[richsadams]

Hi All :cool

Here's a quick one about lawn mowers. Small thing I know, but if you have a good lawn mower and plan on buying a place with a lawn here, bring it with you! The cost of lawn mowers here literally shocked us. Some sell for NZ$1200 or more! :eek Okay, you can get a decent one for around NZ$500, but that's still about 50% more than we're used to paying in the U.S.!

We had a nice one but understood that the MAF had problems with people importing them so we sold it for US$75 before we moved. Aurgh! :? Now that we're here we found out that if you clean them up really well...no mud, clippings in the bag, etc., it's not a problem. You'll have to empty the gas tank completely, etc. too, but it's really worth it. :yes

Say...if you have a good one and aren't planning on using it here, bring it anyway...I'll buy it!! :laugh

[Moorf]

I was worried about reading this post - we have literally just given our big petrol mower to my brother....

BUT - relieved to say that if we can buy one in NZ for c. NZ$500 then that's not too bad - ours costs c. NZ$600 4 yrs ago here in the UK and it's been well-used.

Phew!

Thanks for info Rich....

[MelissaLG]

Hey Rich,

We've got a manual push mower. Think its worth it to buy a new gas mower here and bring it with us? We do have a lawn in NZ, but its not that big.

We also have some various electric gardening thingys like a weed wacker and hedge hog and leaf hog. Based on previous advice on the forum, we are planning on taking them with us and getting a gas-powered generator (here in the US) to run them in NZ.

Also, through the magic of ebay, we invested in a gas pressure washer to help clean all of our gardening equipment, camping gear, and outdoor stuff, including pet stuff. I love that thing!! I highly recommend one to anyone who has to clean stuff for import to NZ.

[Raeven]

LOL, Melissa,

We Californians must all think alike.. we're doing exactly the same thing!! Gas generator, steam cleaner/power washer, and DH must have a compressor for his tools, as well!! We're buying a new lawnmower just for the migration.. We may bring the old one over as well.. a spare for the really rough work!! If they charge us duty on the new one, so be it -- will still be a huge savings over buying one in NZ!!

Rich, you serious about the mower? We'll be happy to throw one in our container for you, if you want!! I saw your laughing guy, but thought, still, mebbe... delighted if it helps you out. And thanks as always for the great information -- hate to think where we'd be without you as our Numero Uno Trailblazer!!

LawnMowerzRUs, Rae

[richsadams]

Hi Rae, Melissa and Moorf,

A gas powered generator...why didn't I think of that?! (Insert smiley slapping his forehead). Although at US$3.20 a gallon it'll cost a bit more to run here.

Melissa, a push mower is probably fine if you'll have one of those postage stamp sized lawns. Ours isn't big enough for a John Deere riding mower, but close! :( And you can certainly bring the rest. Weed whackers and such are fairly cheap here...it's just the darn mowers!

And a power washer?! You guys are killing me!! Wish you would have told me before we moved! *Sigh*

Thanks for the mower offer Rae, but it probably wouldn't be worth the effort...we'll find one here...just whining a bit. ;)

[Junnifer USA]

We livein the Carolinas, where mildew on driveways ans houses is a big problem. Do you find the same need for a power washer in NZ?

[richsadams]

Hi Junnifer,

Absolutely, particularly on non-northern exposures. Pressure washers and mildew killers are very big here! :roll:

[MelissaLG]

Rae,

You are making me jealous with the steam cleaner and compressor talk! Rick (my man) has been talking about running tools from our scuba tanks but a full-on compressor would be even better! I'll have to give him that idea and see where he goes with it.

Guess I will stick with the push-mower as I really cannot justify buying a powered one given our relatively small lawn. Oh well. :( Some day I will have a lawn big enough for that ride-on John Deere you mentioned Rich!

The outdoor thing we REALLY want to bring is our beautiful hot tub...forget the shipping we would gladly pay it....but the HZ thing is insurmountable! Drat NZ for choosing 50! :wah

Melissa

[clg]

How common, and expensive, is it to just have a gardener take care of your lawn? I don't own a lawn mower now but given that I am planning on simplyifying a bit realize we may not have a gardener any more so I may need to pick one up!

Chris

[veronica]

there do seem to be lots of lawnmowing services about so you shouldn't have a problem.

[richsadams]

Hi All :cool

Landscaping services are plentiful. They usually seemed to be combined with pest control, window washing, sheep shearing or something. :laugh

We've used a local landscaper and they charge about NZ$15/Hr. But if they have a truck with a name on the side of it, it's probably a bit more. ;)

[Raeven]

Rae,

You are making me jealous with the steam cleaner and compressor talk! Rick (my man) has been talking about running tools from our scuba tanks but a full-on compressor would be even better! I'll have to give him that idea and see where he goes with it.

Guess I will stick with the push-mower as I really cannot justify buying a powered one given our relatively small lawn. Oh well. :( Some day I will have a lawn big enough for that ride-on John Deere you mentioned Rich!

