10 cents a foot

[coreshot]

but I would be upset if somebody did mine for me and I didn't get the seat time.

That's funny, I have an older gentleman two doors down from me that has a plow on his riding mower. He used to do all the sidewalks around the neighborhood, and quite alot of the street. Since I got my tractor, he respects my fun and stays in his own territory. He does the walks and street from halfway across my next door neighbors house and to the west, I take from where he leaves off and go east. It's funny to see us two prowling the hood on our tractors looking for snow to push.

 

[rbargeron]

I always figured if I didn't charge, then they couldn't complain if I didn't do the job right.........

I do 8 places within 1/2 mile radius. I've been trying different snow blowers - it's good to have a range of driveway conditions (long, short, paved, loose ) With the cab and front blower it takes less than 2 hours for everybody - it's a nice break from the office job and counts as my good deed for the day. Also, my neighbors know I'm a tractor nut and need the outlet.

 

[C6rider]

I'm the only one on my 1/4 mile road year round. I do have 2 neighbors who come up from Mass in the winter, one regularly, one rarely. We each pay $28 per storm (over 3"). For that the road gets plowed, my next door neighbors 220' drive and 900sf parking area, my 200' drive and 600sf parking area and my other neighbors 800sf parking area. It's all gravel/roadpack.
I clean up anything the plow misses or banks too high and what slides off my metal roofs later. I also do the road if less than 3" unless I know another storm is imminent. I don't charge these 2 neighbors for anything as they would, and have done much for me. Some other neighbors that just come up in the summer I wouldn't work for at any price.

 

[Roger]

Full Bucket,
That is a very diplomatic answer.
No use arguing with such people. I would tend to answer pretty well
the same way.

Roger........Eastern Ontario

L3400 LA463 68" blower

 

[PUSHINDIRT]

Geeeeez... I can't even but a shovel for five bucks! You seem to be a nice person willing to help out neighbors/ friends, don't let people take advantage of you good nature.

 

[hink]

I have a 1-1/2 half mile of road and plow 8 driveways with my rear pull snowblower /l2800. I only get paid for 3 driveways but the road association pays for all my diesel fuel for road maintenance. I also find cases of beer delivered to my house all the time.

 

[chinawall]

Hey guys, what happens when we break our equipment doing work for someone?

 

[chinawall]

I get a great bottle of bubbly every Christmas from my neighbour for doing his driveway. Wouldn't want anything more.

 

[KubotaSam]

I am a generous as the next guy. However plowing snow has a certain do or die aspect to it. Stuck or broke down when the snow is piling up and the wind is blowing and the temp is pushing - 10 has a way of telling a hard lesson. I still plow one neighbor who has been a customer for 25 years for $5.00. The less time they have been a customer the more I charge them. $40.00 for a close neighbor to $200.00 for a road to a cell phone tower. People do not realize the money we have into our equipment. Also as I stated earlier the problems that can happen when plowing can be expensive as well as dangerous. Trying to fix or unstuck a plow in a blizzard is no fun. If someone I did not know offered me $5.00 to plow a drive I would laugh in their face. Each year I plow one hardship case near me for free. I also always stop it I see another plow guy stuck or in other need of help. People need to get real.

 

[CBW1999]

It is fairly easy for any of us to come up with our "hourly rate" based on our equipment, fuel etc. And of course, due to the variety of equipment inventories and such, it is reasonable that there is a range of rates for plowing in any given area.

What I find fun and interesting is when the "Scrooge's" of the world suddenly realize what THEIR time is worth. My favorite example: Passing by a business and seeing the owner trying to clear out using a rather small blower. I stopped and asked if he wanted me to finish the job. He asked how much- and I told him $25.00.

After several remarks that I was a crook, he smugly said- "it will only take you 15 minutes to finish and that's a hundred bucks an hour- "I can get a couple of kids to do it for ten bucks".

Hours later, as I drove by with a hot cup of coffee..........He waved to me....I laughed- and kept driving!

I can only hope he got the idea