Stumped #3

[owScott]

I charge $75 for "in town" diagnostics. He had his checkbook out ready to pay. l told him I won't charge for an "I don't know".

I probably should charger more than $75. It was $50 a couple years ago. Many of those turn into work...so the fee os enough to keep the "tire kickers" at bay, but not enough to chase away people who actually want help.

I also charge $75 for a consult, estimates for work are free. I try and determine that in the phone call. Sometimes I go for what i thought was an estimate for work and it turns into a consult. I hestitate to charge a consult fee if i didnt state that in the phone call. Whats your thoughts on how you handle that situation. Kinda sucks when someone talks your ear off for a hour and you know they arent hiring you for any work.

 

[ATH]

I try to be "customer centric" when making those decisions. Most people will ask "what do I owe you?". That makes it easy.

Figuring that out on the phone is the best bet. I will say "Sometimes there is a fine line between a diagnostic/consultation visit and an estimate. If this an estimate, there is no charge, but if it is more of a consultation, I do need to charge....the kids get fussy if I don't feed them."

It does stink when it takes a full hour to not get anything out of it...but that doesn't happen often. I've also gotten calls from that guy's nephew, or daughter, or neighbor a year or two later so leaving somebody with a good feeling about your visit isn't bad.

 

[owScott]

I try to be "customer centric" when making those decisions. Most people will ask "what do I owe you?". That makes it easy.

Figuring that out on the phone is the best bet. I will say "Sometimes there is a fine line between a diagnostic/consultation visit and an estimate. If this an estimate, there is no charge, but if it is more of a consultation, I do need to charge....the kids get fussy if I don't feed them."

It does stink when it takes a full hour to not get anything out of it...but that doesn't happen often. I've also gotten calls from that guy's nephew, or daughter, or neighbor a year or two later so leaving somebody with a good feeling about your visit isn't bad.

I totally agree, i dont cut people off and i remain patient and professional. Never know what a conversation can turn into. Sometimes if a fee isnt discussed on the phone and turns into a consult and its easy and close and they offer to pay i will tell them its a courtesy not to worry. That creates potential future referals. When people offer to pay it feels respectful. Its the peolpe that call you out to milk you for info and know what they are doing that kinda sucks. I view it as part of the job and my reputation is paramont. In the long run I am winning. After 30 years of climbing in the past few years i am moving towards consulting. I am focusing on learning from the arborists who sell knowledge. Thanks for your thoughtful input.

 

[cerviarborist]

One thing to keep in mind when you're considering giving an unpaid opinion on a tree, is that your E/O insurance isn't going to want to cover your opinion if things go south, if there's not a paid receipt for services. My policy is based on how much revenue I estimate generating when I sit down with my agent. I won't fudge past that by giving opinions that haven't generated revenue.

 

[Jemco]

Without a plant pathology lab report in hand........

Jemco

 

[owScott]

One thing to keep in mind when you're considering giving an unpaid opinion on a tree, is that your E/O insurance isn't going to want to cover your opinion if things go south, if there's not a paid receipt for services. My policy is based on how much revenue I estimate generating when I sit down with my agent. I won't fudge past that by giving opinions that haven't generated revenue.

Thats good info. A bit confusing. I can be liable for an opinion that i am not paid for? I will talk with my agent because i didnt know that. I figured i was only liable when people pay for my opinion. When i do tree risk asseessment where i see consquences for my opionion i get paid for sure. What kinda of liability do i have if i misdiagnose a pest problem during an unpaid estimate? Whats your thoughts on during an estimate a customer asks a question where the answer is an opinion which is often the case? I tell customers when i give an opinion that its my opinion. Anyhow thanks for the input.

 

[cerviarborist]

Thats good info. A bit confusing. I can be liable for an opinion that i am not paid for? I will talk with my agent because i didnt know that. I figured i was only liable when people pay for my opinion. When i do tree risk asseessment where i see consquences for my opionion i get paid for sure. What kinda of liability do i have if i misdiagnose a pest problem during an unpaid estimate? Whats your thoughts on during an estimate a customer asks a question where the answer is an opinion which is often the case? I tell customers when i give an opinion that its my opinion. Anyhow thanks for the input.

You're held to a higher standard of care because you are a professional. You can't dodge responsibility for rendering a professional opinion just because you elected to do it for free. The only difference is that your insurance company can walk away from you, because you didn't do it on the books with a fee for services.

Let's consider that you're called out to discuss possible treatments for a tree in decline. You give your opinion regarding treatment, but 2 weeks later the tree fails, due to a defect you weren't aware of. Your client will rightly feel that you erred in your your opinion and failed to notice a defect. Attorneys are retained and knives drawn. You insurance company is contacted about paying a claim, considers putting their attorneys on the case and asks to see the contract and record of payment for your services.....

I've already spent more time on this than I want, but if you're going to presume to wade into the realm of consulting and intellectual work product, you should be sure that you're protecting yourself. In this line of work, as in many, it's not often what you do or know that gets you into trouble, it's more often what you didn't know or didn't do. Hence the term "errors and omissions".