liability

[murphy4trees]

On of my peers told me a year or two ago that he did one job for 200K, for the Walter Annenberg... Now I couldn't imagine spending that kind of money on trees (and landscape install including stone work)... That is precisely why I don't work for those kind of clients.... We the service providers have to believe in the value of the work in order to be able to sell it.
I sold my first $5,000.00 tree removal this year... And subbed the work to the above contractor for 2500. His crew slammed a brick retaining wall at my friend's gas station , so I Am holding his $ 'til the wall gets fixed. Now a guy like that doesn't have time to spend on the internet... That's why most of the contributors here tend to be small guys. Does anybody here run more than two crews on a regular basis... those are the guys doing the 100K jobs...
So you go Matt.... I'd do a little more homework before a I walked away from that kind of potential... or maybe just sell the pesticide application, or something like that...

 

[Dan F]

Matt-

Based on everything I've seen from you on this subject about the client my advise is this:

If the client decides to have you do ANY work, call your attorney. Have him write up a contract for both you and the client to sign (on a job that size I'd probably have it notarized too, check with the attorney about it). Include a clause that allows you to walk if things aren't going right. Include a payment schedule. Include, well lessee, EVERYTHING that could possibly happen. Plain and simple, CYA!

And document EVERYTHING, starting now! Pictures, before, during and after. Emails, letters, take notes of EVERY conversation you have with him. If you don't have pen and paper, write down what you remember as soon as you can. If anything changes from the original contract, document it, and get a new contract drawn up!

Trust me on this. We had to go see a lawyer to get an old lady (old b*tch, rather) to shut up and leave us alone over a $1700 lawn install this spring. A lawn install that we did nothing wrong on, and gave her no guarantee for. If it can happen over $1700, it sure as hell can happen over $150,000. I can't say it enough, if you have ANY doubts whatsoever about this guy and still decide to do work for him, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!


Dan

 

[treeman82]

The home owner and I had a talk yesterday. He wants to do this little by little because his money is being tied up elsewhere which I wasn't aware of. (Renovating a BIG house) I did get in touch with my lawyer last night about having a waiver made up just in case anything happens. (He only wants to do the removals by the driveway / pool / house / tennis court for right now. Let the hangers fall when the time comes.)

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

There is a diferance with a budget for general maintinance or lanscape installation and straight tree work.

I've seen big outlays for chemical work and such, but people see that differently.

C'est la vie