Do any of you guys have experience working/charging insurance companies for burn area clean up or tree clean up in general? I have a few clients who would like a bid for me to clean up all their burned trees from a wildland fire. The clean up is going to be paid for by the insurance company of the landowner who started the fire. It is all old growth Ponderossa pine, big nasty stuff and is non merchantable so it's basically just a cut, pile, and chip process. Might save some logs for firewood but thats about it. It's rough steep country, approximately 50-60 acres on 4 different parcels. The landowner's say the insurance company wants a firm price, I want to be fair, but I want to make some money too. Most of the trees are all hazard trees, lots of widow makers, cat faced, etc. so my fire experience will be priceless. Any suggestions on how to bid something like that? Any ideas on price per acre or any thoughts I should consider? My plan is to go in and fall all the trees, use a self propelled track chipper with a winch to chip and broad cast everything the chipper is cabable of, then forward the logs out and deck. Possibly have my T300 with rotating log grapple and an excavator to help feed the chipper. It's going to be a lot of work, but I think there should be some good money in it, as long as I bid it correctly. Thanks for any help.
Burn Area Cleanup
- Thread starter thansen
- Start date
Help Support Arborist Forum:
bullbuck
ArboristSite Guru
can you get in there with a dozer?
bullbuck
ArboristSite Guru
Yes, You could get the majority of the projects with a dozer but they don't want slash piles. A burning slash pile is what started all this mess!
darn,i really dont know then?the dozer slash pile thing with winter coming on sounded pretty good to me,wait for the first decent snow and light em off,but if you are gonna have to handle the stuff the price should go up quite a bit,are you the only bidder?
I agree with you on the dozer pileing. It was an idea I approached them with but they were not receptive to it. As far as I know I'm the only one. I figure everyone else is smart enough to stay away from it! I guess the insurance company will either pay what we need to do the job safely and efficiently or not. Trouble is I'm just a bit nervous putting a price tag on it, I would much rather work by $/day or $/hr on something like this.
bullbuck
ArboristSite Guru
i think that we have chatted before,and i have checked out your website you have a real nice company and it is aimed at fuels reduction type stuff,if i remember correctly?if i were an insurance company your outfit would look like who i want to do the job,no other bidders?bid it up!that t300 will definately get alot done! guy i know here says he got 125 an hour for his similiar size skidsteer,by the hour would definately be a safer bet
hammerlogging
Addicted to ArboristSite
maybe you could ask your insurance agent how the game is played?
bullbuck
ArboristSite Guru
:agree2:
Here's a picture of one of the sites. How would you price it?
View attachment 109768
View attachment 109768
bullbuck
ArboristSite Guru
those pondos still look like merch.timber to me,without having a closer look?when did this burn?
bullbuck
ArboristSite Guru
so they want a price on that patch alone?
bullbuck
ArboristSite Guru
wheres the nearest roadway?will they allow you to deck the logs for firewooders later on?
bullbuck
ArboristSite Guru
quarter mile thats much better than total removal,buck em into 16'logs and skid em with the 300,that should go pretty fast,those limbs however theres alotta chipping there.man theres alotta variables in bidding that job,im thinking though that bid it high!sorry not much help.but looks like decent terrain to winter at redprospecter might have an idea about what to bid that patch at tho?
Do it.
Look at every single cost you have and double it. I would go in with a 300k bid and stick to it. Just b/c it sounds high doesn't mean it is. I'm in sales and people tell me day in and day out that sounds "high", in comparison to what, the previous solution that had no proof it would work? Anyway they are looking for a turnkey op that will not come back and nickel and dime them. One check one contract. If you can make promises and contract it you will get it for a great deal. 300k because no one else is going to do it. I would be willing to travel and do the job myself if I could get a licensed pro on board.
Look at every single cost you have and double it. I would go in with a 300k bid and stick to it. Just b/c it sounds high doesn't mean it is. I'm in sales and people tell me day in and day out that sounds "high", in comparison to what, the previous solution that had no proof it would work? Anyway they are looking for a turnkey op that will not come back and nickel and dime them. One check one contract. If you can make promises and contract it you will get it for a great deal. 300k because no one else is going to do it. I would be willing to travel and do the job myself if I could get a licensed pro on board.
ASD
Addicted to ArboristSite
O I wish I could bid against you
$300,000 Try like $60,000 to $90,000 tops and I am a "licensed pro"
If they want to pay $300,000 I will be their in 3 days just say go Travis
you get the contract for $300,000 keep $50,000 I will bring my boys and toys and have it done 2 shakes of a donkeys a$$
Last edited:
Aw well I have one picture to go on, my point is and i'm sure you will agree is that don't feel sorry for anyone, it's your skill set and efforts that will get this mess cleaned up as planned without further troubles. Name your price.
