What would YOU do in this situation?

climbingmonkey24

climbingmonkey24

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
United States
Looked at a nice little no cleanup pruning job today. But some of the trees that the client wants trimmed are on their neighbor's property and he said he's not on good terms with the neighbor.

However, it's nothing major, just trimming back some lower branches that are interfering with his flag pole and it's all work that I can do from the ground with a pole saw / pole pruner. I know legally he has the right to trim anything overhanging his propery, and what he's looking for is very reasonable.

I just don't want to get in the middle of two neighbor's, etc. Normally I try to encourage my client to let the neighbor know what is being done but technically he doesn't have to if he's not infringing over the property line.

So, would you bid on the job and just make sure to stay on the client's side of the property? Or could it potentially turn into a headache?

I really don't like turning down work unless there is a very good reason.
 
climbingmonkey24 said:
Looked at a nice little no cleanup pruning job today. But some of the trees that the client wants trimmed are on their neighbor's property and he said he's not on good terms with the neighbor.

However, it's nothing major, just trimming back some lower branches that are interfering with his flag pole and it's all work that I can do from the ground with a pole saw / pole pruner. I know legally he has the right to trim anything overhanging his propery, and what he's looking for is very reasonable.

I just don't want to get in the middle of two neighbor's, etc. Normally I try to encourage my client to let the neighbor know what is being done but technically he doesn't have to if he's not infringing over the property line.

So, would you bid on the job and just make sure to stay on the client's side of the property? Or could it potentially turn into a headache?

I really don't like turning down work unless there is a very good reason.
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It’s definitely a potential headache. Can you divide the job into sections where you first prune trees originating in your customers property to test the waters with the neighbor? If they don’t make an appearance during the first phase they probably won’t during the second phase.

That said I’ve had a neighbor call 911 on me while preparing to work on overhanging branches not on their property. Even though your potential customer doesn’t want to deal with the the neighbor they really should, not fair to put it on you, no need for you to take on that stress.
-AJ
 
climbingmonkey24 said:
Looked at a nice little no cleanup pruning job today. But some of the trees that the client wants trimmed are on their neighbor's property and he said he's not on good terms with the neighbor.

However, it's nothing major, just trimming back some lower branches that are interfering with his flag pole and it's all work that I can do from the ground with a pole saw / pole pruner. I know legally he has the right to trim anything overhanging his propery, and what he's looking for is very reasonable.

I just don't want to get in the middle of two neighbor's, etc. Normally I try to encourage my client to let the neighbor know what is being done but technically he doesn't have to if he's not infringing over the property line.

So, would you bid on the job and just make sure to stay on the client's side of the property? Or could it potentially turn into a headache?

I really don't like turning down work unless there is a very good reason.
Click to expand...
The other part of this is the attractiveness of “no cleanup” jobs. Seems like 100% of the time the customer underestimates the amount of brush and wood that ends up on the ground. They imagine they're saving money and end up with way more work than they want to or are capable of dealing with.
-AJ
 
southsoundtree said:
Do what is legal.

Remember to inform the customer that a price that includes clean-up with the pruning is less than the pruning, plus the clean-up added later. Those are different projects.
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I always specify in my quotes that any alteration made to the work specifically outlined in the estimate could result in a change in the price
 
Tom Dunlap said:
Never touch neighbor's trees without written permission.

Never...

Ever...

Sometimes free advice costs more than paid legal advice.
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Yeah but one could argue that couldn’t someone just forge a signature, etc.? Say they talked to the neighbor and got written permission but really didn’t?

And the neighbor isn’t always going to be present when you show up to do the work or estimate for you to be able to talk to them yourself.

Definitely not a bad idea, but the way I’ve always tried to approach it is based off what is legal and the scope of the work.

Like in this case, a few snips with a pole pruner and the job is done. No climbing, no accessing the neighbor’s property, etc. So I wouldn’t be as concerned as I would if had to climb, etc. or if I was taking anything major off. Anything major, and I’m definitely going to want the neighbor to be made aware one way or the other.

