$$$ vs. the job

[klimbinfool]

My cituation is much different then most of yours. I kind of have the best of both worlds so to speak.Working for a city and then all my pvt work. So the money isn't what always drives me to do side work.I love the work and thats why I do it.

I have herd a few people say in here that the more hazardous the job the more they charge which ultimatly drives them to do the job.

Have you ever turned down jobs for fear of your life and not the all mighty dollar? Do you consider your family over the amount you'll make off the job?

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our work, there is no job to big or nasty that we cant handle, but the older I get the more I think about the ramifications on my family if I wasn't around. The end result is , that I turn down some jobs to a co. that may be more suitable for the job and the dollar goes to them, but I have no broken bones , not in the hospital and I'm still typing on the Buzz.

Thanks
Greg

 

[Leif]

I'm definately conservative about taking jobs on. I too have additional income from my lawn maintenance biz, so I know if I don't take every job that comes my way, I can still pay the bills. I also rationalize about family and injury and such, it's hard to do any work in a cast. I'm also pretty new to tree work, so I try to stretch my abilities just enough to improve, without taking large risks.

 

[Rupe]

[ QUOTE ]
I have herd a few people say in here that the more hazardous the job the more they charge which ultimatly drives them to do the job.

Have you ever turned down jobs for fear of your life and not the all mighty dollar? Do you consider your family over the amount you'll make off the job?



[/ QUOTE ]

Surely the extra money for a hazardous job is just to give you more time to complete it in an appropriate less hazardous way.

In my experience the hazard is higher if, by miss reading the situation, you bid small and creat a time restriction. Rushing a job is the greatest hazard.

 

[Leif]

Rupe, good point, I tried to argue that point with a guy at an Arbormaster class (not an instructor) and he tried to tell me that "when your in the field, your responsibility is to get the job done. Money belongs in the office." For me, his arguement doesn't work, because I'm a small business owner/operater and I know my tendency to rush when I've under bid. I'm constantly analyzing man hours, dump fees, etc.. I think he was talking to me as an employee, which, in that case his statement probably would hold true.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I've bumped the price on a job because it might take a special piece of equipment or a technique that I know. There have been jobs that I haven't even bid on because it was too dangerous to even consider.

 

[Menchhofer]

I have away from a few jobs mostly due to safety reasons and do not regret the decisions.

There is always someone out there who will work on any tree for an ungodly low price regardless of the danger involved. There was a time when I would take the risky work, but no more. Not worth it. If I cannot work safe, I simply do not do it.

As Clint Eastwood said "A man's got know his limitations."

 

[jerseywild]

Well put Tree Scout
You may be able to get a fool to do the job just not this fool!