Hiring Lawn Care Personnel or....

[Bob Wilson]

Hi BP! 

I'm attempting to solve a challenge. 

Currently we have 20 units, all needing mowing/lawncare.

Currently I have about 6 companies handling this because the units are spread throughout the Chicago suburbs. Although I have great relationships with my main contractor (handling 6 units), he is unwilling to travel a bit further to handle some of the others. 

This presents 2 challenges-
1) The payroll/admin that my wife goes through each month, isn't worth the hassle. Way to much QC, and back and forth. They submit pictures to a "google form" after a mow, and she uses that as proof to pay. Obviously, they oftentimes don't submit pics, and/or submit same pics twice. Again, the hassle isn't worth it anymore.

2) Cost. We pay either $30 or $35 a cut, depending on size, which in itself, is no concern. However, all of these contractors prefer weekly cuts, and if we go to bi-weekly, cost rises. In a perfect world, I'd love a cut 3x monthly, not 4. With a model of 3x/month, we could be saving $30/month on each property. $600/monthly. 

I'm considering posting a job on Indeed or something for 2022 season, and hiring in-house, purchasing the riding lawn mower and trailer, the whole thing. What is everyone else doing to solve their lawn care with multiple units?