How much to charge for brush chopping?

Michael Price · Jun 30, 2009

There is a guy not far from me who owns what looks like 8 acres. I guess its needs to be mowed because the township must be on him. I was just curious what the going rate is for brush chopping. There is a dumpy house and garage. The whole place is all grown up.

There is also crap laying all over, toilets, refrigerators, sinks, all sorts of crap in about the front three acres. I know the guy who used to have the place had a backhoe and he used it. Theres holes dug with crap like old half burned wood full of nails.

Im not sure if this guy wants the whole thing chopped but Im thinking $500 thats to cut what I can. If he wants me to walk around and throw crap like the big tree limb in the yard off to the side then the price goes up. Im even thinking $500 is a little cheap, maybe I should go $600.

Heavyduty1 · Jun 30, 2009

Don't forget to add a little extra for flat tires on those grown up lots with alot of trash. If the guy will let you cut on a regular basis then I might cut a little break. You need to watch for possible wells and septic covers. Good luck.

MGTPa · Jun 30, 2009

From the way you describe the conditions, he will think $500. is too expensive and probably doesn"t have the money anyway. A flat and damaged rear tire on your tractor and you"ll be lucky to break even.

Jason1Pa · Jun 30, 2009

I know a guy that mows for a living. Fields,yards,and along the roadways. I believe he charges by the hour in some situations and its around $90.. In your situation it may be smart to charge by the hour. I know it would sound expensive to the owner,but you will never know what you may get into. If you just agree on a price you could kick yourself later. Place sounds like a mess. Remeber you want to make it worth your while if you end up getting a flat tire or breaking something from all the junk.. I've learned to walk away from these kind of things! LOL. Always seems to end up costing me money, stress, and more work. good Luck

Gun guru · Jun 30, 2009

You have to separate the job into 2 sections.

1. picking up the crap--All of it, cause you dont know what is in the tall grass

2. Actually cutting the grass with your tractor.

It could take weeks to pick up all the crap. You dont know.

Ray · Jun 30, 2009

If it was just mowing 100 bucks would get it done here in ohio.The picking up of junk would be another matter.

Patsdeere · Jun 30, 2009

Just a crazy thought....

Maybe a bulldozer would be cheaper/easier. At least next year you would know that there isn't any hidden objects that you might hit and it would get it all cleaned up for the owner.

Joe in OH · Jun 30, 2009

Do you mean $100 an hour? If not, Im sure you must be pretty busy this time of year.

As described, 8 acres with that much junk in it would be very high risk. It would take someone with a 5 foot hog at least 8 hours to mow. $100 is about $12.50 an hour, without even subtracting your expenses.

I did a 5 acre lot in about 6.5 hours with a 5 foot hog and I was bustin but to do it too. This had lots of woody growth and it was all about 3 ft or more tall. I charged $40 an hour and that is cheap in my part of Ohio. guys who advertise in the local papers ask for $60 + per hour.

This job should really be bid by an hourly rate.

How much do you need the job, and how much do you want to do it?

Ray · Jun 30, 2009

I use a jD 6410 with a 15ft batwing,8 acres in less than an hour.

Ray · Jun 30, 2009

The local menards store has 10 acres of grass they hire mowed several times a year.The manager said the first time it was mowed a farmer charged them 300 bucks.Other people started asking about the job and the next farmer did it for 200.Last week i saw a new guy mowing it with a new holland compact tractor.The manager said he was getting 100 bucks.

BushogPapa · Jun 30, 2009

In this case, I would only work "Pre-Paid".."Cash-on-the-Barrel-Head..PLUS Damages...
agreed to, in writing..
Get Cash in your hand..then work that off..you don't want to let him "Stiff you"..and even the "in writing" may not stand up in Court...
If he don't like it...he can get someone else foolish enough to do it...!
Using a Dozer would really be your best choice...

Ron..

MarkB_MI · Jun 30, 2009

I'd price a new gearbox for my brush hog before I'd bid the job. Sounds like it could turn into a nightmare.

RodinNS · Jun 30, 2009

Personally I think I'd let someone els worry about that gem...
If I was to undertake that I think I'd want an old 7' sickle bar mower and forestry tires on the tractor...
The idea with the sickle bar... is that it won't throw the junk at you at lethal speeds AND so long as you make the first round OK, you at least have some advantage of being able to see what crap is beside you and about to get into the mower. At least you have some chance to see it befor eyou drive on it.

Other option, tho probably not a 'legal' option, and mabey not a 'safe' option is fire.
Plow up or disc a fire break around the perimiter, then set fire to the mess. Burn the grass away, then clean up the junk.

Really, I'd leave it alone. It's not my problem and see no reason to make it my problem. I see a lot of flat tires in your future... and mabey a lot worse... unless he's willing to cover ALL repairs and you trust that you can actually get the money out of him. You could literally do thousands of dollars in damage. Not worth it to me.

Rod

nickg · Jun 30, 2009

I charge 65/hr with a min of an hour charge with a 4020 and 8ft bush hog. I think ud be money ahead by sayin thanks but no thanks on that job. Sounds like a real good place to get your tires full of nails or tear up your mower or tractor and prolly loose money or break even.

flying belgian · Jun 30, 2009

I believe I wood go $100 bucks an hour. 80 for you and the mower and 20 for the kid you have walking one round ahead of you picking up junk. Like one other poster mentioned, get some money up front say 500 and work that off then get another 500 and so on untill job is done or he runs out of money which ever comes first. If he doesn't mow it down and the township has to finally do it he will really pay through the nose or they can get it out of him in taxes.

RodinNS · Jun 30, 2009

Dose that hundred bucks include the insurance he'll need if his mower whips a rock at some lawyer's wife in the parking lot?
It'll be an expensive bit of cash then...

