A cut above the rest

When a person thinks of a lawnmower, what they picture probably isn’t what Ron Raley uses to mow lawns for his customers.

Raley, owner and operator of Ronald G. Raley Services, a professional lawn mowing business, recently purchased an $11,000 Exmark mowing system to provide his customers with a cut above the rest.

“The heavy-duty lawnmower gives me a fast and neat competitive edge,” Raley said. “It’s twice as big and twice as fast, it’s like three employees in one.”

An upgrade to his John Deere mowers, Raley replaced those with the new mower and now that fall has arrived, he says it’s perfect because it not only cuts the grass, but acts as a vacuum for the leaves. Not having to rake, cuts down on the time he has to spend on each job.

“It’s good for fall clean up with the built-in vacuum system,” he said.

Upgrading to the new system is something that Raley says he has been wanting to do for some time.

“To improve my business and service, I needed better equipment,” he said.

He adds that with all the lawn mowing businesses in the area, it’s important for him to keep a competitive edge.

When Raley began the business in 2001 he started with $400 in his pocket, a $300 lawn mower and “a beat-up truck.”

His set-up has vastly changed and not only has the mower been replaced, but also the truck. He also has added a large enclosed trailer to haul the giant new mower.

Raley started his own business after Nayer Paint and Decorating in Old Town Silverdale closed. He had been the manager there for five years when it went out of business in 1998.

“When we heard Home Depot was coming to town, we decided to close up,” he said.

In the fall and winter months, when the growing season slows, Raley often does yard clean-up, planting and re-seeding.

“My company philosophy is to not say ‘no’ to a customer,” he said. “We do both seasonal agreements and also have clients that are year-round.”

If there is a job he can’t do he will sub-contract it out to another local company.

As for the new Exmark mower, Raley is happy to say that it increases productivity and helps him get the job done faster.

“To make the next step up and make a better business, I needed a higher level of professional equipment and that’s what I did,” he said.

Raley specializes in the Central and North Kitsap areas. For more information about prices or services offered call Raley at (360) 649-6799.

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