I sometimes wonder about the how the ability one company to another varies so much. What I mean is say co. A isn't very productive. They bid 1600 to prune one large tree. Say it takes them all day to do so. Is it fair for co. B to charge 1600 to do the same job in half a day and be more thorough? I hear how we want to give our customers more value. We can produce more than most anyone out there per day especially when it comes to prunning extremely large trees. What we do in a few hours some guys are still getting settled in in the top. I believe our day rates are just as competitive as the next company. Are we losing out? Its kinda to get out what I am getting at. Perhaps the client said co. A said they would come out for a full day at 1600. Then co. B says our rate is 3200 a day. I don't think people believe that co. B can do twice as much work in one day. I have been on jobs where the homeowner thought I was going to be there like a week. They look so shocked when I said we would be finished that day before they returned from work. Anyone else experience this?
Inconsistancy of Climbing Ability
- Thread starter BigJohn
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The customer needs to pay a fair price for the work and have a good idea of how long the job will take. If the company can shortcut it somehow then good for them, they don't owe anyone a refund, cause you know they aren't getting more if it takes longer than expected.
I've had people say "take as long as you need, if you want to work a few hours a day for a week it is fine with me" usually those people are looking for a lowball price. I want to get in and get the he!! out with a check as fast as I can safely and properly do the work. I use a GRCS that shortcuts big jobs BIGTIME, they get no break in price, even though certain jobs will take me half the time and the risk is even lower for me, but I am using a specialized expensive peice of equipment. I hate to see work run into multi days I prefer to get an army of guys out there and kill it in one day so I can get on with life....Slow times in the winter I might take my time, but this time of year I'm looking to increase productivity --And get paid a premium for it!
Greg
I've had people say "take as long as you need, if you want to work a few hours a day for a week it is fine with me" usually those people are looking for a lowball price. I want to get in and get the he!! out with a check as fast as I can safely and properly do the work. I use a GRCS that shortcuts big jobs BIGTIME, they get no break in price, even though certain jobs will take me half the time and the risk is even lower for me, but I am using a specialized expensive peice of equipment. I hate to see work run into multi days I prefer to get an army of guys out there and kill it in one day so I can get on with life....Slow times in the winter I might take my time, but this time of year I'm looking to increase productivity --And get paid a premium for it!
Greg
jkrueger
ArboristSite Guru
the invisible
... this is a difficult thing to answer. And a view to consider is:
Let's say you have 3 identical trees and 3 qualified teams to prune one of those trees. When complete all work was done to specifications of approved sound plant care.
It is possible to notice; one tree done, one tree done well and one 'exceptional'.
My conjecture comes from what I've noticed here in this area. I've worked for some exceptional companies, fast with a lot of talent. And when I go out alone it's takes longer and yet the results show a greater connection to the plants esthetics.
And most clients who can't see the difference don't buy my or my assosciates work. In the arts we refered to this as one who has eyes and can't see.
I do charge less than those with all the speed to be able to keep working with my friends, the trees. I work out of passion and not ambition. Guess I will never be an agressive biz person only a compulsive tree lover.
As silly as it may sound, for me it is to be the tree and not the business. And you know, I'm not always starving.
More value isn't always financial!
Sorry BigJohn, I may have brought more confussion to this important topic.
... this is a difficult thing to answer. And a view to consider is:
Let's say you have 3 identical trees and 3 qualified teams to prune one of those trees. When complete all work was done to specifications of approved sound plant care.
It is possible to notice; one tree done, one tree done well and one 'exceptional'.
My conjecture comes from what I've noticed here in this area. I've worked for some exceptional companies, fast with a lot of talent. And when I go out alone it's takes longer and yet the results show a greater connection to the plants esthetics.
And most clients who can't see the difference don't buy my or my assosciates work. In the arts we refered to this as one who has eyes and can't see.
I do charge less than those with all the speed to be able to keep working with my friends, the trees. I work out of passion and not ambition. Guess I will never be an agressive biz person only a compulsive tree lover.
As silly as it may sound, for me it is to be the tree and not the business. And you know, I'm not always starving.
More value isn't always financial!
Sorry BigJohn, I may have brought more confussion to this important topic.