That doesn’t mean I’m not still concerned just because it’s a smaller job, but I do think I have a tendency to sometimes overthink things at times. So how cautious is too cautious?
 
moss said:
The other part of this is the attractiveness of “no cleanup” jobs. Seems like 100% of the time the customer underestimates the amount of brush and wood that ends up on the ground. They imagine they're saving money and end up with way more work than they want to or are capable of dealing with.
-AJ
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Had to giggle at this - couple of years ago, had some work for some friends of friends twice removed who just wanted couple of trees down and some pruned. Transport wood to front yard only. Wife said husband was really handy and when I asked her what tools he had for cutting wood (one stem up to about 30") she said a table saw. So . . . I asked her to check with him exactly what he wanted, she phoned and came back with "Oh he has a couple of hand saws too and a circular saw". When they looked at the heap of wood and brush (the better part of their front yard), I was back a couple days later to deal with it . . . . . and they were gracious about paying additional (and she even made cookies). People really don't appreciate just how much wood there can be up in the air on even a medium sized tree.
 
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Walk away. If this is truly a pole saw/pruner job with no cleanup it's very likely only a couple hundred dollars. Not worth even the potential for a headache.

If you do go ahead with it document everything. Hell, make a video of the entire job. Leave no question that you were operating legally.
 
Boomslang said:
Walk away. If this is truly a pole saw/pruner job with no cleanup it's very likely only a couple hundred dollars. Not worth even the potential for a headache.

If you do go ahead with it document everything. Hell, make a video of the entire job. Leave no question that you were operating legally.
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I know what you’re saying, but I figure it to be worth at least $300 minimum, and as I primarily focus on pruning these kinds of jobs whether big or small are my go-to.

I think I’m gonna bid but talk to the client about letting the neighbor know what we are doing. Actually, the client mentioned talking to the neighbor just to make things easier, so we’ll see.
 
So back on topic - maybe try asking for the neighbour's email address, take a picture (wanted just to pass this on cuz my camera was better than the homeowners) of what you want to prune off his tree (little red arrows or bars) and that the cuts will be made as per ANSI Pruning guideline - and mention you would be willing to quote $$ for pruning his whole tree as it looks like it could use some work. An offer of help (esp. professional help) can maybe get you along on the sell?
My two cents . . Cheers
 
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Pictures always help. Are we talking about 2" cuts, 8" cuts, heading, thinning?



Definitely worth trying to contact the neighbor. Strangely, I've helped 'mend the fence' between my customer and the neighbor, who became my customer.



Verbiage, such as, "I'm going to be pruning the tree that is growing on both properties...", might help.



Sometimes the only conflict a neighbor will have is with the other neighbor, not an arborist.
 
Tom Dunlap said:
Never touch neighbor's trees without written permission.

Never...

Ever...

Sometimes free advice costs more than paid legal advice.
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Agreed! The property line thing varies state to state, and maybe even city to city.
What is your reputation worth? Potentially pissing off a neighbor, can cause you some issues regardless of the legal right.

At a minimum knock on the neighbors door, explain what you are being asked todo, and how minimal the request is. But also state it’s your policy regardless of the other parties legal right to gain permission first.

I live on an island so I’m very sensitive to that. It’s a situation where you’re going to piss someone off, be it the client or the neighbor. I rather have the reputation of the arborist who refused to touch the tree without the owner’s permission, than the arborist who hacked the tree back to the property line without consent. (Using hacked as no matter how good of a pruning job you do that is what the tree owner will say if they are pissed)
 
Written permission. It’s not worth the potential shitshow that could arise if you touch that tree without it. Especially if they are already feuding. And I no longer volunteer to ask for the permission, I let the client do it. If he can’t get it then that’s a sign you were not meant to get in the middle of their drama.
 
chiselbit said:
Written permission. It’s not worth the potential shitshow that could arise if you touch that tree without it. Especially if they are already feuding. And I no longer volunteer to ask for the permission, I let the client do it. If he can’t get it then that’s a sign you were not meant to get in the middle of their drama.
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Typically I agree, but that is only for obviously crossing the property line. Either way it’s in my contract that whomever signs it takes all responsibility stating they are the tree owner or registered agent of the tree owner. So verbal is doubling down.
 
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