Neighbor disputes

[RyanCafferky]

I have recently been dealing with a neighbor dispute over a tree. My client wants to trim his neighbors tree (catalpa) away from his roof and also wants to remove larger dead branches from his side of the tree. The neighbor won’t let us climb her tree. There is no bucket or lift access. She only wants us to cut what we can cut with pole tools from my client’s roof. Not the safest option for me or my crew or the best for the tree in my opinion.

I’m tempted to send her a video of me trying to cut a carrot with a knife on a 16 foot pole and then trying to cut said carrot with a knife in my hand to demonstrate why climbing a tree is preferable to cutting on it with pole tools.

In the mean time I’ve let my client know that for the time being we won’t be taking the job unless we have express consent from both parties involved.

What would you do?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Document every interaction. Record them and transcribe

Before doing the work a lawyer written contract is written and signed.

Proceed ahead on an hourly rate just like lawyers do.

 

[Vicente]

I have recently been dealing with a neighbor dispute over a tree. My client wants to trim his neighbors tree (catalpa) away from his roof and also wants to remove larger dead branches from his side of the tree. The neighbor won’t let us climb her tree. There is no bucket or lift access. She only wants us to cut what we can cut with pole tools from my client’s roof. Not the safest option for me or my crew or the best for the tree in my opinion.

I’m tempted to send her a video of me trying to cut a carrot with a knife on a 16 foot pole and then trying to cut said carrot with a knife in my hand to demonstrate why climbing a tree is preferable to cutting on it with pole tools.

In the mean time I’ve let my client know that for the time being we won’t be taking the job unless we have express consent from both parties involved.

What would you do?

Maybe tell her to let the neighbor know you aren't going to gaff it if you climb that may be part of her concern.

 

[RyanCafferky]

Maybe tell her to let the neighbor know you aren't going to gaff it if you climb that may be part of her concern.

I told the neighbor how we climb trees and the type of work that the pruning prescription calls for. She still wouldn’t agree to let me climb the tree.

 

[RyanCafferky]

Document every interaction. Record them and transcribe

Before doing the work a lawyer written contract is written and signed.

Proceed ahead on an hourly rate just like lawyers do.

I’m done with this job until they come to an agreement. I have a lot of other work to do that doesn’t involve neighbors who can’t see eye to eye.

 

[lumberjackson]

Honestly I've never had any good experiences that start like this. I like my job. I want my customers to be happy. I want to be happy. I want the trees to be happy. Making bad pruning cuts that don't really accomplish the customer's objective, and an angry neighbor yelling at me and my crew and my customers is something that I will go out of my way to avoid, and simply turning down the job is usually the best and easiest option. If it's one of my favorite customers that are really important to me and my business, then I'll spend some time trying to get the neighbor to understand. Otherwise, I explain to the customer why I'm not a good fit for their project and don't waste my time trying to walk on eggshells.

I think you should make that video of cutting carrots with a knife on a pole and post it for us to enjoy though...

 

[ATH]

I’m done with this job until they come to an agreement. I have a lot of other work to do that doesn’t involve neighbors who can’t see eye to eye.

thats what I would do too...

 

[flushcut]

Now that the tree has been looked at by a professional document the dead that can fail and damage your customers house. Inform the neighbor that since it has been documented they are liable for the damages should something fail.
But in reality border wars are not my thing and I don’t like playing mediator it’s a waste of my time and money. Walk away.

 

[Serf Life]

Legally anything over the clients property is fair game correct? Totally walk away, not worth the hassle.

 

[Reach]

That sounds like a good project to walk away from, I agree with documenting the hazards so that they are in writing for both parties to see, and then leaving it at that. We have walked on plenty of projects like that one, I don’t like to get in the middle of a neighborly dispute. The poor tree service in the middle always ends up as the real loser in that one.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I’m done with this job until they come to an agreement. I have a lot of other work to do that doesn’t involve neighbors who can’t see eye to eye.

That's the way we handle it.. if I even catch a whiff of some of that bad neighbor stuff during interactions price goes up to price us out of the b,s, if that doesn't work, I flat out walk away from the work, buut happily will play mediator if I can take Tom D advice charge hourly from the get go lol.. ( not happening around here ; )

 

[flushcut]

Legally anything over the clients property is fair game correct? Totally walk away, not worth the hassle.

As long as the work does not adversely effect the health of the tree or compromise the tree. It’s best to get both parties to sign off on the work. But the easy thing is to walk away from the drama.

 

[evo]

I’m done with this job until they come to an agreement. I have a lot of other work to do that doesn’t involve neighbors who can’t see eye to eye.

This is exactly what I’d do

 

[Mick Dempsey]

You’re not going to harm a catalpa.

If it’s an established client I’d do it.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

There is a legit access solution

Industrial scaffolding is inexpensive to rent. Hiring a contractor to install may be a good investment so that stability is assured. It may be a process of build/prune/build to work up high enough

Many years ago I saw pictures of a removal done using scaffolding. The homeowner was a scaffolding contractor so it was a natural. He would build/prune in small pieces. I sure wish I would have saved the pics.

 

[evo]

There is a legit access solution

Industrial scaffolding is inexpensive to rent. Hiring a contractor to install may be a good investment so that stability is assured. It may be a process of build/prune/build to work up high enough

Many years ago I saw pictures of a removal done using scaffolding. The homeowner was a scaffolding contractor so it was a natural. He would build/prune in small pieces. I sure wish I would have saved the pics.

My ex employer had a story of back in the early 70's in a very highend garden. His boss rented a shit ton of scaffolding to build a roof over the garden as a platform for material handing on a larger removal. A creative solution to a interesting problem that I'd want to be a fly on the wall, more than involved.

 

[ATH]

If it is an established client who I really wanted to help, I might try one last ditch effort on their behalf talk to the neighbor again:

"Many times when we are pruning like this to avoid damaging a neighbor's house, it is the owner of the tree hiring us and paying for the work. I just wanted to confirm that my client is paying for this in full, so nobody is expecting you to contribute any funds. Also, if you would prefer, we can schedule the work during a week day when you are available to be home so you can monitor what we are doing and ensure we aren't doing anything beyond the work required to protect this house."

 

[Lignotuber]

Legally anything over the clients property is fair game correct? Totally walk away, not worth the hassle.

Not necessarily, at least not in California...

 

[islandarb]

I will be walking with a smile on my face. Not interested. Too much work to be had without that total headache.

 

[evo]

Not necessarily, at least not in California...

Unfortunately it is in Washington, above and below ground.