When it comes to the additional cost of having a lift come in instead of either eating the whole cost or having to talk to the client about having them pay the additional amount talk to them about splitting, you'll still make some money and they'll feel like you're doing your best to keep it as low as possible for them and realistically they're still getting a good deal because it's now a more expensive tree being removed at less than full price for them.
Declined to continue climb
- Thread starter XTREEC
- Start date
treegongfu
Branched out member
Do you have room to let the branches fall? If so put a line over some of them and pull from the ground to snap them off. That would lighten the load on the tree above the flaw and give you confidence in its strength.
A lot of good additional thoughts and comments. I couldn’t just fly stuff because of the lean which was both towards the road and wires. Same with setting a second climb line into an adjacent tree. That, and to the left there really wasn’t anything high enough to use. Most often I will put the possible lift cost into the estimate but just didn‘t see the rot.
I typically will not ask the client for additional money unless work is added on. The customer thought the estimate included this tree and I did not. Not for lack of talking and walking the site with him. Always lessons to be learned. In the future I think I will both add the possible lift cost as well as mark the specific trees with paint.
In the end we agreed the leave the tree and he is happy with the work. I will reduce the bill and we will both be ok with the outcome. As an aside, his concern is with trees possibly damaging his house in a storm. This specific tree has both the weight and lean directly opposite his house. I think a storm that strong is going to cause more than just a problem with this tree!
I typically will not ask the client for additional money unless work is added on. The customer thought the estimate included this tree and I did not. Not for lack of talking and walking the site with him. Always lessons to be learned. In the future I think I will both add the possible lift cost as well as mark the specific trees with paint.
In the end we agreed the leave the tree and he is happy with the work. I will reduce the bill and we will both be ok with the outcome. As an aside, his concern is with trees possibly damaging his house in a storm. This specific tree has both the weight and lean directly opposite his house. I think a storm that strong is going to cause more than just a problem with this tree!
I will never mark trees for an estimate again. It becomes an invitation for other tree guys to knock on the potential client's door. These cut throats are almost always hacks to begin with.
One old timer I know, would use colored push pin tacks.
I have resulted to doing a video walk through on my cell phone.
One old timer I know, would use colored push pin tacks.
I have resulted to doing a video walk through on my cell phone.
I had an hoa that wanted me to mark all my trees for removal prior to them getting other bids, I charged them 200$ for the bid because I was basically just doing the work for the other guys and if I wasn't the lowest bidder I wouldn't get the job.
Sometimes, ''free estimates" really bothers me. A lot of time, energy, and tied up funds can be wasted. When I know the client is shopping, I try not to waste to much time.
I often wish estimates had "standard" fees. Especially when traveling half hour or more from base.
Sorry for the derail OP
moss
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Carlisle, Massachusetts, U.S.
In the past I've used the analogy of a carpenter finding a rotted sill that wasn't detectable during the original inspection/quote. Nothing wrong with rescoping a job when you find something new while climbing. No customer expects a contractor to eat the cost of the demo and rebuilding a rotted sill. As mentioned the customer can say no and the climber can move on.
-AJ
-AJ
Chris Schultz
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Minturn
I don’t/wouldn’t use paint. If there’s a change of mind/heart, or plans move another direction, then there’s paint on trees.
I do two colors of tape as well
Stumpsprouts
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Asheville
Bummer.
More details in the estimate are great! I’ll sometimes even specify what branches are to be pruned- as much detail as possible protects you and the crew. Had a client call at the end of a day recently after we had pruned a walnut- it involved two service drops and I was pretty specific about what we signed up to do. There was some more clearance on the other side they wanted to do and I was able to point to the estimate and show that it wasn’t anything we agreed to and it would have to be an additional visit. They were very understanding!
Marking trees seems to me a waste of time. ‘The 36” diameter White oak downhill and to the left of the end of the driveway, with hollow at the base” etc.
Serf Life
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Maine Island
Totally. We just did a view job for a new house build we cut the lot for last year. I marked 3 trees with basic rustoleum marking paint after considerable dialogue, only to have it change and leave them. Paint is still there close to a year later. I prefer paint for larger clearing projects but want a shorter life-span paint.
data farm 26
Been here a while
- Location
- Casablanca
did a fire mitigation type job the other week and the marking tape was moved to different trees each day when we got back to the sight....
Chris Schultz
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Minturn
Seen that on larger HOA/communal type jobs….. very very detailed notes, and sharp memory (or more than one) help here….. it is frustrating tho.
- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
When I bid work at HOA's or 'mobilehome' park's I would use grey or red primer spray paint. On the estimate sheet it was denoted that a paint dot would be placed on the root flare or trunk on some compass direction, usually North. different colors denote prune/remove/??? Never had any problem with 'weasel moves' like changing tape.
If you have a lift then whats the issue? You start off talking about climbing it then you don't want to which is fine and good but why charge for a lift?
If you have a lift then light that thing up.
Whether you do or don't, just do like everyone else said, explain what you found out, explain the things you can do with what you got.
If none of the solutions you have will work for the customer then you beat em over the head and tell em what it costs to get a crane in there.
If you have a lift then light that thing up.
Whether you do or don't, just do like everyone else said, explain what you found out, explain the things you can do with what you got.
If none of the solutions you have will work for the customer then you beat em over the head and tell em what it costs to get a crane in there.
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
I would think that workout a clause about unforeseen conditions, a company would be bound to the price.
Sean brings up a good point...
So in a situation like this, whether you have Cleary worded the clause in your paperwork or not, sometimes it's good form to just let them know ahead of time that the price you can give is actually an estimate. If that strikes fear and,or, uncertainty In your client, then let them know the full price range.
Example, 1000 if I can do it the way I plan to. Then 1500-2000 if I need this or that...
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Light 14 or 16" narrow kerf bar for 200t or 201t- Started by southsoundtree
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