Does anyone else have trouble finding a gardener?

Savvy_Sue

halogen wrote: »

If you say so... would £10/hour be considered fair?

I'd say it was on the low side. No, I'll retract that, it's too low.

Look at it this way: if someone is employed on the (alleged) Living Wage, they have tax and NI deducted at source, their employer pays some NI, they get paid holiday and their employer sets up auto-enrolment for them. If they're sick, they can at least claim SSP, if not some contractual sick pay.

It's all done for them, takes no time at all. All their working hours are paid. If they need stationery or equipment, their employer will generally supply it, and if they need PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) their employer MUST either supply it or pay for it.

If they are self-employed, they are responsible for their own tax and NI, if they are sick or take any holiday they won't be paid for it, and if they want a pension they have to make all the contributions. Outside their working hours, they have to sort all these things out, and pay for the privilege.

It's unlikely they'll be able to work as many hours as if they were employed full-time, because each job will be in a different place, so there's the time and expense of moving from one job to the other. If they need any stationery, equipment or PPE, they'll be paying for it (OK, I know some cleaners expect the client to provide particular cleaning agents and use the client's vacuum etc, but not universally).

So, how much more than Living Wage do you think a self-employed person has to charge, in order to make Living Wage for the actual hours they work? Obviously, it depends on the field of work, but I'd be surprised if many can make a living on £10 per hour.

UK007BullDog

I am a PROFESSIONAL gardener going into my 5th year. I studied with the RHS. I know my plants and my worth. I know the difference of a weed to a plant. I know how to and when to prune. I love proper gardens with lots of plants in them. I have a waiting list.

My charges are £50 - £60 for the first two hours minimum and £20 for each hour thereafter.

There is no negotiation, no haggling. My price is my price. If the potential customer starts with haggling (even though I told them I would not haggle) I am no longer interested. Also I am not interested when the potential customer tells me how long it should take me to do their garden. I work fast but I am not going to run around as that's dangerous and I left the rat race in the city for a more evenly paced work balance.

I price up one offs differently (more) as they are very hard work.

I charge extra for waste removal. My time, petrol, wear and tear of my van, charged by weight, by the council for using the tip.

If there is a large lawn for me to cut I charge extra for petrol, i.e my hourly rate is higher.

I expect the customer to also pay for parking charges or supply me with parking permits if required in their area and they have no drive for me to park on.

I visit each new garden I take on and walk the garden, looking for any access issues or anything which could endanger me or my tools. I used to accept pictures from potential customers but now insist on clapping eyes on the garden in person. I have learned my lessons the hard way.

I charge to cover my costs and also make a profit as no one works for free.

Van costs: Insurance, Road Tax, MOT, Service, Wear and tear, Petrol.
Travel costs and time from garden to garden. My gardens are not close together.
Tools: Purchase, Replacements, service and sundries. (Professional kit is expensive)
Uniform and boots
Professional Indemnity insurance
Costs of the Accountant
Business Banking costs
Business mobile
Website
Business cards and literature

I have to pay my own taxes, NI, Pension (savings), mortgage.
I spend time with office work, invoicing customers, sourcing of plants (if I have to visit a nursery I charge the customer for that service (plants, compost, bark, fertiliser, stones, aggregate, pots, hanging baskets, etc).

If I am sick or on holiday I am not getting paid. 2 to 4 months a year I do no work or very little, so the income from the rest of the year needs to cover my outgoings which are still there.

If someone finds £10 or even £15 is too much then they better look for a pensioner who just wants to earn a bit of money on the side, who use their own car to take green waste to the tip for free and who use the customers tools.

However be warned, if you hire someone to do your garden using your tools and hurts themselves you may find that your arrangement may be classed (by the courts) as you being their employer and your liable for them. They can sue you. Plus if they break something the cost can be quite high, for instance chipped patio doors, cut through power lines and telephone lines. They then may vanish never to be seen again.

UK007BullDog

halogen wrote: »

hmmm I think thats missing the point. Everytime I've tried to look I've always said payment negotiable but I've never even got anyone to the point of having that discussion.

Because its not negotiable. Its hard physical work. It sends the wrong message. That's why no one wants to come round to see the garden. Gardeners can be picky as to who they are taking on.

It may be different if there were more gardeners than gardens, but that is not the case. I took my mobile number off my website last year as I was inundated by people looking for a gardener. It was impossible for me to take on more work.

bobwilson

glasgowdan wrote: »

Indeed... maybe a potential customer who thinks they pull the strings sends huge alarm bells ringing in the heads of a tradesperson. Maybe a customer thinking they can "negotiate" what I earn to pay my mortgage and support the future for my family is a customer who will always struggle to find a dependable gardener!

I agree with the OP, you're missing his point- even customers who don't think they can negotiate still find it close to impossible.

Nathaniel_Essex

UK007BullDog wrote: »

Because its not negotiable. Its hard physical work. It sends the wrong message. That's why no one wants to come round to see the garden. Gardeners can be picky as to who they are taking on.

It may be different if there were more gardeners than gardens, but that is not the case. I took my mobile number off my website last year as I was inundated by people looking for a gardener. It was impossible for me to take on more work.

I understand and respect this and expect to pay that if I had a large garden with plants that need to be taken care of. What's annoying is those who advertise "no job too small" only for them not to respond to your messages or not show up. I know the work I need doing is not specialist and is simply down to my laziness and coming across cat/fox droppings. With that said, if a job is too small simply just say so. I send individuals pictures prior and they agree to the work only to not show up. My old neighbor gave me the details of a gardener that was like 20 miles away. Thought it was too far but gave her a call and she said it was okay as she had clients up this way. She came to take a look, went away and I never heard from her. Chased and she said she was not interested in the job.

Looks like I found a general handyman who is quite keen but the fact he offered to cut everything with a trimmer tells me he's not serious and will probably take a chainsaw to my hedge like the last guy, making the thing look worst than before it was cut. He also does not have his own tools but was the only one to respond from my latest efforts of trying to find a gardener through: Rated People, CheckaTrade, Facebook, Shpock, Google, shop windows, personal referrals and even the council worker cutting the communal grass outside.

jellie

My local Age UK has a list of recommended traders on their website, it includes garden services.

glasgowdan

Try and keep an eye out for neighbours gardens being tended by gardeners and ask the neighbour if they'd recommend them.

As above, there is more gardening work than gardeners in most areas. I turn down work on an almost daily basis from February through to December. The best customers are ones who do not send photos or try to assess cost before you even come out for a look. Just call/email, ask us to visit and say what you want done, and you should find a better caliber of response.

Lysimache

halogen wrote: »

hmmm I think thats missing the point. Everytime I've tried to look I've always said payment negotiable but I've never even got anyone to the point of having that discussion.

Trying advertising a higher rate first and see if you get any enquiries.