Multiple tree quotes

[1savagehunter]

I need to bid a contract for 3 pines, 2 birch and 15 poplar trees. I will need to top, block and drop the 3 pines due to proximity to house but everything else will be notch and drop. My typical price is 400-500/tree that need real basic top/block and drop and 300/tree for real basic notch and drop. Due to the fact that this is a large job ... how do you guys usually bid the deal regular cost minus ??? what percent. What would be you ballpark on this contract should go for.

 

[jefflovstrom]

I don't bid "typical", I bid each job as a job.
Jeff

 

[pdqdl]

Figure out how long it will take to do the job.
Add up all your expenses.

Multiply by your rate per hour, add the expenses, mark it up a pinch for your sales effort and probable complications on the job; hand them a quote.

 

[tree md]

No such thing as a typical job or typical tree. Your looking at least a few thousand dollars worth of work. Maybe several thousand. Especially if your hauling all that away.

 

[BlackenedTimber]

based on your post, you would be charging aroun $7000 for these tree...? What is the height and DBH of the trees? HOW close to the house are the pines? any pics?

If you face and backcut most of them, I am sure you can fell 15 poplars in a short period of time. The climbing might take you a little longer, but hopefully not too long for 3 pines. Maybe an hour or two for the drops if your handy with your saw. Probly the same for the pines, or slightly longer, depending on your abilities. Are you just dropping the poplars, or do you have to limb and buck them as well?

Are you going to be working by yourself, or with assistance? I would recommend atleast one more set of hands if your going to be climbing, especially close to the house. Safety First.

as suggested previously, figure out your costs and estimated time to complete the job, add a few bucks to cover yourself if the job takes longer or is more complicated than you expected, and then add your profit.

For 3 pines, 2 birchs, and dropping 15 poplars, I dont think I could get $7000 for the job. especially if your leaving the slash and timber where it lays, and not chipping or hauling off.

Without seeing the situation myself, I cannot definitively say, but I would probly make a saturday out of it, myself and one more man, and have it done by lunch time for around $2000, if everything was staying on site. Chipping and hauling would require more manpower, equipment, and fuel, so naturally, the price would go up.

Recently did a favor for a buddy, 3 60-70ft pines, 20-24" DBH, 8 ft from the side of his house, with limbs overhanging. Took me less than 2 hours to limb and drop the 3. Hopefully your job will go just as smooth.

good luck.:greenchainsaw:

T

 

[1savagehunter]

Thanks all for your advice. I guess I wasn't clear enough on what I was looking for. I can quote a small job no problem. My issue is this job is for 20 trees and not say 1 - 3. I was trying to figure if a guy should quote the entire job and then give say a 15 - 20 % discount off total bill. I had some really awesome advice from one of my highly respected peers who told me to bid the job based on estimated time to do the job, costs plus wanted profit margin. I was going to assign a price per tree (for my calculations) x 20 and then give a say 20% discount due to a bulk job. Hope that is as clear as mud. Going to go the quote today so ... will see.

 

[WillyStDruid]

It's tough to give advice on something like this. Biggest issue is that economies vary from region to region. I read of people charging 7 dollars an inch for stump grinding in another thread. If I charged that where I live, my stumper would rust in peace.

Best bet is to calculate your overhead costs like insurance + advertising for a daily basis, factor in 10% of your job to go into a maintenance kitty for those eventual repairs, charge double for any labor that you pay for, and figure out what you'd like to pay yourself. Hopefully all will go well and you'll make more than working at a burger joint.

Bidding multiple trees at the same amount is usually fine as long as the trees and the context for their service is similar. Two identical trees; one over a skylight and power line and one in a pasture are likely going to be quite a different effort in servicing. A 20% discount sounds a bit too close to the profit margin imo. Unless it's 10% off for multiple trees and 10% off for cash!