Robotic lawn mowers to reduce lawncare expenses?

You pay 8500 a year? How long will it take to pay off the work required to purchase, maintain, and install these lawnmowers? Think last time I checked them out, they were about 1500 -2100 a piece? You have already blown 1 year budget just in purchasing the mower and housing facility. They haven't mowed an inch yet!

Plus installing the wires will require hiring a contractor to install. The cost of materials. Do you have the power supply for them? Unless this system is all solar, your looking at installing outdoor electrical. Another not so unexpensive project.

I would say it would be about 5 - 7 years before reaching the "break-even" point of this project. That time you either have had it stolen, damage, replaced batteries, and time to update the technology.

So either your looking to advertise this here on this forum or this is a bad idea to not just shop for other lawncare providers.

So your just convinced this is a good idea. No use in arguing. Your just here to justify your own opinion at this point. I think there are alot more hidden costs associated with this than you are seeing. It always sounds good on the sales pitch...

I will let others respond who may support your idea to make sure reality doesn't show up.

No your NOT saving 8500 in subsequent years. That is impossible. You already stated the related expenses with maintenance, possible replacement costs if stolen, and other hidden expense unknown at this point.

This project isn't going to be a "get out of jail" free card for your association not to pay for a service. Especially if lawncare is required by your rules. Plus your HOA is a non-profit. Saving money isn't a real goal except for raising money for reserve funds for capital long term projects. A HOA is to collect as much as it collects on it's expenses. So you think this will somehow lower dues or apply money to other areas of the budget?

The reality just isn't what your fantasy world is about. I've done research on these lawnmowers in the past for my own personal use. Let's just say, there isn't one in my yard for several reasons...

Fire up Excel or your favorite brand of spreadsheet, list out the costs for robotic and for conventional lawn care, and compare.

Some things that the robotic lawn mower will require:

* initial cost of unit(s)

* maintaining the mowed areas to a higher standard (the electrical wiring must be maintained and holes must be filled in regularly - who will do that and how much will it cost?)

* routine operating costs, including fuel and maintaining the equipment (who will do that and how much will it cost?)

* cost of replacing lost, stolen or broken units (what is their estimated useful life?)

* possible increased insurance costs since these things may be considered attractive nuisances (I would have LOVED them when I was a kid)

Note that aside from the initial purchase, all of these costs are ongoing.

Until I see the spreadsheet, I would not be convinced that these things will save money. Lawn care companies have a number of overhead expenses in addition to the cost of labor, which includes equipment, fuel, licensing and training, and insurance. Using robotic mowers means that you'll be shifting all of the overhead onto the association. Lawn care companies also can benefit from economies of scale which a single HOA would not be able to do.

So the jury is definitely out on this. Do the spreadsheet and see what it tells you.

Thad,

I'm taking the post at face value.

I did a search on the manufacturers website and they do have a solar panel for the mower. It does require permits, etc. It does appear that the system is quite large and may or may not be an eyesore in your development. The panel (not including installation) costs about $2,500. Installation, lets say another $1,000+ (concrete pad, permits, etc.)

From what I've read, the units should be stored/charge in an environment protected from the weather. This is an additional expense.

I noticed that you are in FL. Thats good because in the northern states, I've discovered additional lawn services and a snow removal contract requires that a landscape contract that has mowing.

I've also read many reviews on these mowers about the boundary wire shifting and having to be repaired or realigned. Additional cost.

What about liability insurance if someone claims they are injured by an un-monitored mower?

You have already gone through the costs. Others have specified concerns of unexpected costs. I've added a few more concerns. Lets say that the thing pays for itself in 2 years and ongoing maintenance is no more then 1/2 the cost of the original budget.

Sounds like a sweet deal providing other landscape needs are met.

Suggest you contact vendors and get bids for installation and ongoing maintenance.

If your Association goes that route, let us know how it turns out.

