YardShift
Barrhaven, Ottawa
Leaf raking in Barrhaven
YardShift connects Barrhaven homeowners with local teenagers who rake and bag leaves in their own neighbourhood. Every teen is parent-approved, and payment runs through the app once you're happy with the work.
How it works
- 1
Post the job
Describe what you need, pick the area, and set your own price. Nothing is charged yet.
- 2
Approve who claims it
Nearby teens who offer this service see your job. You review who claimed it, including their rating, and approve the one you want.
- 3
Pay when it's done
Your card is only charged once you've seen the finished work and released the payment. You can add a tip afterwards.
Timed around Ottawa's yard waste pickup
Ottawa collects yard waste on a set schedule through the autumn, which is what makes leaf raking a deadline job rather than a whenever job — bags left out after the last pickup sit there until spring. Posting a job a few days before your collection date gives a teen nearby time to claim it and get the bags to the curb in time.
Why parent-approved teens
A parent signs off first
No teen can claim a job until a parent or guardian approves their account through a one-time link and signs a liability waiver. There's no way around that step.
No cash at the door
Payment is authorized when you approve someone and only captured once you release it. Neither side handles cash, and there's a record of every job.
They actually live here
Teens only see jobs inside the radius they set around their own home, so the person mowing your lawn is a neighbour, not someone driving in from across the city.
Common questions
How much does leaf raking cost?
You set the price, starting at $20. Raking is usually posted a little higher than mowing because it takes longer — commonly $30 to $50 for a Barrhaven yard, more for a large lot with mature trees. YardShift adds a 12% service fee on top (minimum $3) — it's never deducted from what the teen earns, so they keep the full amount you posted.
Do I need to supply bags?
Usually yes. Paper yard-waste bags are the part homeowners most often provide — leave them out and mention it in the job notes. You can also mark the job as bring-your-own-gear if you'd rather the teen brought everything.
Will they take the bags to the curb?
If you ask for it in the notes. Say which day your yard waste pickup falls on and most teens will leave the bags at the curb ready for it.
Front yard, back yard, or both?
You choose when posting, the same as mowing, and the teen sees the area plus a photo of it before claiming the job.
Need leaf raking in Barrhaven?
Post a job in a couple of minutes. You set the price, and you only pay once the work is done.
Get started