Wanna Get Away?

After writing the following post, I come back to the top of it to say, maybe we should move this discussion to the Business Management section to try to make a good tool for people to contribute to and use, Stone Soup style, without sidetracking so much. I think the original posting was interesting, but the implications of it have lead to a better discussion than another hack screws the customer, essentially. I know Rick Wood's put up his lengthy contract before that has been very informative, and protective of his company, built from his years of working with different customers. I mention septic specifically, as he talked about (if I remember correctly) someone trying to scam him into breaking their super expensive to replace septic system, or something to that effect, as Vermont has some cha-ching septic requirements.

Jamin-

The image branding is a good idea. You've made you truck stand out as well.

Does the info add up in cost, and financially? That is, do you spend a lot on putting together this folder, and then feel like you get more/ enough return on it?

I like the idea of the information that you give them, which they will hopefully want to keep for reference, in an easier to find color folder ("I remember it was a red folder, now where did I put it?"), with your logo on the front as a reminder ("Ah here it is. That's right Parker Tree Service.").

Around here people so often want options, so I have run out of space in the past. I have a bunch of lines to be able to hopefully fit in the different trees, and different options like leaving wood in 16" rounds, large lengths,brush disposal or no disposal, chip on-site or brush disposal, low-impact or accepting some collateral damage to lawn/ shrubs they will be removing, prune or remove etc. I try to tailor to what they want, making them feel like I am trying my best to accommodate them, and avoiding hauling wood if they can deal with it (family/ friends/ sell it). Maybe too many options at times.

I like the checklist approach. I just feel limited.

Maybe people will post some of their filled out bid sheets with/ without pricing blocked out.
 
Sorry to get off topic.

Didn't it look like the homeowner gave the hack whom just wrongfully cut her prized tree down a glass of ice tea?
 
This has happened to me during our last ice storm. My work orders have a billing address and a jobsite address listed at the top. My customer happened to have a damaged red maple in the front yard at his house, and also at a rental house, which we were supposed to go and remove. The crew went to his house instead of the rental house, and removed his red maple from the front yard. I was embarrassed and upset, fortunately he was easy to deal with: I did all the work for free, ground out the stumps and planted several new trees of his choice at both locations. I guess my point is that it can happen when things get crazy.
 
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This has happened to me during our last ice storm. My work orders have a billing address and a jobsite address listed at the top. My customer happened to have a damaged red maple in the front yard at his house, and also at a rental house, which we were supposed to go and remove. The crew went to his house instead of the rental house, and removed his red maple from the front yard. I was embarrassed and upset, fortunately he was easy to deal with: I did all the work for free, ground out the stumps and planted several new trees of his choice at both locations. I guess my point is that it can happen when things get crazy.

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It can happen. CTM's digital picture idea is a good one, especially when there are a lot of the same tree, and the sales person is not part of the work crew, or even if it has been a while since the bid. One small hemlock can look like another small hemlock, etc, etc. We had a little hemlock mistake recently. There is a root disease in the area that is hammering all the hemlocks, many tree failures, resulting in additional removals. The homeowner was okay, once I assured her that the 5th tree she wanted removed would still be removed (and the next day, at that).
 
This is definately something for the behind the desk section. A company I worked for when I got out of college did this type of thing TWICE!! First time was was at a community college campus. We were removing several trees and along the way they decided not to remove one of the trees they originally wanted, but it didn't get put on the job sheet. Second we removed a mature American chestnut(only one I have ever seen in person), when we were only supposed to prune it. In both cases it was problems with the work orders and could have easily been prevented if sales person had given an attention to detail.
 
Welcome "Ourboarwrist"!
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Sean. You're right my check box system is only effective for cut & dry smaller jobs. However, the majority of my work is going to be around 3 trees or so. For, complicated bids, I create a whole different document.
 
I have done some contract jobs for other comps. and insist on meeting and seeing the jobs, used to work for one comp. and did a booboo removal and dead tree front yard on this road, forgot the AVE. part of the road. People weren't mad just wondering. Next day right tree right house and some ribbing from the owner about it. So seeing the job and photots and job order to go with it is a good idea.
 
I've never worked on the wrong tree, but was accused once of taking out an extra tree. We had removed one tree and left the firewood. It just so happened that I left the stump cut sitting next to the stump, so it looked like there were two stumps. The guy screamed at us for taking out two trees instead of one, until we went over and flipped the stump cut over, showing him that it was just a piece of the tree he wanted gone.

He didn't even bother getting a close look before he went off on his tirade, he just looked from his window. Classy.
 
Hello all. I heard a story the other night about a local tree service that removed the wrong tree. I don't know the specifics other then they were hired to remove a dead tree from the front yard by a family member of the homeowner.
When the homeowner returned, the dead tree was still standing however the live tree that was next to it was gone.
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-BarnHouse
 
A competitor removed a tree on the neighbouring property to where he was supposed to be working (he only removed half before he figured out his mistake). The owner of the wrongfully hacked tree asked for my assistance, i did a valuation and she received over $10k from the dude's insurance company. Only took about 8 months of negotiating.
 
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