Last edited:
murphy4trees
Addicted to ArboristSite
Something to consider...
Unfortunately I don't have the kind of climbing skills to have to worry about being able to prune big trees twice as fast as the next guy....
However I will from time to time fell trees that others would have to rig or even bring in a crane on...
My motto.... get the work... leaving as little money as possible on the table... Do it as fast as I can, according to my ethics, get paid and get out...
This is something to consider, not just in pruning or removals, but in grinding stumps....
My new RG super 50 is probably twice as fast as an old RG 50 on the big rootballs....
I did 3 jobs yesterday in Va. , None of which could have been reached without 4x4 or tracks... They couldn't have been done with the old machine. So is it OK to charge the same money and get the work done twice as fast.... ABSOLUTELY!!!!
The nice thing is I can bring my price down if necessary without getting hurt...
Unfortunately I don't have the kind of climbing skills to have to worry about being able to prune big trees twice as fast as the next guy....
However I will from time to time fell trees that others would have to rig or even bring in a crane on...
My motto.... get the work... leaving as little money as possible on the table... Do it as fast as I can, according to my ethics, get paid and get out...
This is something to consider, not just in pruning or removals, but in grinding stumps....
My new RG super 50 is probably twice as fast as an old RG 50 on the big rootballs....
I did 3 jobs yesterday in Va. , None of which could have been reached without 4x4 or tracks... They couldn't have been done with the old machine. So is it OK to charge the same money and get the work done twice as fast.... ABSOLUTELY!!!!
The nice thing is I can bring my price down if necessary without getting hurt...
Tom Dunlap
Addicted to ArboristSite
A fellow that I know in the industry told me to "Price the job not the work" If the job is worth $1,600 don't charge less. If you get it done quicker, great!
Day rates can be hard to sell if the client is trying to compare. I bought bananas yesterday. There were bunches that were ripe and bruised and then there were others that were ripe and ready to eat. Same cost different value.
Tom
Day rates can be hard to sell if the client is trying to compare. I bought bananas yesterday. There were bunches that were ripe and bruised and then there were others that were ripe and ready to eat. Same cost different value.
Tom
Hey Tom, where you been? We seem to do alot of day rate jobs. I find that it isn't hard to get a days worth of work done a few hours early. I guess I just hate getting a work order for a days work and then finish early just to go another job. I don't make anymore money that day. Or to finish early and be told why not prune that other big oak or what have you. I guess this is the struggle of working for someone and not yourself. I wish I could see the profit in it for me for being quick. Where is the climbers value?
NickfromWI
Addicted to ArboristSite
The mentality should be that if your boss bids something for a days worth, and you do it in half the time, you should be making a higher hourly rate...otherwise, there really is NO incentivey(financially) to hustle.
However, finances aren't the only way to look at things, as some of you may know!
love
nick
However, finances aren't the only way to look at things, as some of you may know!
love
nick
treeman82
Addicted to ArboristSite
I had a bunch of people give me prices for a locust tree a couple years ago because my ex-partner chickened out once he got up there. 2 guys gave me a price of $1,000 for 4 guys, 6 or so hrs. Just get the thing to the ground. Each of those 2 guys, I would have had to be there with my ex-partner to help. Then I got another guy who gave me a price of $950 just to get it down. All I had to do was go there and show his guys which tree it was, and make sure that they do alright. With taking a half hour lunch, 3 guys were there for 2 1/2 hrs. No damage. I was pretty happy, because I only had to put in 2 1/2 hrs of my time and saved $50 over the other guys. If I had to do it over again, I probably would have done it myself. If I had to choose between those 3 companies again though, I would pick one of the first 2. The guy who actually did it has all nice stuff, and his guys work fast... but that guy is an "urban logger" all he wants to do is take down trees, take the wood away and sell off the timer and make firewood. No interest in pruning at all. The other 2 guys are more interested in doing light work; pruning, small takedowns, vista pruning, etc. As far as which company I would rather be a part of goes, either of the first 2 would be my choice. They work normal hours, don't kill themselves all the time, and are a more social group.
MasterBlaster
TreeHouse Elder
DON'T work for the other man. Sub yourself out.
And stay away from here.
