Some firsts on a job

[tomstrees]

I've been running a log splitting job on CL periodically. I got an email in NY state from a woman with a strange foreign name wanting a pile of logs split. She sent a picture, the problem was the job is an hour and a half away so I really couldn't go out to estimate it, so threw out a number $500 sight unseen based on the 3 cords she thought it was and the fact that I would have to rent a splitter near her as I wasn't going to haul one out there. Lots of minor flags in this one, elderly lady was not really friendly, emails were perfunctory without salutations or a name after the message. She was picky about time when it was acceptable to do the job. Also she did not give me an address, so I had to look it up on a search engine! Talk about a leap of faith. I may be as crazy as a hoot owl to take this job on, but I put in an 8 plus hour day and got partial payment ($300) and will be going back to finish it in a couple days probably.

 

[Mowerr]

So she paid ya for the first day? Not bad

 

[Mowerr]

I've been running a log splitting job on CL periodically. I got an email in NY state from a woman with a strange foreign name wanting a pile of logs split. She sent a picture, the problem was the job is an hour and a half away so I really couldn't go out to estimate it, so threw out a number $500 sight unseen based on the 3 cords she thought it was and the fact that I would have to rent a splitter near her as I wasn't going to haul one out there. View attachment 63147Lots of minor flags in this one, elderly lady was not really friendly, emails were perfunctory without salutations or a name after the message. She was picky about time when it was acceptable to do the job. Also she did not give me an address, so I had to look it up on a search engine! Talk about a leap of faith. I may be as crazy as a hoot owl to take this job on, but I put in an 8 plus hour day and got partial payment ($300) and will be going back to finish it in a couple days probably.

I'm in New York and curious what town or county the job was in? I don't split firewood for anyone but I do sell or give away logs and chunks ...

 

[southsoundtree]

There are lessons in there, along with the "dollars in-dollars out".

I think you should try to figure your dollars/ hours, net. Sounds like its money in the door, but not enough. No offense. I've taken beatings on under-bid work. Everyone has.

 

[Jonny]

I don't split firewood for anyone but I do sell or give away logs and chunks ...

Give it away? Do you people think firewood just grows on trees?!


Sorry about that. Heard a boss use that line when I was 19 and I try to bust it out at every opportunity since.

 

[tomstrees]

The total on this job will be about $750, two days use of a log splitter at $110 each day and travel with Subaru. So economically not that bad; at least better than the $12 an hour I make at Home Depot.

 

[southsoundtree]

Revenue minus transportation costs, rental costs, etc, divided by time, and considering opportunity costs.

More info about what you've done brings you closer to the bullseye.


A breakdown of a piece of equipment, your vehicle or the rental splitter, could push it into 3 days. An accident during that travel time is possible.

Just things to consider.

 

[Mowerr]

The total on this job will be about $750, two days use of a log splitter at $110 each day and travel with Subaru. So economically not that bad; at least better than the $12 an hour I make at Home Depot.

Where in New york

 

[Mowerr]

It'll be too funny if I dumped that pile there. Sometimes I gotta get shit gone to get the job done and depending where I am, I got dump spots and a lot of times I'll give it to neighbors if they ask me...yea I make sure the few family that burns I take care of first including myself, but after that I don't care who takes it free or not.

 

[Mowerr]

Just to get the job done...but I don't go out my way for free much...only if it makes cents.

 

[tomstrees]

Where in New york

Greenwood lake area.

 

[dsptech]

I'm in New York and curious what town or county the job was in? I don't split firewood for anyone but I do sell or give away logs and chunks ...

I'm in NY also in Syracuse.
I was giving most of my wood away but this year I started keeping some.
Figured I split it and make some extra money in the slow season.
I burn wood in my garage but only around a face cord a winter.

If I have to bang out a job I'll list the wood on CL.
Just took down an 60' old fat pine with just over a 3 1/2' stump, 20' limbs up to 6" in diameter.
Chunky most of the way up.
Dreaded having to haul it out from behind the house so for shits I put it on CL a week ahead of time.
It was gone in two days including the larger bare portions of the limbs.
Had a list of 8 people who wanted it, 3 showed.

 

[Mowerr]

Yea here in upstate New York the firewood doesn't sell like you'd think because so many people have gotten outdoor burners (they burn pine) and reg indoor wood stoves and with the internet and the line clearers leaving firewood on the sides of roads (where allowed)... The smart ones watch the Internet and the utility tree guys and get so much free from that and some that have easy access can get the local tree guys dumping chips there in exchange for firewood too.
I don't bother much with it besides heating me and CPL family members homes. I might some day though not looking forward to that boring ass shit.

 

[dsptech]

Where about are you @Mowerr ?

 

[Mowerr]

Saratoga county

 

[Ascension]

CNY representin! I'm in Fairmount. I just took down 2 maples in Strathmore two weeks ago. Chunked it to 32" and put an ad on craigslist. Gone in 2 days, then the city took all the branches. I own the house there and did the work. I don't think the city takes kindly to cleaning up after pros tho.

 

[dsptech]

CNY representin! I'm in Fairmount. I just took down 2 maples in Strathmore two weeks ago. Chunked it to 32" and put an ad on craigslist. Gone in 2 days, then the city took all the branches. I own the house there and did the work. I don't think the city takes kindly to cleaning up after pros tho.

I always feel like I'm the only guy in my area on this forum and all the cool stuff (shows, comps, seminars, etc) never happen here.
Good to know there is a least one local boy here.

 

[tomstrees]

I finished the job yesterday; another 6 or so hours. Probably 5-6 cords, I wish there were an app to measure firewood accurately in heaps as it was. But cordwood is done in split stacked condition.

I remember Thoreau writing about how some dealers didn't want accurate measurements:

"When I observe that there are different ways of surveying, my employer commonly asks which will give him the most land, not which is most correct. I once invented a rule for measuring cord-wood, and tried to introduce it in Boston; but the measurer there told me that the sellers did not wish to have their wood measured correctly- that he was already too accurate for them, and therefore they commonly got their wood measured in Charlestown before crossing the bridge". http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper2/thoreau/life.html

Personally I don't want to be greedy trying to get all I can. Since the customer had spent a lot of money on tree take downs around the house with a crane involved, you can be sure they spent at least $5K on the job in Warwick.

I could have gotten more money out of the customer, $850 or more, but said that because it was around 50% over what I had estimated the job at based on 3 cords, paying 50% more ($750) would be ok. They were happy as I went beyond what they wanted. A job well done and reasonably compensated is enough.