TECHNOLOGY Te company sees this as such a strong benefit that they
were willing to take a hit on the project’s renovation price. It was an opportunity to demonstrate value through ex- tensive cost savings and conservation solutions to a new maintenance client. “We didn’t need to make much money on this project.
We were more concerned about covering our costs and up- grading the system so it’d be easier for us to manage,” he says. “But if you’re doing a one-time install that you don’t maintain, or you just don’t offer the maintenance services, you want to make sure that you bid these projects carefully. Let the client know upfront it may cost more than expected.” For example, he suggests adding a buffer to proposed
budgets, as much as 20%-30% because without fail, you will encounter unexpected issues that impact the price. He also recommends building the quote around time and ma- terials as well. “When you go in with a higher-than-expected number and come in under budget and can tell them they have a credit coming back, it is a lot better than trying to convince them you need to get an extra $10,000 or $15,000 to cover the costs,” he says. White says the combined water reduction and cost sav-
ings at Seascape resort solidified his company’s relationship with the new client not just as their water manager but as
their maintenance provider as well. For other contractors out there, he says these scenarios, where irrigation systems are managed in-house, are the ideal properties to target with water management initiatives. “Historically, the maintenance staff has so much on their plate that irrigation programming is quite low on their priority list,” he says. “If you’re able to get in and con- vince them to take over their water management or to do a smart controller upgrade there is a lot of meat on the bones on those type of properties.” Since K&D Landscaping’s big push on water manage- ment in 2021, only about 10% of their clients have opted in. But White is undeterred and is experimenting with different payment plans and options in 2023 to try and increase that number. His goal is to have 80% of clients utilizing the water management services by 2025. “I think smart controllers are an underutilized part of our tool belt that we can all use a little more, including my team. We’re going to audit all of our maintenance contrac- tors right now,” White says. “We’re just basically offering free smart controllers for them because it’s going to save us that much money this summer in programming costs.”
Katie Navarra is a freelance writer in Mechanicville, New York, and can be reached at
ktnavarra@gmail.com.
COMMERCIAL GRADE. ALL DAY POWER. Commercial Grade
$
Find a Dealer at:
meangreenproducts.com
irrigationandlighting.org ENGINEERED AND BUILT USA Planet Friendly
Assembled in the USA using domestic and foreign parts.
June 2023 Irrigation & Lighting 15
All Day Power
User Friendly
T
T
A
E
X
R
C I
E
D
I
E
L
I
B
G
L
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