The outdoor thing we REALLY want to bring is our beautiful hot tub...forget the shipping we would gladly pay it....but the HZ thing is insurmountable! Drat NZ for choosing 50! :wah

Melissa

LOL, Melissa, sounds like we're both married to boys who must have toys!! Seriously, Steve has such an investment in all his tools, he had to have some way to run them all once we're there. And if you haven't priced power tools in NZ yet, you're in for a dreadful shock -- no pun intended!! Steve is extremely handy (being a Kiwi and all), and he's saved us thousands of dollars with his DIY projects. I've learned to just say, "Yes, dear," when he tells me he needs something else!!

Don't worry about the hot tub -- they do have them in NZ. I've seen quite a number of homes offered with them! We're giving up ours as well.. may build an old fashioned California style one once we're settled. Payback for all the new Tooltime Toys!!

All the best, Rae

[AliJax]

A man can't have too many tools, its like having a "bolt on accessory"

I'd like to get a petrol mower the flymo has ruined the lawn here and I'll start a fresh in NZ.

But I'm sure Linda will be doing her nut :eek at the list of tools I'd like to take with me that I havent got.

No need though yet as I'm sure we'll be renting for a while before I get started on my projects.

[Yogi]

Sheep can be bought for less than NZ $50, wouldn't one of those be cheaper than the mower, less labour too? :clap

If your garden is small, share the sheep with a neighbour!

Cheers,

Yogi.

[SoCal Gal]

I'm just back on the Forum after a while off, and thank goodness I saw this post, Rich, you've saved us once again! My hubby will go over his Sears mega-mower with tweezers and white gloves in order to bring it! I never knew he was so attached to it! We now have a yard that is 3/4 gravel, 1/4 weed, so it takes me 10 minutes tops to mow, but our new yard, grass aplenty! Right now a guy is mowing it for $25, which I guess is pretty reasonable. And Rae, we are leaving behind an old California hot tub, I weep as I write this!!! Hope I can get another one too! :cool

[richsadams]

Hi Allison :cool

Welcome back!

No worries, there are plenty of hot tubs to be had here. :mrgreen:

A man and his mower should never be parted :laugh He'll be glad he brought his...just make sure you list it on your import declaration. :booby

I still haven't broken down and purchased a new one...just kills me to spend that much on one that's not even as good as the one I left behind...sold it for US$75! Aurgh!! :wah

We're paying a fellow NZ$15/hr. to take care of our yard at the moment. But sooner or later I'll have to bite the bullet. :?

[Dianne42]

I spent a happy few hours last week cleaning the mower with a pressure cleaner, followed by a scubber, followed by a toothbrush, and it is now the cleanest mower I've ever seen! I almost WANT Maf to look at it now so I can gleam with pride! :P

Can anyone enighten me as to how much a pressure washer is in NZ? Cos if they're a lot then I might get one here before we go...

Thank you,
Dianne

[Raeven]

Hi, Dianne,

Congratulations on the sale of your home!!! Can you believe you're finally going?? Sooooo happy for you!!!

Re pressure washers, without even looking I can tell you that a pressure washer in NZ will be between 3-5 times more expensive than getting one in the UK. My husband advises that here in the US, pressure washers cost between USD5-600 and in NZ are between NZD2-2500. So there you have it. Bring everything!!

Huuuuuuuuuuuuggggggggggggsssssssss, Rae

[richsadams]

Hi All :cool

Well, we finally broke down and bought a lawn mower a couple of weeks ago...$850 NZD with a cash discount...ouch! :eek

But it's a nice one...Victa (Oz brand) Razor mulch and bag type. It does a great job but it still stings in the wallet. A similar model in the U.S. would be about 30% less. :wah

You can certainly find ones for less and many for much more, but like most anything else, you get what you pay for don’t' you?

Hey, our lawn looks good though! :laugh

[AliJax]

This is one thing that, I think about; my UK mower (waste of space Flymo), has ruined 2 lawns - had I known they we're so rubbish would've changed it at conception!

Borrowed neighbours petrol mowers which are far superior, are NZ mowers mostly petrol as they are now in the uk £120-£300 for a mountfield 4.0hp.

[veronica]

we've been looking at the movers over here, pretty much the same type of selection, just different brands. cheapest small lawn option is the old push type $90 then there was a small flymo type which was $149 and we did look at a petrol that was on special that was I think about the $398 is mark.

[leslie]

does anyone know if you can clean electric mower? we inherited nice one and it sounds as though its a g-i to bring it

[richsadams]

Hi Leslie :cool

You should have no problem cleaning your electric lawn mower for shipping. Buy some Jeyes Disinfectant Fluid and clean it up.

You'll eventually need to fill out a declaration regarding items you're importing (usually supplied by the removal company). Enter the mower on that form and state how it was cleaned and you shouldn't have any problems.

Remember they are looking for any kind of bugs or other nasties that could invade the counrty. If it's clean and shiny, they'll be satisfied. Make sure to get every bit clean though...grass and such gets into the oddest places! :laugh

You'll just need a mains adapter or you can cut the plug off and put a NZ style one on and you'll be in gardening business.