Rehabber loves the work , complains that the work should have taken longer .

[Matthew Paul]

A guy working on a flip calls me up , wants a lawn tilled up , topsoil spread , and raked out . He wants to seed and straw himself to save money . I look at the job , topsoil is there ( 20 tons) flat level lawn , looks sparse and its 18,000 sq ft . I tell him $ 1600 , he asks "  a few questions  like when can I do it , it will be smooth and ready for seed and straw. " Signs the contract .  Call me if there are any problems he says . 

I showed up this morning like I said .  Tractor , rototiller for the tractor , york rake .  I get to work , Till the whole yard , rake it out , spread the topsoil , rake it out . The yard is smooth ready to go by 1 pm.   I give him a call , tell him its done . 

His response :  "There is no way you are done , I rented a tiller and ran it for 3 hours and it barely worked . You cant be done , spreading the dirt , tilling and raking it out , thats a 3 day job maybe even 4 days ." I am coming right over .

I tell him , Its done and it looks good , bring your seed and get it spread before the rains come . 

Now he shows up in 15 minutes ,  his jaw drops looks at the front lawn  .  " How did you guys get this done , it looks great , what time did you start , where is your help ? You tilled and wheel barrowed all that dirt in 5 hours ............at your age . ( I am 53)

I start chuckling and said there were no "guys" just me and walked him around back and he saw the tractor ,  Hell no , I like big toys .

Then he tells me he was getting prices from landscapers in the $ 3000 dollar range and they told him it was a 3 or 4 day job. He thought I was going to use a shovel , rented tiller and a wheel barrow . 

He wrote me a check and commented that I made over $ 300 an hour .  Dont you think thats high ?  No , not at all    , I dont generally charge by the hour , I am good , that set up there cost me about $ 40 grand , I charge for the end result , not the process . If I charged by the hour the better I get the less I make . 

He looks at the yard , and asks " how much to seed and straw ? " 

Monday  I do the rest .