Are lawn care marketplace platforms cheaper than calling companies directly?
Many people need to hand off lawn care to a professional, simply because they don’t have the time to handle it themselves. However, it can be frustrating for homeowners to hear the rates that some service providers charge. It should be freeing to hire a lawn care company, but it often just ends up being stressful.
Marketplace platforms provide hassle-free, on-demand lawn care. They’re extremely convenient, but do they save a homeowner money? In almost every circumstance, yes. Let’s explore the specific reasons why a lawn care app like GreenPal is much cheaper than calling a company directly.
Affordable landscaping is a top priority for homeowners
Pricing is one of the most important factors consumers consider when making a purchase. Lawn mowing services are no different. Most people don’t want to pay an excessive amount of money to have yard work done, especially when it’s needed on a recurring basis.
Overall, the key to getting the most affordable local lawn care is to receive multiple quotes. This also helps a homeowner avoid getting scammed. When you have multiple quotes, you get a realistic estimate of how much your lawn care should cost. You’re not just taking the word of a random person or business. Marketplace apps are the best way to compare multiple quotes in one place.
Why is calling a lawn care business more expensive?
Before marketplace apps, everyone called around to find quality lawn care. While this method can be effective, it’s far from efficient and often very expensive.
First off, you have to find the phone number for every business you’re interested in and find time to have a phone call. If they’re busy, you may need to leave a message. This can take a huge amount of time out of someone’s day.
Once you do get a hold of a company, the quote is usually quite pricey. Calling companies is usually more expensive because of:
Reputation: If someone wants to call a lawn care company, they probably found them on the top page of Google. Only larger, more established landscaping companies appear here. They have less availability and a well-known reputation, so they usually charge more than independent contractors.
Overhead: Larger companies also have more overhead. They need to pay people to answer the phones and schedule home visits. They have marketing teams. They have accountants. All of this will indirectly factor into your lawn care costs
On-site inspections: Many of the companies that rely on calls require an on-site inspection before giving a quote. While this might be advertised as “free,” it’s usually baked into their price.
Less quote comparison: Since calling individual companies takes so much time, most people don’t call more than one or two before hiring someone. There could be much cheaper quotes out there, but it would take too long to get in touch with every company in the area to compare. So homeowners are more likely to settle.
How a lawn maintenance marketplace platform saves money
Online marketplaces and lawn care apps offer much clearer pricing. While contractors on the platform may offer quality services that are on par with larger companies, they operate on a smaller scale, have less overhead, and are able to charge less. You’re more likely to find solo lawn pros on these platforms, rather than large companies.
The main reason why marketplaces save homeowners so much money is because of easy quote comparison. Using an app, lawn care customers can receive multiple bids for yard work from local service businesses in the area. Landscaping businesses know this and offer competitive rates to help them get the job.
In a way, this creates a “free market” where prices are set accurately based on market dynamics. Someone who charges more than others will likely not get the job unless they offer specialized services to justify those rates. This doesn’t happen when you call companies directly.
Average price of lawn care service on a marketplace
The average price of lawn care can vary greatly from one city to another. Standard rates in California may be much higher than in Nashville, for example.
Still, there are some patterns that exist. GreenPal has found that on average, homeowners around the United States will pay $50 to have their lawn mowed. Smaller lawns will cost less, usually around $30-$40 for weekly service. A one-acre yard, on the other hand, may cost $60-$100 for a weekly mow.
Marketplace lawn care services: What’s included?
Besides affordability, another major benefit of using a marketplace app is that services are standardized. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting with the quotes you receive from lawn care pros. When you call companies, every provider can offer something completely different. This makes it difficult to accurately compare bids.
With an app like GreenPal, every baseline quote provides the same core services:
Mowing: Standard mowing generally covers lawns that are six to ten inches tall. Anything taller may incur an extra charge from your provider.
Weed-eating and edging: After mowing, the lawn care pro will weed-whack around obstacles and clean up edges around sidewalks.
Cleanup: Finally, grass clippings will be blown off the sidewalks and hard surfaces. Clippings are not bagged with standard service.
Cheap vs. affordable: Identifying quotes with good value
It’s important to differentiate between “cheap” and “affordable” lawn care. While both refer to a low price, cheap lawn care is of much lower quality. Grass may be cut unevenly, the lawn could be damaged, or the job could be rushed.
Affordable lawn care provides value. A quote that has good value offers more services at a higher quality than other comparatively priced bids. For example:
One bid to cut your lawn might be $45. It includes standard mowing, weed-eating, and cleanup.
Another bid might be $65, but it offers standard services, plus mulching and aeration.
Although more expensive, the second bid is a better value.
Red flags to look out for with quotes
Whether you’re hiring through a marketplace or calling home service companies directly, there are red flags that you need to look out for. As a general rule of thumb, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Prices that are out of the norm
The biggest thing to look out for is prices that are too high or too low. Most bids you receive will fall into an average range. These are the only ones you should focus on. Bids that are too high don’t necessarily mean you’ll get more services or better lawn care. Bids that are too low usually mean that the person is inexperienced or will cut corners in their process.
Uninsured
Another red flag is not having insurance. If an uninsured worker gets injured on your property, you could be liable. Always follow up and ask for proof of insurance.
Demands upfront payment
Avoid any service provider that demands upfront payment. This is a huge red flag. On apps like GreenPal, the lawn pro gets paid after they submit proof that their job is completed.
Poor communication
Qualified contractors are responsive. If you’re considering hiring someone and they won’t answer your questions or respond promptly, you might want to look for another lawn guy. These people may not be reliable and could cancel your scheduled mowing. GreenPal has a reliability score that you can view to make sure someone consistently shows up on time.
Do lawn mowing apps cost money to use?
The best benefit of marketplace apps is that they’re completely free for the homeowner to use. There’s no sign-up charge or monthly subscription. When a homeowner hires someone for weekly or biweekly service, they get free quotes and pay the landscaper directly. This is done through the app with a credit card.
The marketplaces generally make money off small commissions charged to the lawn care pro. The price a homeowner sees on a bid is the price that they will pay.
Save money and find affordable lawn care professionals today
GreenPal is the top marketplace app for lawn care. All contractors who use the platform are highly vetted with authentic customer reviews. The bidding system ensures that homeowners get the best deal possible, while never having quality sacrificed.
If you’re tired of overpaying for lawn care or snow removal, stop calling companies directly. Give the app a shot instead. All you need to do is enter your property details, and you’ll immediately start receiving bids from local experts in your area. Get started today and sign up for affordable lawn care.
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