contract climbers?
- Thread starter Colin
- Start date
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
I'm on the opposite side.
I show up with all the gear I need for the job except heavy equipment. My saws are sharp and I'm normally able to get right into the tree when I show up. I charge by the day which is generally no less than six hours and no more than ten. Push me to ten hours every single time and I'll stop answering your calls, I depend on a sense of fairness in my employers.
The problems come up in the estimating. I'm fast with some tasks and slow with others. It's hard for a non-climber to know whether I can do a given job in one day or not. The best ones allow me to bid a job rather than going on a day rate. I get more money for my time and they take less risk.
If you use a contract climber, develop a relationship with them and try to use them often. The deal gets better for everybody as you learn how to work with each other.
I show up with all the gear I need for the job except heavy equipment. My saws are sharp and I'm normally able to get right into the tree when I show up. I charge by the day which is generally no less than six hours and no more than ten. Push me to ten hours every single time and I'll stop answering your calls, I depend on a sense of fairness in my employers.
The problems come up in the estimating. I'm fast with some tasks and slow with others. It's hard for a non-climber to know whether I can do a given job in one day or not. The best ones allow me to bid a job rather than going on a day rate. I get more money for my time and they take less risk.
If you use a contract climber, develop a relationship with them and try to use them often. The deal gets better for everybody as you learn how to work with each other.
- Location
- St. Paul, MN
What Blinky said.
I have a small client base but most of my time is spent as a contract climber. I sub regularly for about ten tree service and grounds maintenance companies. I charge $50/hour. I have considered half-day minimums and day rates after six hours (up to eight, anything above that is additional), but a few of the companies that hire me are small and may not be able to combine enough jobs to make a day's worth. I was also planning to raise my rates this year but everything is so slow; I'll wait to see what happens.
I am expected (and I expect) to climb! If I'm asked to do something unethical, unsafe, or otherwise inappropriate, I simply don't do it. There's always a grey area when working as a subcontractor. Many times I find myself walking the edge of what I think is reasonable or unreasonable, appropriate or inappropriate. And I'm talking about everything here... standards in arboriculture, safety, personal perspective, etc.
My biggest pet peeve about contract climbing is the inconsistency in ground personnel. A few companies that hire me have different groundies every two months or so. You hire me to take down a large tree in a backyard with primaries and house drops and yard art everywhere. I show up to meet two new guys with no idea how to even send me a rope, let alone how to run a porta-wrap. NO THANKS! The companies I enjoy working for have ground crews that rock. Been around for over a year, know how to rig, tie knots, run ropes, set throwlines, and if I so much as sneeze up in the tree they ask me if I need anything! That's what I expect from a crew. This makes my part so much easier!
Now... about that increase in my rates...
I have a small client base but most of my time is spent as a contract climber. I sub regularly for about ten tree service and grounds maintenance companies. I charge $50/hour. I have considered half-day minimums and day rates after six hours (up to eight, anything above that is additional), but a few of the companies that hire me are small and may not be able to combine enough jobs to make a day's worth. I was also planning to raise my rates this year but everything is so slow; I'll wait to see what happens.
I am expected (and I expect) to climb! If I'm asked to do something unethical, unsafe, or otherwise inappropriate, I simply don't do it. There's always a grey area when working as a subcontractor. Many times I find myself walking the edge of what I think is reasonable or unreasonable, appropriate or inappropriate. And I'm talking about everything here... standards in arboriculture, safety, personal perspective, etc.
My biggest pet peeve about contract climbing is the inconsistency in ground personnel. A few companies that hire me have different groundies every two months or so. You hire me to take down a large tree in a backyard with primaries and house drops and yard art everywhere. I show up to meet two new guys with no idea how to even send me a rope, let alone how to run a porta-wrap. NO THANKS! The companies I enjoy working for have ground crews that rock. Been around for over a year, know how to rig, tie knots, run ropes, set throwlines, and if I so much as sneeze up in the tree they ask me if I need anything! That's what I expect from a crew. This makes my part so much easier!
Now... about that increase in my rates...
jim454
Participating member
- Location
- The land of Utopia
I think contract climbers work really well, especially if you run a small operation like me.
My expectations are that they know what they are doing, they show up on time, come with all the gear needed to do the climb, they work well with others and can talk to the customer, they're safe, professional, efficient, yada,yada, yada... If they break something THEY make things right. I don't expect a CC to do something I myself wouldn't do.
I can't stand the CC that thinks he's some kind of friggen royalty, even if he is good. He won't last but a day working for me.
