Do bidding platforms for lawn care actually save me money compared to traditional hiring?

Do bidding platforms for lawn care actually save me money compared to traditional hiring?

Pricing is one of the most important things to a homeowner when they’re searching for lawn care. Regular yard care is expensive, so even a slightly cheaper quote can make a huge difference.

You’ve probably heard of online marketplaces like GreenPal. They’re a great tool for finding landscaping companies, but the question is, do these bidding platforms actually save people money? Here, we’ll examine the bidding process and show how it typically results in cost-savings for the homeowner.

How lawn care bidding apps work

The whole point of lawn mowing apps is to make it as easy as possible for homeowners to find affordable and qualified professionals. The bidding process is the core of these services. Overall, bidding creates a competitive market where the homeowner always benefits. With multiple options available, people can select someone who meets their needs and budget.

Here’s how professional lawn care bids work:

1. A homeowner posts their property on the app. They provide details about their yard size, what services they need, and when they need them all done by.

2. All lawn care pros in the area get notified about the job. Each is given the chance to submit a unique bid, or proposal, with their rates and services.

3. Homeowners get to review all the bids they receive at their convenience. There are no pushy sales tactics or pressure to choose one bid over another. They get to choose the offer that’s truly best for them.

4. The homeowner can choose to follow up with any of the providers and ask additional questions. 

5. The homeowner then hires someone for the job, solidifies a date with them, and provides payment information that’s charged once the job is done.

What factors affect the cost of landscaping work?

Homeowners should know what goes into a bid so that they can make an informed decision. Every property has unique requirements. Understanding what your yard’s needs are will help set expectations for the quotes you receive from landscaping businesses.

Yard size

The size of a property is by far the biggest factor in cost. Small yards, such as those under 11,000 sq ft, are the most affordable. Yards that are over an acre, or 43,560 sq ft, usually have higher costs.

Specialty services

With bidding apps, standard services like mowing, cleanup, and general weed control are included. If a homeowner needs anything special, like aeration or hardscaping, the bids will be higher.

Property conditions

A healthy lawn is much easier to care for than one with brown or dead patches, weeds, pest damage, or lawn disease. Any of these situations will increase the price.

Contractor availability and seasonal demand

It can be tough to find a lawn care company during peak season. Knowing that they have high demand, some lawn care businesses will charge more to potential clients.

Service frequency

The more frequently you schedule your lawn care pro, the better rate you will get. Weekly service will always provide more value than bi-weekly or one-time mowing. 

Pros and cons of using bidding platforms for landscaping

While online bidding apps are generally the fastest, easiest, and most affordable way to get landscaping services, they have caveats that homeowners should be aware of. Here’s an honest breakdown of pros and cons:

Pros

• Extremely convenient. Homeowners can post their property from anywhere.

• Homeowners get a large selection of bids.

• The competitive market makes contractors submit their lowest and best bid.

• Clear reviews and qualifications. Homeowners can compare one pro to another easily in the app.

• No charge to the homeowner. Contractors pay a small 5% commission.

Cons

• Less exposure to large lawn maintenance companies.

• Not as ideal for business owners. Less efficient for finding commercial landscaping.

• Standard services don’t include fertilization or mulching.

• Can’t be used to book a one-time service.

• Requires an app or web browser. Some people prefer calling.

Cost comparison: Bidding vs cold-calling

Calling landscapers’ phone numbers was a traditional method for getting bids. However, this process is long, tiring, and isn’t always the most cost-effective. Bidding apps are usually more affordable for the homeowner. Many contractors find that it increases their profitability as well. Here’s a cost comparison of bidding apps vs traditional cold-calling:

Saving time can be just as important as money

Although cost savings may be the most important element to a homeowner, time savings should not be ignored. DIY lawn mowing can take up a huge portion of time, and this is usually why people hire a service business in the first place. The value of having hours of your life back should be factored into a bid just as much as the price. It’s worth its weight in gold.

How to get bids for lawn care services: Step-by-step process

Lawn care bidding apps are a fantastic way to save money. If you’ve decided that you’d like to use one to find streamlined, high-quality lawn care, here’s the easy process you’ll need to follow:

1. Sign up for the service: You can go to the new homeowner sign-up page to get started.

2. Post your yard: Enter your address, describe the size of your yard, and what services you’re looking for.

3. Wait for quotes: Most homeowners get five quotes in 24 hours. You can take the first bid you get for quick service, or wait. 

Sign up for GreenPal today and get free landscaping bids in hours

Overall, homeowners will save money by using a bidding platform. Cold calling landscaping companies limits the number of quotes a homeowner gets, forcing them to hire people for more than they should be paying. 

If you’re tired of dealing with unqualified lawn care professionals from friend referrals, give an online bidding platform like GreenPal a shot. The app streamlines lawn care quotes, making it easy and stress-free for a homeowner to get bids for their property. Due to the competitive nature of the app, providers bid their lowest and best offer, ensuring that you get the value you deserve. Get started today and enjoy professional lawn care as soon as tomorrow.