights, bagging Knowledge of mowing heights, bagging

requirements, and safe mower operation is requirements, and safe mower operation is beneficial.beneficial.

Job SkillsJob Skills

Aerating turfgrass - Technicians Aerating turfgrass - Technicians should recognize when soils need should recognize when soils need aerification and understand the safe aerification and understand the safe operating of aerating equipment.operating of aerating equipment.

Job SkillsJob Skills Edging and trimming - training is Edging and trimming - training is

essential in providing a clean essential in providing a clean appearance to the landscape.appearance to the landscape.

Pesticide safety - the ability to mix Pesticide safety - the ability to mix and apply pesticides in accordance and apply pesticides in accordance with label instructions in crucial.with label instructions in crucial. This ability protects the technician, This ability protects the technician,

living things in the area, and the living things in the area, and the employer.employer.

Job SkillsJob Skills

Fertilizing - Technicians should be Fertilizing - Technicians should be able to choose fertilizers for specific able to choose fertilizers for specific uses and calculate the correct uses and calculate the correct amounts to be applied.amounts to be applied.

List of SkillsList of Skills

Knowledge of safetyKnowledge of safety Ability to read plansAbility to read plans Ability to identify and Ability to identify and

care for plantscare for plants Skill in grading and Skill in grading and

establishing turfestablishing turf Understanding of Understanding of

irrigation components irrigation components and controllersand controllers

Ability to safely operate Ability to safely operate equipment (trucks & equipment (trucks & trailers)trailers)

Knowledge of Knowledge of procedures and care of procedures and care of new transplantsnew transplants

Understanding of Understanding of mowing requirementsmowing requirements

Ability to mix and safely Ability to mix and safely apply pesticidesapply pesticides

Knowledge of fertilizer Knowledge of fertilizer composition and composition and application rates.application rates.

How are Landscape Maintenance How are Landscape Maintenance Cost Estimates Determined?Cost Estimates Determined?

Describe how to estimate Describe how to estimate landscape maintenance landscape maintenance

costs.costs.

Determining CostDetermining Cost It is important to understand that nearly It is important to understand that nearly

every landscape maintenance company every landscape maintenance company uses a different method for calculating uses a different method for calculating an estimate.an estimate.

There is no industry standard. There is no industry standard. However, from a business standpoint it However, from a business standpoint it

is essential to determine a method for is essential to determine a method for accurately pricing maintenance work. accurately pricing maintenance work.

Accurate pricing includes using an Accurate pricing includes using an estimate sheet and understanding the estimate sheet and understanding the procedures for completing it.procedures for completing it.

Estimate SheetEstimate Sheet

Form for calculating prices. It is for Form for calculating prices. It is for the landscaper only. the landscaper only.

The customer receives a proposal The customer receives a proposal sheet or contract with prices listed.sheet or contract with prices listed.

It is best if identical forms are used It is best if identical forms are used for each individual project.for each individual project.

Information on an Estimate SheetInformation on an Estimate Sheet

Job name, location, and date that Job name, location, and date that the estimate is prepared.the estimate is prepared.

The size of the job and the work to The size of the job and the work to be completed.be completed.

The number of hours and materials The number of hours and materials to be used in completing the job.to be used in completing the job.

A calculation of the cost of the labor A calculation of the cost of the labor and materials used on the project.and materials used on the project.

Procedure for Using an Estimate Procedure for Using an Estimate SheetSheet

Using actual wage rates and materials Using actual wage rates and materials costs, calculate the total costs for the costs, calculate the total costs for the project.project.

The job cost is the cost of the labor and The job cost is the cost of the labor and materials necessary to complete a materials necessary to complete a specific task or job.specific task or job. If a task such as mowing is completed a If a task such as mowing is completed a

number of times during the year, the job number of times during the year, the job cost is multiplied by the number of times cost is multiplied by the number of times the job is done in order to calculate total the job is done in order to calculate total annual costs.annual costs.

ProcedureProcedure

Overhead costs are general costs Overhead costs are general costs associated with running a business.associated with running a business. They include costs like insurance, They include costs like insurance,

utilities, and lease payments.utilities, and lease payments. A general rule is to calculate over-A general rule is to calculate over-

head costs at 20 percent of the job head costs at 20 percent of the job cost.cost.

ProcedureProcedure

A contingency cost accounts for A contingency cost accounts for unanticipated expenses.unanticipated expenses. Such expenses include theft of Such expenses include theft of

materials and equipment breakdowns.materials and equipment breakdowns. An acceptable contingency charge is An acceptable contingency charge is

calculated by adding 10 percent to calculated by adding 10 percent to overhead and job costs.overhead and job costs.

ProcedureProcedure A cost summation is the adding together A cost summation is the adding together

of the job costs, overhead costs, and of the job costs, overhead costs, and contingency costs.contingency costs.

Profit is the amount of money received Profit is the amount of money received after deducting all project costs.after deducting all project costs. A fair rate of profit is 20 percent of the cost A fair rate of profit is 20 percent of the cost

summation.summation. Total project cost is the sum of the cost Total project cost is the sum of the cost

summation and the profit.summation and the profit. It is the price that is presented on a It is the price that is presented on a

proposal sheet or contract to a customer.proposal sheet or contract to a customer.

What are Some Advantages and What are Some Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Computer Disadvantages of Using Computer

SpreadsheetsSpreadsheetsin the Landscape Maintenance Business?in the Landscape Maintenance Business?

Describe some advantages and Describe some advantages and disadvantages of using computer disadvantages of using computer

spreadsheets in the landscape spreadsheets in the landscape maintenance business.maintenance business.

What is It?What is It?

A computer spreadsheet is an all-A computer spreadsheet is an all-purpose computer program that is purpose computer program that is useful for tasks involving the useful for tasks involving the organization of numbers.organization of numbers.

They are efficient tools in calculating They are efficient tools in calculating costs, preparing estimates, and costs, preparing estimates, and keeping records.keeping records.

AdvantagesAdvantages

Savings in time required to calculate Savings in time required to calculate costs.costs.

Space required to save records is Space required to save records is relatively small.relatively small.

Provide a finished, professional Provide a finished, professional appearance to the customer.appearance to the customer.

Allow for quick cost comparisons Allow for quick cost comparisons between projects.between projects.

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Training may be required to operate Training may be required to operate software.software.

Initial investment in new equipment Initial investment in new equipment and software may be substantial.and software may be substantial.

Continued investment required to Continued investment required to keep up to date.keep up to date.

ReviewReview

What skills must a landscape What skills must a landscape maintenance technician master?maintenance technician master?

How are landscape maintenance How are landscape maintenance cost estimates determined?cost estimates determined?

What are some advantages and What are some advantages and disadvantages of using computer disadvantages of using computer spreadsheets in the landscape spreadsheets in the landscape maintenance business?maintenance business?