How much to charge????

[indiansprings]

As you prolly have read we are primarily farmers and firewood cutters.
I had a lady stop me in the road a couple of days ago and ask me if we would consider doing some tree removal for her. She had heard we did a lot of "wood cutting". I looked at what she wants done.

It is the removal of four black locust all about the same size, all about 16-18" in diameter about thirty foot tall. Thorny as all get out. No buildings are remotely close, just a five foot high rock wall. I don't see any issue falling them. They want the wood removed, all limbs/debris piled and burned. We keep the wood. I expect it will take the better part of a day and the use of our little 45hp tractor and loader for a couple of hours. It's an older couple that live a couple of miles from the house so no big deal as far as moving equiment. Would asking 300.00 be a fair price? We've never charged for tree work, we usually just do it for the wood, but I hate dealing with locust.

 

[Tree Pig]

As you prolly have read we are primarily farmers and firewood cutters.
I had a lady stop me in the road a couple of days ago and ask me if we would consider doing some tree removal for her. She had heard we did a lot of "wood cutting". I looked at what she wants done.

It is the removal of four black locust all about the same size, all about 16-18" in diameter about thirty foot tall. Thorny as all get out. No buildings are remotely close, just a five foot high rock wall. I don't see any issue falling them. They want the wood removed, all limbs/debris piled and burned. We keep the wood. I expect it will take the better part of a day and the use of our little 45hp tractor and loader for a couple of hours. It's an older couple that live a couple of miles from the house so no big deal as far as moving equiment. Would asking 300.00 be a fair price? We've never charged for tree work, we usually just do it for the wood, but I hate dealing with locust.

$300 for all or $300 a tree?

$300 for all is a great deal for them, cover some of your expenses as long as nothing breaks down of course.

 

[indiansprings]

300.00 for the whole job. I really don't what to get in the tree removal business, if I do it too cheap word will get around, then the phone will start ringing.

 

[Damon]

i charge 100 a tree for simple cut and drop if i get the wood less if they take care of it particularly softwood sometimes ill charge less if it is primo fire wood or whatever if i know i can turn it later on

i think your price is more then fair for them and you should make some money as well

 

[D&B Mack]

I just did similar work and charged close to the same price, but my trees were larger. But i took the benefit of the additional wood into account. I would say it is a fair price.

 

[indiansprings]

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[dingeryote]

Older folks are getting hammered by the economy and they are neighbors. I'd charge 'em the crew wages/fuel/wear and tear, and tell 'em to hush about it.

Then give 'em a bunch of Firewood Bidness Cards to pass to thier friends at Bingo.

Locust thorns suck, but dangit, the stuff is worth it.

Stay safe!
Dingeryote

 

[treeman75]

I would charge 100. a tree and the first time you get stuck with a thorn you will be glad you did. Every time I do a honey locus I get poked and I think they have a poisen or something in the thorns because it stings and burns and swells up were I get stuck. Take your time and be carefull!!

 

[rarefish383]

I would charge 100. a tree and the first time you get stuck with a thorn you will be glad you did. Every time I do a honey locus I get poked and I think they have a poisen or something in the thorns because it stings and burns and swells up were I get stuck. Take your time and be carefull!!

Locust thorns do have a toxin in them. I say you are in the Close Friend and Relative price range. For older folks you're doing them a good turn. I'm doing a big dead hickory this week end. It has to be climbed, but nothing roped, just dropped. Then chunked down in 4' pieces. No clean up, $800. I never use the wood as part of the figuring of payment. Even if it's prime Oak, I charge extra to take it away. We get $200 a cord here in MD, and the time and labor involved to handle wood that many times, I'd be working at a loss.

I think you are a good neighbor, and I give you a pat on the back, just don't let word get out that you work that cheap. Plus, you're blowing the bottom out of the market for the guys in the tree business for a living, Joe.

 

[crashagn]

For a neihber, thats a decent price. Especially if you dont have to chip all the branches and get rid of the stumps. Just took 2 tree's down in town. It was for a person that we work at the same company. He helped lower chunks down from the ground, stacked the brush on the pickup and also rolled all the wood I wanted into the back of the truck, and 2 paid lunches. Took 7 brush loads to the city dump less then 1/4 mile away. No charge. His across the road neihber asked him to ask me if I would take a tree down in her back yard and she would pay me to do it. I glanced at the tree from across the road. Tall, buildings to close and its split right up the middle. No way no how. This is my hobby- I get to pick and choose