I don't know what the going rate is for it. But you shouldn't have to do it that often. It's a common time of year to do it if you're preparing to seed a cool season grass like fescue. I did it several months ago because water was running off and not getting into the compacted ground. It reportedly helps the soil breathe. I used a turf hound core aerator from Home Depot. They're about $20. You'd think it would be very difficult and time consuming to use it but I managed to do my yard in less than an hour. I don't have 0.25 ac though.

My problem is that my front yard is so compacted from construction equipment (it's a new house) that it's like rock. I think that's probably the reason the sod can't take root in a lot of places. I figured aerating it couldn't hurt.
I was wary of renting one, after we tilled our back yard a few weeks ago and it turned out to be a LOT harder than it looked. But if the core aerator was so easy to use, maybe we'll just rent one anyway.

thanks,
Denna

Yeah I had the same situation- new construction home.
My point is once you do it, you won't have to do it again for a long, long time. If I were you, I'd wet the soil or wait for rain and take a stab at the turf hound. I didn't rent it... I bought it for $20. Just don't use the spike aerators- they are no good for this type of soil.

See this thread for more info.

The timing really depends on the type of lawn, if it is cool season do it now, but bermuda and others that go dorman in the winter are done in late spring.

Okay, spring it is, then! Which works just fine for me, since we're still recovering from the money we just spent in the back yard.

Denna