I pay hourly, and if I make out well for the day, I'll throw him a bonus. His pay has to be justified or there's no reason to have him on the job.
No, I don't expect a CC to be at my beck and call and fortunately for me I'm starting to see more CC's popping up to fill the void of my regular guy, especialy when he's to busy to get to me.
My expectations are that they know what they are doing, they show up on time, come with all the gear needed to do the climb, they work well with others and can talk to the customer, they're safe, professional, efficient, yada,yada, yada... If they break something THEY make things right. I don't expect a CC to do something I myself wouldn't do.
I can't stand the CC that thinks he's some kind of friggen royalty, even if he is good. He won't last but a day working for me.
I pay hourly, and if I make out well for the day, I'll throw him a bonus. His pay has to be justified or there's no reason to have him on the job.
No, I don't expect a CC to be at my beck and call and fortunately for me I'm starting to see more CC's popping up to fill the void of my regular guy, especialy when he's to busy to get to me.
jim454
Participating member
- Location
- The land of Utopia
it is here, and yes he carries a liability policy
- Location
- TN
Liability?....what about work comp?
- Location
- TN
what if a contract climber falls or gets hurt some how and can never wirk again? Do you have insurance for that? I am not a sub...I am a biz owner with all the tools....if they get hurt and dont have work comp. its my nickle.
Raven
Branched out member
- Location
- Northwoods
A contract climber is a biz owner too. I was told that my WC policy wont cover me anyway, are you covered on your comp policy? I can never figure that out. I'm trying to buy disablity for myself but I just can't afford it, insurance is a scam anyway, I believe in assurance.
- Location
- St. Paul, MN
I am a sole proprietor. I have no employees, so Work Comp doesn't apply to me. Neither does Unemployment. If I become injured, my Health Insurance (which I recently cancelled) is all I have going for me. I cannot (and will not ever) collect Unemployment.
treehumper
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Ridgefield, NJ
I charge a half day, up to 4 hrs, or full day, over 4 up to 8 hrs, and then hourly after that within reason.
I provide my own climbing gear including a climbing saw and fuel. I pay for my own insurance, liability and accident.
I climb and sometimes do some ground work if necessary but otherwise the agreement I have is to focus on climbing. That's how they want it that's how I give it.
So far the groundmen have been great so no problems there.
I provide my own climbing gear including a climbing saw and fuel. I pay for my own insurance, liability and accident.
I climb and sometimes do some ground work if necessary but otherwise the agreement I have is to focus on climbing. That's how they want it that's how I give it.
So far the groundmen have been great so no problems there.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
I carry Arborist Liability insurance but not worker's comp. I have no employees and I wouldn't be covered by my own policy anyway. To work a lot of commercial gigs I would have to buy a ghost policy that doesn't cover ANYBODY. If I get hurt on the job, I'm screwed, that's just the way it is.
For what it's worth, I carry liability for working my own jobs. I expect the prime contractor to insure the job. If I break a roof while working contract I expect my employer to make the claim on their insurance. That's the agreement up front. I don't have enough in my day rate to accept a major property liability. In practice, if I break something I fix it at my expense because it's good customer relations.
For what it's worth, I carry liability for working my own jobs. I expect the prime contractor to insure the job. If I break a roof while working contract I expect my employer to make the claim on their insurance. That's the agreement up front. I don't have enough in my day rate to accept a major property liability. In practice, if I break something I fix it at my expense because it's good customer relations.
- Location
- Upper Bucks ,PA
I ran into the WC issue last year and a few years back...touchy subject!
It is vrtually impossible to get a straight answer from anyone who sends me to the next person for answers who in turn sends me to... It appears in NJ, that a sole proprietor cannot get WC coverage on themselves. Pa says that you can through the state, but I got passed along a LONG line of idiots for 2 weeks before a nice lady told me that it was available to a SP, but it only covered my employees, not me???!! Idiots! I shaved my head that summer to hide the ripped out parts. I charge half day for 4 hours, after that, 45 hour. It keeps them honest and me hustling.
It is vrtually impossible to get a straight answer from anyone who sends me to the next person for answers who in turn sends me to... It appears in NJ, that a sole proprietor cannot get WC coverage on themselves. Pa says that you can through the state, but I got passed along a LONG line of idiots for 2 weeks before a nice lady told me that it was available to a SP, but it only covered my employees, not me???!! Idiots! I shaved my head that summer to hide the ripped out parts. I charge half day for 4 hours, after that, 45 hour. It keeps them honest and me hustling.
