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MEMO #1075 Grass Cut Instructions
With warmer months and yard maintenance season quickly approaching, one of our primary objectives will be to assure that we are efficiently servicing our clients' grass cut needs. We rely on your help to ensure that properties on your grass cut list are appropriately protected to avoid violations or citations.
We want to take this opportunity to alert you to procedural changes we have implemented to address common grass cut issues. Please note, we have a �Frequently Asked Questions� available on the contractors website.
http://www.safeguardproperties.com/ContractorDocs/Grass_Cut_Frequently_Asked_Questions45.doc
Memo Highlights
Updates noting that grass cuts that cannot be completed due to exterior debris must be submitted with photos clearly demonstrating that the exterior debris is in the way of the grass cut. Items such as swing sets, barbecue grills, bird baths, picnic tables, sandboxes, patio furniture, lawn ornaments, flower pots, clothing lines, dog houses, and playhouses in the yard should not be considered debris. Contractors are to cut the grass around these items to the best of their ability.
Please ensure that you each property on your grass cut list is maintained at the frequency requested. Bids for overgrowth due to grass not being cut in a timely manner will not be accepted.
Due dates for your grass cut orders will be available on our website for your review. It is imperative that we complete grass cuts timely to eliminate the possibility of violations.
Grass cut work orders for post-sale properties require you to enter the property and report if the property is in convey condition. The initial grass cut work order will indicate if the property is post-sale. If the property status changes from pre-sale to post-sale while the property is on your grass cut list, we will send an updated work order. Please refer to Memo 1024 ("Convey Condition"), dated 12/27/02 , for convey condition requirements. If you report a property as Not In Convey Condition, please be sure to submit bids to put the property in convey condition.
Please note the following extremely important information!
Be sure to read your work order in its entirety, as some clients may have special requests.
Distance is not a reimbursable bid by HUD. If you are completing a grass cut out of your area and there is a problem with distance, you must contact your regional coordinator.
Monitor the weather in your area. If you are in an area that is snow-covered during grass cut season, please refrain from going to the property. Clients will not accept yard maintenance updates that read only �snow-covered.�
The FHA guidelines provide allowables for initial grass cuts and for recuts. All contractors are to follow the guideline prices that are allowed in your state. Absolutely no recut bids will be accepted on lots less than 15,000 sq. ft . No initial grass cut bids will be accepted on lots less than 15,000 sq. ft. unless there is photo documentation that clearly shows that the grass and/or weeds are over 1 foot tall or that the bid is otherwise justified.
Bids must be submitted for lots over 15,000 sq ft. Bids are to be calculated as follows:
Additional $20.00 per 5,000 sq. ft. over the allowable 15,000 on initial cuts.
Additional $10.00 per 5,000 sq. ft. over the allowable 15,000 on recuts.
For example, the bid for an initial cut on a 25,000 sq. ft. lot in OH would be $125.00. This was calculated by $85.00 (15,000 sq. ft. allowable) + $40.00 (the additional 10,000 sq. ft.).
Recut would be calculated the same but using the recut price for 15,000 sq. ft. + $20.00.
For excessively large lots (over one acre � approx. 40,000 sq. ft.), we will require a bid for both a perimeter cut and a bid for cutting the entire lot.
*****Please remember that all photos must justify your bid amount*****
REO Grass Cuts:
Grass cuts for REO properties must receive priority attention, as our clients are actively trying to sell these properties. Please remember that these grass cuts also require that you remove all clippings, complete edging, sweep walks, and trim bushes and weeds.
Our objective is to ensure that our clients never receive a phone call from a listing broker complaining that the yard is not being maintained. Poorly maintained yards inhibit the broker's ability to effectively market the property, as well as posing the risk of citation by the city. REO grass cuts must be completed every two weeks and updated to us as soon as the work is completed.
Always remember that our responsibility at REO properties is to help our clients effectively market and sell each property as quickly as possible.
Thank you again for your continued cooperation. It's only with your help that we are able to provide our clients with the superior service they have come to expect.
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