Getting local teens to do yardwork

[Anonymous]

Has anyone done this? A landscaping company quoted me "at least $1700" to remove ivy along my property. I was thinking of posting to my local mom's group asking if anyone's son would like to do some ivy removal for us. Would this be odd? And how much to pay - either per hour or by area?

[Anonymous]

Don't be sexist. Ask if anyone would like to remove all the ivy along your property for $400 and all the cold drinks they want. Don't specify that you want someone's SON to do it. I'm female and raked and bagged leaves every weekend in the fall growing up, and shoveled the walk and driveway after every snowfall growing up.

[Anonymous]

I get what you're going for, OP, but it will look a lot better if a professional does it.

[Anonymous]

My teens did landscaping (weed pulling, edging, etc.) During HS for $30 an hour cash. The had a few borrowed tools. Now that gas is higher, the price would be higher. Go to next door and offer $ for teens.

[Anonymous]

Unless you know from experience how long the job will take then pay by the hour. We have neighbors and friends who have hired a person to do yard chores like weeding, laying mulch, cleaning up the edging around landscape beds etc. and we have done this twice. It's usually been through contacts - someone knows a guy (maybe day laborer) that will take small jobs like this for extra $.

HS/College kids mowing lawns, doing weeding... isn't uncommon... we get posts every year on the neighborhood listserv email when college kids are back for summer and during the year from some HS kids.

I wouldn't pay them any less than you would an older person. It's hard work and could take longer than you accounted for - which is why paying by the job rather than hourly could end up taking advantage of a teen.

It seems that $20/hour is the going rate among people we know - and most offer cold water/gatorade and the appropriate tools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get what you're going for, OP, but it will look a lot better if a professional does it.

The issue is cost. I just need people to rip vines out of the ground, most in the back and side areas. My husband and I have been doing it but there’s just not enough time in the day to do the whole thing. Once I get them pulled out of the beds, I can plant and/or mulch.

I’m trying to get other lawn care services and the estimates are crazy (to me at least as a new homeowner). The last company said $12,000 for the season and that doesn’t include mowing. And my yard isn’t even very large.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't be sexist. Ask if anyone would like to remove all the ivy along your property for $400 and all the cold drinks they want. Don't specify that you want someone's SON to do it. I'm female and raked and bagged leaves every weekend in the fall growing up, and shoveled the walk and driveway after every snowfall growing up.

Sorry yes. Make, female, or nonbinary teens - all would be fine. I’m ok with older kids but those I know are doing other things.

[Anonymous]

Get somebody licensed to do the work for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get somebody licensed to do the work for you.

OP doesn't want to pay a professional rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you know from experience how long the job will take then pay by the hour. We have neighbors and friends who have hired a person to do yard chores like weeding, laying mulch, cleaning up the edging around landscape beds etc. and we have done this twice. It's usually been through contacts - someone knows a guy (maybe day laborer) that will take small jobs like this for extra $.

HS/College kids mowing lawns, doing weeding... isn't uncommon... we get posts every year on the neighborhood listserv email when college kids are back for summer and during the year from some HS kids.

I wouldn't pay them any less than you would an older person. It's hard work and could take longer than you accounted for - which is why paying by the job rather than hourly could end up taking advantage of a teen.

It seems that $20/hour is the going rate among people we know - and most offer cold water/gatorade and the appropriate tools.

You obviously don't live in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get what you're going for, OP, but it will look a lot better if a professional does it.

The issue is cost. I just need people to rip vines out of the ground, most in the back and side areas. My husband and I have been doing it but there’s just not enough time in the day to do the whole thing. Once I get them pulled out of the beds, I can plant and/or mulch.

I’m trying to get other lawn care services and the estimates are crazy (to me at least as a new homeowner). The last company said $12,000 for the season and that doesn’t include mowing. And my yard isn’t even very large.

Yea, well, the "issue is cost" for a lot of things when it comes to home ownership. That doesn't mean you underpay teenagers.

Considering going to your local Home Depot and scanning the parking lot for day laborers looking for work. Sure, they're undocumented. So what. They'll work hard and get the job done. Just pay them a fair wage -- no less than $30 a hour if you're in the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get what you're going for, OP, but it will look a lot better if a professional does it.

The issue is cost. I just need people to rip vines out of the ground, most in the back and side areas. My husband and I have been doing it but there’s just not enough time in the day to do the whole thing. Once I get them pulled out of the beds, I can plant and/or mulch.

I’m trying to get other lawn care services and the estimates are crazy (to me at least as a new homeowner). The last company said $12,000 for the season and that doesn’t include mowing. And my yard isn’t even very large.

Yea, well, the "issue is cost" for a lot of things when it comes to home ownership. That doesn't mean you underpay teenagers.

Considering going to your local Home Depot and scanning the parking lot for day laborers looking for work. Sure, they're undocumented. So what. They'll work hard and get the job done. Just pay them a fair wage -- no less than $30 a hour if you're in the DMV.

I didn’t say I wanted to underpay teenagers. I asked people here about rate. I do not want to drive to HD and pick up workers. And for some reason in my area the HD doesn’t have any laborers out at all. I never realized that until you mentioned it. The last area I was in (NOVA) HD was full of workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get what you're going for, OP, but it will look a lot better if a professional does it.

The issue is cost. I just need people to rip vines out of the ground, most in the back and side areas. My husband and I have been doing it but there’s just not enough time in the day to do the whole thing. Once I get them pulled out of the beds, I can plant and/or mulch.

I’m trying to get other lawn care services and the estimates are crazy (to me at least as a new homeowner). The last company said $12,000 for the season and that doesn’t include mowing. And my yard isn’t even very large.

Yea, well, the "issue is cost" for a lot of things when it comes to home ownership. That doesn't mean you underpay teenagers.

Considering going to your local Home Depot and scanning the parking lot for day laborers looking for work. Sure, they're undocumented. So what. They'll work hard and get the job done. Just pay them a fair wage -- no less than $30 a hour if you're in the DMV.

You're insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get somebody licensed to do the work for you.

OP doesn't want to pay a professional rate.

Yes. And to be clear I’m not trying to scam local teens or anything. But I can’t pay $1700 for some ivy removal. The home ownership comment I’d weirdly aggressive. I get that there is a cost. There’s also something called a budget. I am lucky enough to own a home but I don’t just have unlimited amounts of money to spend on everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get somebody licensed to do the work for you.

OP doesn't want to pay a professional rate.

Landscaping isn't a profession. It's at trade.