Your first service sets the baseline for everything that follows. Here’s how to complete it correctly, protect yourself, and start your record off right.
🔍 Before you start: check the job details
Open the job in your app and read through:
Property notes from the customer
Access notes (gate codes, pets, locked areas)
Any special instructions
Don’t assume — what’s in the app is your source of truth.
📲 Using the “On The Way” Customer Notification
Before you arrive, use the “On My Way” notification in the app to give the customer a heads up that you’re coming.
This does a few things:
Let the customer know to expect you (no surprises)
Gives them time to unlock gates, secure pets, or clear access
Reduces delays when you get there
It’s a simple step, but it makes a big difference in how smooth the job goes — especially on your first few services.
💬 Pro tip: Send it when you’re actually on the way — not too early — so the timing lines up with your arrival.
📚 Need help using it? Check out: Using the “On The Way” Customer Notification
📸 When you arrive: take photos first
Before you touch anything:
Take photos of the full property — front, back, and sides
Get close enough to capture actual conditions (grass height, debris, access issues)
These photos are timestamped and GPS-tagged — they’re your evidence if anything is disputed.
This habit protects you on every job, not just the first one. The most common disputes (long grass fees, or customers saying the job wasn’t done) are resolved by photos. Without them, it becomes your word vs. the customer’s.
đź“Ź Check the grass height
Before you start mowing:
Under 9 inches: Mow normally
9–15 inches:
Complete the job and claim a long grass fee
Report it in the app: Job Details → Other → Long Grass
⚠️ Must be submitted before you start — you can’t add it after marking complete
Over 15 inches:
Submit a quote before doing any work
The customer must accept it first
If you’re not sure, measure or estimate before you start.
🛠️ While you’re working
Complete what’s in scope — check the service details in the app
If something comes up mid-job (locked gate, inaccessible area):
Report it in the app — don’t just leave
Documenting issues protects your completion rate
Don’t ask for or accept payment outside the platform
All payments go through LawnStarter
✅ When you’re done: mark complete correctly
Take after photos — full property, same angles as before
Mark the job complete in the app
If you claimed a long grass fee or reported an issue:
Double-check those submissions before marking complete
Once marked complete, some options disappear
The mark-complete step is what triggers your payout for the job.
đź“Ť Helpful takeaway from this post
Turn on GPS before your next job — not when you arrive, but before you leave.
GPS must be active at the property to qualify for trip fees, and your location data is tied to your photos. Build this habit from job one.
💬 Something come up on your first service that you weren’t sure how to handle? Drop it below — this is exactly what the community is here for.