Tree related work you shouldn't need insurance for?

[flushcut]

I agree, it can be profitable, we just don’t usually have time for it during the right times of the year, and that requires me to switch gears from our normal loads on the trucks, and to train the employees to do something they are not accustomed to doing. Unfortunately, that takes all the profit out of it for me.

The dig ticket is easy, we are approved to submit them online through our state now, so I can do one in just a few minutes. We are supposed to do them for stump grinding, but usually don’t unless the homeowner really wants us to. What utility are we really going to hit in the top 6 inches of soil?

Time to expand operations lol.

 

[ATH]

Comcast lays their cable that shallow around here as well. Problem is, they refuse to mark their cables. They say it is “cheaper to repair one in ten cables than it is to mark all 10.”

When they do mark things, back when I had my landscape companies as well, and we did a lot of digging, we learned they were terribly inaccurate. Never hit a gas line, but we sure dug up enough electric lines and fiber optic lines that were nowhere near where they were supposed to be.

I'm guessing similar laws in PA: if you call and it's not marked but you cut it, you are not liable?

Cutting a big fiber optic cable bundle is another example of where you best have insurance...

 

[ATH]

Time to expand operations lol.

At least around here, (as in all of Ohio, talking to other arborists) we need more people who know what they are doing planting trees. They almost always come too deep from the nursery and almost all of the 'landscapers' plant them even deeper. It takes a little more time per tree, but find that root flare before setting final grade!

Tree planting does kinda "push it's way" into busy seasons but we've found a price point where it makes sense to keep doing it. Other companies have started referring planting to us as well. Some long days, but feel good about walking away from the site when done!

I tell a lot of people I'm not a designer, but have ended up doing a lot of planting designs that I think are pretty nice... usually with a number of discussions with the owner about what they want. A truly trained designer would do better with the visuals...but they tend to have poor selection and WAY too many plants. In an ideal world I'd like to have some back and forth with a designer about matching plants to the site and thinking about growth for the next 5-10...or 50 years. Haven't found that person yet. A designer might not need general liability insurance

 

[Treetopflyer]

Me after reading the thread title in my head
G.T.F.O.H.W.T.S

 

[Reach]

I'm guessing similar laws in PA: if you call and it's not marked but you cut it, you are not liable?

Cutting a big fiber optic cable bundle is another example of where you best have insurance...

That’s correct, if we call and they tell us we are clear, and we cut something more than 18” away from where it’s marked it’s not on us.

For sure, never cut a big fiber bundle, but that would be incredibly expensive to repair!

 

[flushcut]

At least around here, (as in all of Ohio, talking to other arborists) we need more people who know what they are doing planting trees. They almost always come too deep from the nursery and almost all of the 'landscapers' plant them even deeper. It takes a little more time per tree, but find that root flare before setting final grade!

Tree planting does kinda "push it's way" into busy seasons but we've found a price point where it makes sense to keep doing it. Other companies have started referring planting to us as well. Some long days, but feel good about walking away from the site when done!

I tell a lot of people I'm not a designer, but have ended up doing a lot of planting designs that I think are pretty nice... usually with a number of discussions with the owner about what they want. A truly trained designer would do better with the visuals...but they tend to have poor selection and WAY too many plants. In an ideal world I'd like to have some back and forth with a designer about matching plants to the site and thinking about growth for the next 5-10...or 50 years. Haven't found that person yet. A designer might not need general liability insurance

It’s like anything else you just schedule for it. I like using it as a filler in the schedule. I’ve got a good relationship with a nursery and they pawn off smaller plant jobs to me when I have time.

IMO if you are doing any kind of work on a customers property you need insurance.

 

[ATH]

...
IMO if you are doing any kind of work on a customers property you need insurance.

I agree 100%. It was a weak attempt to bring it back on topic. But if a designer is never on property and they are just drawing plans, they have pretty limited exposure. Which also means insurance is gonna be dirt cheap so still worth having.

 

[Treetopflyer]

IMO if you are doing any kind of work on a customers property you need insurance

This exactly is the answer, no matter what service you’re providing in this day and age.
I know we’re all here for a conversation and I have not red all posts to this thread. But this is a great post ! ^