I recently had a guy come by my place to offer his services for landscaping. He claimed he could remove the old bark from my flower beds, clear out any weeds, and apply new mulch for $10 per bag. While he stated that he wouldn't charge for labor, I'm unsure if this is a fair price or if I'm being taken for a ride. He suggested starting with 20 bags for a relatively small area, which raised some red flags for me. Should I consider doing this myself or is there a better approach to manage this situation?
3 Answers
I personally wouldn’t trust someone who just shows up at your door. If he was reputable, he'd have enough work through referrals instead of needing to solicit. It’s your choice, but I’d be cautious here!
You don’t actually need to remove the old mulch; it's beneficial for the soil. Just adding new mulch on top is usually effective. Also, shop around for mulch prices—it's often under $4 a bag, way cheaper than what he quoted!
Thanks, that helps! Sounds like I might've been overthinking this whole thing. You've all clarified a lot!
It's definitely a good idea to get an estimate in writing. Usually, contractors don't bring bags of mulch but rather a truckload. If he's charging $10 per bag for what he considers a small area, that might not be a fair deal. It’s worth checking how much mulch truly costs in your area. Plus, it’s generally easy to lay down mulch yourself!
Exactly! Just make sure to confirm how many bags are needed in writing. It helps avoid surprises later on.
Totally agree! Exhausting times can lead to clouded judgment, though. You're right to get feedback before jumping in.