I can see why some may think you are advertising:

The video you provided a link for specifically specifies an HOA while there are many videos showing similar products in use in private yards and businesses. Seems funny that you didn't link to one of those videos and linked to one about HOAs. However, the video was posted in 2018 and I do see that the brand is available from a home improvement store. That model isn't, but the brand is.

Like I said, I took your post at face value and it's not a bad question. Might not be practical in all areas, but certainly worth discussing.

most of these mowers use 20v 4amp batteries which is 80w of power.
electricity is 10 cents per 1000w of power. wild assumption that is uses one battery a day for 7 months 210 days would be a total bill of 16.8kw x 0.10= $1.68
2x mowers would be $3.36

yes they are that cheap to run.

Again where are these going to be plugged in??? How much would it cost for the HOA to hire an electrician to install an outlet for these on the property? Have to be ground protected. Will it be a dedicated circuit? Will it require a separate utility bill? Something may have to look into as may have to sub-meter?

Operational cost wise yeah not that expensive to run. Installation/maintenance wise they don't.

so if the USA government spends money unwisely and sends you a bigger tax bill you are happy to pay that bill? give me a break this is so far out from left field it's laughable.

Do you seriously not see how ridiculous it is to say, "Saving money isn't a real goal except for raising money for reserve funds for capital long term projects." Using your logic:

1.) No need to get multiple quotes for replacing or repairing a deck. Just go with the first quote and be done with it.
2.) No need to get multiple quotes for for fixing a roof leak. Just go with the first quote and be done with it.
3.) No need to get multiple quotes for any repairs. Just go with the first quote and be done with it.

Is this your idea of "knowing what we are talking about when it comes to HOA budgets..."?

Thad

When you do an economic evaluation, do not forget setting then up when needed, storage, maintenance. My initial reaction is your needs are little and you might could shop a better price for a new landscaper/lawn mower.

While overall I agree with you, several years ago when we put our landscaping up for bids one "company" said they were not bidding as it was more complex then the services they offered. Look for a pick up with their equipment in the back of the truck or on a small trailer. They like simple jobs like cut, edge, blow debris away. Nothing more.

not sure how many cuts, new to the board. I'll get the contract and see what it says. thanks for input.

run off solar no electric, permits or inspections are needed. cost of ripping up turf for 3 acres would be several thousand and would also require maintenance.

I've wanted to get the Huskvarna robots for our neighborhood for a while. But I suspect they still need some maintenance. There's things your lawn-care company does that you don't see. Sharpening blades for example? And who will clean the underside of the mower bots every couple weeks as they accumulate stuck clippings and get less effective.

Still I see other advantages over traditional mowing. Less noise, and less weight. My community has a real problem with soggy areas getting ruts when heavy riding mowers turn around, and homeowners expecting the lawn company to use push mowers and walk slowly at all times.....

I don't think they're ready just yet as a tech. They still basically 'wander' last I checked, bounce randomly within the lines. I expect to see neat lawn mowing lines along the backyards. The tech will be to that point in 5 years I bet. But I still wonder if these robots aren't something the lawn company should own/operate and not the HOA.

i.e. they would have a trailer drop them off on Monday, and pick them up on Wednesday or something. They'd be responsible for maintaining and replacing units, and programming it and laying wire. Honestly as long as they still require wire, I don't consider them 'ready'. They need to do their work entirely based on optical/camera observation (Just like a human would know where to mow)

Even GPS, sounds nice.... But when I had to mow my own lawn I never used google maps to tell me where to go. Visual cues are the right way to do it, and as Self-driving cars advance, so to will robotic mowing. When you start seeing "click the property line in this lawn" in your google captcha's, you will know it's close.

Someone's gotta weedwack too. And blow clippings so residents don't boil over about seeing grass on their driveway.... And put down fertilizer...

How about this as a compromise? Why not reduce the expenses by hiring someone to maintain the lawncare equipment and do weed eating? Buy the equipment and then hire someone to handle it? May be the best of the both worlds. As long as that person is insured.