I'm the only one???

hl_tree

hl_tree

Location
New Fairfield, CT
I\'m the only one???

I looked at a monster of a pine tree last fall. Told the owner 7K. I knew the price was on the low side, but I wanted the job because of it's location. I could dump chips within a half a mile of the site, and if I needed to get rid of any wood, it would have only cost me some trucking. I ran into the owner yesterday, and he informed me that he had recieved other prices of $8,000, $12,000, $14,000, and $17,000. He said that of all the people who gave him prices, I was the only one who said that they could actually do the job. I know this to be true, because I ran into some of the other guys who gave prices, and they told me they couldn't do the tree.

I'd like to ask then.. if you can't do it, why bother pricing it?
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

...... it seems alot of people would rather put in an extra high bid rather than admit the fact that the tree is beyond their capabilities , the truth works real good for me and my customers.... Once in a while the high ball tactic backfires when the "contractor" actually gets hired and is immediately in over his or her head...I'm proud of my experience , abilities and investment in gear , I can truthfully tell the customer there is no tree I cannot fell ...
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

Yeppers I have seen that and to this day have not been there if I can't do it I tell them . I also give them the names of people that can do the job.
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

If I cannot do the job I walk and explain to the customer that we would not be able to do the job.

On the other hand there are many jobs I don't want because of hassle factors and stuff like that. Those I will high ball to compensate for the inevitable nightmare.

However, there are some nightmares that I will also walk away from and let the customer know that while we can do the job we would not be able to do it and meet our quality standards. Or, as is often the case, such a job is outside our service offerings due to it's particular nuances and we'd prefer not to take it on.

When we walk we ALWAYS refer them to another company we know has done that type of job with the caveat that while we know they do that sort of job we cannot speak to their value or quality of work.

We have a 6 year return customer as a result of that strategy. They had a half dead prop-line beech that was a nightmare and there was no way we could tackle it without screwing the pooch. We referred them to two other companies for that job but we have been called back exclusively for all their other tree work since.
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

I admit I've highballed and then got it. wound up having to sub it out and helped to see it get done as well as possible, losing only my time and a wee bit o pride.

Maybe my standards are more elastic than those expressed here, and I've never violated my dog's nether regions so I'm not sure what screwing the pooch means...
tongue.gif


Good luck, hl. Is the wood solid enough to get milled?
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

I have several companies that refer to me. Often it isnt for lack of experience simply they dont have a crane and it isnt worth trying to sub the job. Other times I show up to do the crane work and they clean up.
I used to always try and do it all myself.
This ends up costing more in the long run in many situations. Knowing when and who to ask for help can make you much more money and be safer. Networking with other companies is extremely valuable in business.
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

Yup people are funny that way,I talked to a Guy yesterday with a huge hazardous laurel oak and told him I can do it and it would take me around 3 days,but arbor vision around one and will do a better job....hl tree I'd like to see that monster pine if ya get pics...I'm from west haven,been here going on 17yrs I'm a FL southern boy now,but the north east is cool,that is were my Yankees are:)
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

I think we all want to see what a bid-low $7K pine looks like.

When I first read that, I thought, I wonder how one tree, especially a pine could come in at $7K on a low bid, then to read that people bid so much more.

If someone bid $12k (about the average of the competitors) but could get someone else to do it for $10K, then they would be able to get $2K for subbing it out.
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

for sure. I know around here if a tree costs an exorbitant amount it usually has some serious scare factor. I have seen a few jobs here in the Seattle area go for way to low so we will highball a bit just to make sure if we get the job we can actually make some money while holding to our level of quality and SAFETY! remember, quality of work is important, however in dangerous removals, as with everything else,SAFETY is first. one more time...SAFETY. We don't have a crane so we will be happy to suggest to our customers someone else we know that both has a crane or whatever super specialized ability is required that we don't have and(yep one last time)is on par with our safety standards as well.

I too would like to see a 7000 plus pine removal...this thing must be wicked. Also... whoever it was that said there is no tree he can't fell....yep yer right, anyone can get any tree to the ground. James the Narcoleptic tree cutter can fell any tree too, but...really?
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

Altissimas, a word of caution: Discretion is the better part of valor. Take it easy on hubris! If you haven't yet you will have a tree that is not fellable given certain constrictions... I think a lot of this is experience recognizing limitations and the desire to go home at the end of the day trumps a low-ball 7 grand and the new stuff that could be purchased with that money...
cool.gif
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

The guy who turned in the 14K bid told me that it would take him 2 - 3 weeks to do the job from start to finish.
 

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Re: I\'m the only one???

the pics have got to be deceiving because that does not look like a three week job. If it was however I would be at 15000 pretty easy.
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

Is it hazardous or healthy?

What is your approach to the tree?

Is the foot bridge the biggest obstacle?

What are your DBHs?
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

[ QUOTE ]
Is it hazardous or healthy?

What is your approach to the tree?

Is the foot bridge the biggest obstacle?

What are your DBHs?

[/ QUOTE ]Those are some good questions.
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

I have a sneaking feeling you have to carry all the wood/brush up and out on that little bridge. That could take some time. Not 3 weeks thought. It would be a very hard week at least.
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

hmmm. I was thinking the opposite. i was thinking from what I could see, $5000 if I could get our k-boom truck to lift the material from one side of the foot bridge to the other. Done in 1.5 days.

all those leaders make some fast, big peices that can be lowered. just the last spar would be a little slow.
 
Re: I\'m the only one???

Actually those are stairs. I had planned on speedlining a lot of it over the house shown in the pic (customer of mine) into the driveway of the next house down. Process it there.
 
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