How much do landscapers pay their laborers?

About 20/hr seems fair to me

I got a quote for a landscaping project I want done for my house.
I got specifics on what we want done, but he did not break down the cost of labor and materials, just a lump sum.

quote:

---

I got a quote for a landscaping project I want done for my house.
I got specifics on what we want done, but he did not break down the cost of labor and materials, just a lump sum.

---

A quote is a quote, and is generally free. Get a second quote if you aren't happy with it and frankly a 3rd too.

You shouldn't penalize someone for getting a job done faster than their competition by paying them less.

quote:

---

So, how can I fairly access what he quotes vs other quotes if it is not broken down? It's not always just the lowest quote.

---

Are you getting quotes for the same job? You can just compare the totals. You dont need to know how much hose A, B and C are getting paid.

quote:

---

Are you getting quotes for the same job? You can just compare the totals. You dont need to know how much hose A, B and C are getting paid.

---

I wish it was that simple. I will be getting 3 quotes. This project has several parts that I may abandon depending on cost. It may make more sense for me to do some of the project myself or with another provider. I may choose the parts of the project that are best for the landscaper to do, depending on cost.

quote:

---

I got specifics on what we want done, but he did not break down the cost of labor and materials, just a lump sum.

---

I’ve had large projects where probably 8-10 guys were working for 2-3 days.

And I’ve had smaller work done with only 2-3 guys showing up for a day or two.

The landscaping company always has given me a total lump sum quote… materials and plants/sod/trees were usually itemized. If I thought it was fair price, I scheduled it and we proceeded. But I never knew what they’re paying each vato or how many they were sending out to do the job.

Are you trying to hire laborers on your own?

quote:

---

Are you trying to hire laborers on your own?

---

Not at all. I am only trying to understand what amount if labor and what amount is not so that I can choose what I need in the project or not. The more I can understand, the fairer it is for me and also for the landscaper ultimately. I'm not trying to get into the landscaping business. I am just trying to save money and be fair about it. The more I know, the better decisions I can make.

quote:

---

Not at all. I am only trying to understand what amount if labor and what amount is not so that I can choose what I need in the project or not. The more I can understand, the fairer it is for me and also for the landscaper ultimately. I'm not trying to get into the landscaping business. I am just trying to save money and be fair about it. The more I know, the better decisions I can make.

---

The flaw in your thinking is that a contractor has lower prices on a whole project than if it's piece-meal. That retaining wall over there is $2000, but because my equipment and workers are already on-site working on this other thing over there, it's only $1200 for that retaining wall. If you want to order my services a la carte`, it's going to be much more expensive. You will absolutely not save money, and your project will take much longer to complete. You can't approach it like that, like getting lunch and you go to McDonalds just for the fries because there's a special, you go down the road to Dairy Queen for a burger because those are on special, then stop at the gas station for a coke because those are on special, and have an extra value meal for $5 instead of $8. I mean, you could do that, but you've wasted your lunch hour trying to save $3. And nobody in contracting will want to work with you.

quote:

---

I'm sorry sir, it looks like I just got booked out through the rest of the season. You'll need to call someone else.

---

This is the way.

A profitable small business owner has learned this important lesson: some clients need to be fired the same as a lazy employee.

Let them be someone else's headache.

No offense but it’s none of your business what the guy pays his laborers.

They mark up what they pay them.

They also mark up materials.

You’re not going to get the job at cost. If that’s what you want, go buy it all yourself and get some dudes from Home Depot