how to become a consultin arborist

T

thattreeguy

Location
humboldt county home of the giants
any suggestions
on how one becomes a consultin arborist
ive done the tree work, sold the work, supervised the work for fifteen years now.
i feel excitement in diagnosis and root crown excavations. really getting into individul trees is exciting at this point in my career and i wonder what path to head down im in a transitional period in life where im bored with the work...but its all i know. i was pursuing being a corrections officer mainly for the job security but i dont know that its really for me..
i have my fifth kid on the way and need to earn a good chunk of dough to keep up with them.
im trying to stay in cali, northern or central
thanks..dave
 
Howdy,

Ever try screening your calls? When someone inquires about what they should do with their tree, they are really asking for information, which you can charge money for.

In a sales call, you usually give advice freely. Try switching to hourly, and establish your rate early in the phone conversation. Put off any questions about what their tree needs until after they have agreed to pay this rate.

If you feel comfortable witholding the tree info until after a contract is agreed upon, you may be a good consultant. This is only true if the experience and the ability to communicate clearly are things you possess.

Tree Appraisal article from October, 1993 issue of ARBORIST NEWS
 
Good tips in the article. You need to submit more, Ox, it's not like TCI mag etc are overflowing with good articles.

I always give a free 3-minute consultation over the phone. This lets them know up front that my time is worth something, and I am a nice guy to give them three minutes of it because I care about their tree problem. It also feels them out re their intentions--many are out to drain your brain and give you nothing in return.

I also always offer to link free info to them via email. That info includes my cv, so they see the training and experience that justifies the fee. Switching to consulting is best done gradeually. With 5 mouths to feed you'd best not leave your day job. I'm (4 mouths)about 50-50 now, with a goal of 80-20 by 2007.

Get the report writing book, and learn to separate that service.
 
thanks ox and guy,
it sounds so far that i am on the right track. i started charging for consultatons after i found my competitors attempting to do my work scopes on jobs i consulted on during the bid.
so now i charge to create a work scope and if you contract with me to do the work i'll knock it off the bill in the end.
the other day a lady told me she wanted me to inspect several trees at her home and i told her i would charge 50 an hour to inspect and report on them. she immediately balked at the price. saved me a trip and waste of my time , gas money...
i havve started doing some expert witness work and am getting used to being probed by attorneys, i just desire to know more....ive been buying and reading books pertinent to the jobs im doing.and going from gut feelings and confirming it thru the books.
any more info would be usefull...is asca worthy of joining?
 
[ QUOTE ]
240 hours wow.
do i have to do extra ceu's for the arb cert with isa also (like if you are a cert tree worker and arborist you have both to get ceu's for)

[/ QUOTE ]

I know, I couldn't believe the 240 hours either!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
240 hours wow.
do i have to do extra ceu's for the arb cert with isa also (like if you are a cert tree worker and arborist you have both to get ceu's for)

[/ QUOTE ]

I know, I couldn't believe the 240 hours either!

[/ QUOTE ]College courses are 15 each; they can add up. The trick is keeping track of your workshops, etc.

don't join asca yet; go to napa in december. i've been to 5 of their annual mtgs, very good.

o and i think ceu's can be duped.
 
so the ceu's can be duplicated for both qualifications huh. i'd hope so..i like to read but that would be out of hand.
i'm hoping to get on with an outfit to keep sending me to workshops..lord knows i cant afford em all alone'
and thanks for the info i do appreciate it..
 
[ QUOTE ]
The annual meeting is in Napa, CA this year, December 3rd, I think.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah it is; they had it there in 1997 too; first time I saw an airspade in use, and John Britton doing an RCE was memorable.

Inside I heard about a Cost of Cure appraisal that got the client $250,000 for a grove of cottonwoods at a campground in Iowa. Very interesting stuff.

So yeah drive on down for it and see how they do it. when I went in 97 I crashed in a van cuz I couldn't pay for the room. That'll work; you can get into the spa for showers.

I'll buy ya a cold one. /forum/images/graemlins/santa.gif
 
Thattreeguy, ASCA, will give you the info that you will need to increase your consulting services. As far as the 240 CEU that is to join, that will not make you a Registered Consuling Arborist.
If you complete you BCMA, they allow you to join without the 240 CEUs.
Then you can send them examples of written reports, they grade and send back as you send them reports and they pass the grade, you will have to take some of their classes and become a RCA.
I'm not completely sure, cause I have just started the process myself after I passed the BCMA exam.

Your on the right track, you need to charge for your consulting services, for years I did it for free when trying to make the sale, now, unless I know that the deal will be closed, I Charge!

Writting specs for tree work is a great way to start, let the lawyers in you area, know that you are available and give them a list of your services.

I'll try to keep in touch and let you know how it's going with my path with ASCA.

Kris Stultz
 
You are probably right, I was only talking about joining ASCA.
You still will have to pay more and take their classes, but to join the ASCA the above dues should be right cause I just gave the paperwork to our corporate offices 7 weeks ago.
 
www.asca-consultants.org will answer you rquestions, but I don't think you'll see the dues there; $350/annum. /forum/images/graemlins/blush.gif

See you in napa; make your mind up then. Best thing you can do til then is review the study guide for bcma. here it is, on page 3: http://www.isa-arbor.com/certification/resources/BCMA_app.pdf

Most of that list is in my van or on my bookshelf, most of them used in the field at one time or other. Happy reading... /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

What's really scary is, I got 26 of the 28 on that list, all but the harris and rigging books. I got an OC Book Disorder /forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
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