Rod

wilk · Jun 30, 2009

Next month some dumbhead will be out there doing it for free.

Michael Price · Jun 30, 2009

I have a 7ft JD sickle mower or I have 2 5ft woods choppers. One it junk but it still works, I would use that. If it gets trashed who cares.

I thought about a hourly rate but then I couldnt add in extra for if something gets broke. If I did it for $600 Id want all the cash up front. The guy who told me he needs this mowed is the ordinance officer. I doubt this guy would pay more the $100 for the whole job.

I walked around today, the grass is tall but thin, you can see through pretty easy. There is a big hole, I think its supposed to be a pond and a huge hill of dirt. There is probably about 6 acres of area to mow. I really doubt this will go anywhere unless the city is the one looking for someone to mow it then they charge the guy. I would think the city would just want the yard to the house cut though. I'll call the guy who told me about it tomorrow and see whats going on. He wanted to know today or tomorrow if I could do it and how much.

Oldmax · Jun 30, 2009

How bad do you need the money . I charge $40 an hour to mow grass with a 1715 Ford/New holand 27 HP FWD & 5' Hog 4 hour min. If they don't want to pay that they can get someone else to mow it. But I wouldn't go any where near that job.

Clodbuster · Jun 30, 2009

I can think of many other fun ways to lose money than getting mixed up in that unless it was for a big pile of profit!

Michael Price · Jun 30, 2009

A year ago I had a 20ft fall and had the hospital empty my bank account. I could really use the money but I dont want to break anything and end up with $20. Im pretty sure I can see any junk and not tear up anything. Im not going any cheaper then whatever my price is. If its the owner wanting it done I'll tell him my price and thats that. If it turns out they just want the yard cut I could probably get by using a lawn tractor but the guy told me to go walk around and look because their may be junk laying around out back and they need someone with a tractor.

The property is really stupid, the lot is probably only 60ft wide and really long. There is a very nice house with a perfect yard next door so I think someone complained to the city.

mnbob · Jun 30, 2009

Guess its all been said, but in the 80'3 I got 50 per hour or per acre my choice. Always had a flat tire clause. Had all the work I wanted. Dont know what is charged now. I would need 60 at least now. I was using a 720 with loaded tires and 6 foot hog.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 30, 2009

I understand needing the money but you can do two other low profit jobs where risk is low and still get the money you need.What everone is telling you is the stakes are to high on this job,especialy if you are already straped.

Sid · Jun 30, 2009

Michael, I can tell by the replies,most if not all these guys are not very experienced. What you need to do is see if you can find Indy Dirt Farmer and seek his advice.

37 chief · Jun 30, 2009

I do around 75 seperate mowing areas here in Calif. 1/4 to 12 acres. 12 acre is the largest. I would charge him at least 800.00 if it was here in my area. I have ruined several rear tires in the past, and broke several sets of blades by hitting things I didn't see. Last year I cracked the gear case on my 6 ft woods mower, on a large rock. If you bid it for 500.00 and don't have any problems you will do ok. My biggest fear on new fields is abandon seepage pits. I went right over one with my crawler a few years ago whin I was discing. If it had been mowing with my MF I would have droppen in it. Do what you need to do. stan

Michael Price · Jun 30, 2009

My rear tires are junk anyhow but still usable.If I trash one I want enought to pretty much cover a new set. One front is junk, I ran over a cultivator and put a boot in it. I think a new set of 13.6-28 are around $800.

Michael Price · Jul 1, 2009

Ok, I just found out that a bank owns the house now. They want to know what I want just for the front yard. Then if they like me we will talk about the rest of the property. The ordinence guy is going to see if they will go $200 for just the yard. I think my craftsman will handle that.

Me being a general contractor I could really use getting in good with a bank. I just found out from the same guy they need another property mowed in my town too. The other dump needs to be cleaned up and a 2 car garage pole barn with no roof taken down. Im going to risk it and try to go cheap and get in good with this guy at the bank.

37 chief · Jul 1, 2009

Sometimes I bid high to get out of a job, and end up getting it anyway. I don't like to say I can't do the job. I think if you treat the bank right you will get more jobs from them. Spend a little more time and do a real good job is always a good idea. Stan

Michael Price · Jul 1, 2009

If I get the job I may use a push mower, it sounds like they may want somoeone to keep it mowed all summer. I have a souped up push mower that should cut it then once I find all the crap I can use a rider next time.

I wish I would have taken a picture of it but in the back yard someone built a ladder up through a tree with 2x4s. Up about 30ft is a tiny platform with a huge leather recliner on it. I dont know how they heck they got that up there.

CJ3b_jeep · Jul 1, 2009

I traded some mowing last year for enough lumber to build a 24x32 pole building. I mowed about 6 acres, three times over the summer. Most of it was close to 4 feet high when I started. I mowed it twice the first time, once very high, then normal height the second time. I found lots of stuff that could have broken a shear pin. The owner kept joking with me to mow faster, but I like to mow slowly, less pain on my back and a better mowing job.

CJ3b_jeep · Jul 1, 2009

I traded some mowing last year for enough lumber to build a 24x32 pole building. I mowed about 6 acres, three times over the summer. Most of it was close to 4 feet high when I started. I mowed it twice the first time, once very high, then normal height the second time. I found lots of stuff that could have broken a shear pin. The owner kept joking with me to mow faster, but I like to mow slowly, less pain on my back and a better mowing job.

Michael Price · Jul 2, 2009

I got the thumbs up for the $200 junkyark mow. I looked at the other place today, looks about 3 acres. I said $280 to chop it, I hope I get that one too. That one is junk free.

How much to charge for brush chopping?

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