Raking leaves to make money at 15?

LilPaintballer

LilPaintballer

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I want to make some quick cash for a few games i found on the cheap, i was thinking of raking leaves with my neighbor, i just don't know how to approach the situation, do i go door to door, only do alliances,look for the elderly? what do you guys think?
 
Look for yards that are unkept and just knock on the door to ask if they would like their yard raked. It won't hurt anything and as long as you keep your price reasonable, some people should take advantage.

Another easy way to make some cash is to get a can of spray paint and some number stencils. Walk around and if you see any driveways without numbers painted on, offer to paint their number on for $10
 
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my neighbor has a wagon in his backyard, should we just lug that around with bags,rakes,skimmers, etc. in it? and what about the leaves, i should tell them we'll be bagging them and putting them on the curb for the garbage men?
 
[quote name='magiic']You should offer a service wherein you dump the leave on the lawn of someone they don't like.[/quote]

Yeah... like our neighbors to the north. Ha ha, just kidding Canada
 
decide if you wanna do price per bag or per lawn, and I guess go around with your own bag. I think it would also be part of your job to take it to the curb. Some areas have specific days where they pick up leaves. I suggest you look into that.
 
LOL saw a movie the other day

kid has a flyer up that said Will rake any lawn for 10 bucks. the dudes back yard was like a football field and the kid was bitchin about it...

cant remember what movie it was just came out either this year or last
 
[quote name='magiic']That would take a lot of leafs lol[/quote]

We wouldn't send you any Maple Leafs. You already have enough of those.

OP, I'm sure you could make a killing raking leaves. Better yet, see if any of your buddies' fathers have a leaf blower. You could knock out some yards quick with that thing. Good luck, and let us know how much you make in the next few weeks.
 
charge per bag, that way you dont get suckered into doing a huge yard for beans. Maybe even a lawn by lawn basis. If it is a small yard, tell them you usually charge $5 more, but since the yard is small, you will do it for less. By the way, any chance of coming to NC? I need some raking done. Oh and if they have dogs, charge extra for the poop you are bound to get in.
 
I've had some neigbor's do this exact same thing your talking about, ages (15,16)
Hints: (the more thought, you put into the more likely people will look at you as really putting in an effort to do a good job, First impression is everything)

Make a flyer, handout, or some kind of brochure
Give yourself a name, (ex: Brian's Yard service)
detail what you'll do:
Rake Leaves / bag leaves
Clean out Pond
and so on
give prices for each thing, and negotiate on the more involved stuff
be sure to say price using your bags if your doing that , or give a discount for them to provide bag $5.00 you bag ($4.75 theirs)

Definitely know the trash guidelines for leaves, or find someone who wants them for mulch, recycling

Then just go around the neighborhood, knocking on doors to speak to someone explain what your doing and give them a handout or put in mailbox with contact info on it

around here (WV) we have tons of leaves and the guys made enough to hire a third guy to help and they each made a good deal after their expenses..

Best of Luck To you
 
i did my first house today. lawn wasn't too big but took a bit longer than expected, started at 3:30 with just rakes then switched to leaf blower/vacuum to grab the rest,tended at 4:45. We charged 20 for the whole lawn, i think we'll charge 2 to 3 bucks a bag. from now on, we want to try and get 2 houses done a day. i hope i have the next customer in line, these elderly people who live down the block from me.
 
Raking leaves for money is a BAD idea, IMO. You can never get them all and god help you if there are bushes and shit you have to clean out too. I live on a postage stamp sized piece of land and I am still raking leaves about 5 times in the fall and I fill about 25-30 bags each time (4 gigantic oaks). It is a huge pain yet I'd probably only pay someone $50 to do the entire yard (because something like that is undervalued) and it takes me about 4 hours to finish. I just think that after the first hour of raking you are going to regret agreeing to it.
 
Raking leaves isnt the best bet. Wait until it snows and then go door to door. When I was 13 or 14 thats what we would do and would make a couple hundred bucks a day. Good play money.

Leaves you will have to get lucky and find someone who just wants to be generous. No one really cares much if there are leaves on their lawn and those who do just get a leaf blower or something.
 
[quote name='slidecage']LOL saw a movie the other day

kid has a flyer up that said Will rake any lawn for 10 bucks. the dudes back yard was like a football field and the kid was bitchin about it...

cant remember what movie it was just came out either this year or last[/quote]

I think I know that movie, Fun with Dick & Jane starring Jim Carrey. Although it wasn't raking, it was mowing the yard.
 
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