new member

[begleytree]

Hello, I've been reading posts here for a while, finally decided to jump in the pool.

Been doing tree work for 15 years now, still learning everyday. I hold a BS in ag sciences and the usual ISA certification.

I started my own company (landscaping) 4 years ago and started another (tree) 2 years ago.
Still enjoy climbing and do so every chance I get, although supervision of crews and writing estimates require most of my time these days.

I posted this over on the off topic forum, but so far no handshakes, then seen intros were put here

Nice site, looks to be a cool place to relax with folks that know what you do all day

-Ralph

 

[MasterBlaster]

Welcome to AS, Ralph.

 

[NeTree]

Welcome. Come, pull up a nice chair, get the fire stoked, and enjoy.

 

[mikecross23]

Hey there. You'll learn a lot from Arborist Site. . .

SO ENJOY!!!

-Mike-

 

[Lumberjack]

Howdy and welcome. "Gather round for the good stuff."


Carl

 

[topnotchtree]

Welcome! and above all......enjoy!

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i think we all know what it is like to trip across this site; and like find 'your people' that talk about and see what you do a lot; kinda an understanding that you can't half with but few other on the planet!

Got any neat tricks i can steal? Like Butch said; "let's get this party started!"

Sorry if we been tearing it up here and haven't been in the OT(overtime?) forum much! No un friendliness meant, heck we jest welcomed a refugee from the Chainsaw forum; we're so open minded!

:alien:

 

[Scars2prove-it]

Ralph, Welcome to the forum. Since you don't climb all the time you must have a climber working for you. Do you find it difficult to find good climbers? How do you get them? I've been looking for one but can't get any responses. I might try again now since most other companies are slow.

 

[begleytree]

Scars,
The recent buyout of Nelson by **** has caused a lot of guys to call looking for work. As you know, all tree guys either know each other or have heard stories of each other in our respective areas, when word was put out I needed a couple of climbers, the phone started ringing.
My biggest hurdle was hiring the right one. We took a lot of time finding and waiting for the right one. We looked up public records on line (local courst) and ran background checks and drug test. we also ruled out those with tattoos and piercings visable as that doesn't fit into what we want our company image to be. About 40% of our clients are elderly, and are not into that sort of thing. We didn't want a climber/foreman with money problems/failure to pay bills. I figure if a climber can't manage his money at home, he can't bid work, handle fuel/emergency money or be responsible for the host of other things a small company foreman does that a large company's 'truck jockey' doesn't. We may have been a little too picky, but that narrowed our search down to a manageable level, and we found a foreman that is as much a family member as an employee. We pay him bid hours for each job and started him at nearly twice what his pay at the other places was. He also makes commission of 10% for each job he estimates and we do, along with pay on the job itself.
I guess what I'm trying to say is don't rush into it, do a lot of looking. It would be better for you to move the right person into your area and pay his expenses in the long run than hiring the wrong person. Your new guy will have access to your clients, so you don't want the worry of him doing side work for your customers. Check with your local employment agency to start, many are on layoff right now.
Long reply, I hope I've been of some help.

 

[MasterBlaster]

No visable tattoos, eh?

 

[blue]

BEGLEYTREE
with your criteria i'm surprised you ever found anyone to work for you.where did you find this guy?i think he must of come from a tibetan monastary!i've worked with alot of people inthe last14 years of tree surgery.some looked like they were cavemen but were in fact the politest most curtious people i have ever met(not to mention a bloody good climbers who taught me a lot)others looked very respectable but were complete ???????s,one was even a complete psyco who i saw on numerous occasions try to start fights with clients and even members of the public.i suppose my point is NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT COVER

 

[begleytree]

blue,
I do agree, and the tats don't bother me personally. around here a person either has a tat somewhere on their arm or shoulder or they are covered up with them and also with not less than 5 rings in their face. I did have a guy earlier with both of them, and he was a very good guy and worker, but I kept getting complaints from customers and requests that he not be assigned back on their properties. not because of his work, but his looks. Work is hard enough without the extra hassel, and when he left the area, I quit adding to my work load that way.
The money part is due to a landscape foreman I had. I kept him with an extra $200 for extras customers might add, so he could just pick it up and finish. never worked that way, he always was spending the money on smokes, water bill, lunch, gas in personal car, the list goes on and on.

I'm not explaining myself, just helping you to understand my position, and why I chose those criteria. Some chose other guidelines as simple as 10 fingers and heartbeat!

I'm sure everyone here that works for themselves takes their job just as seriously as I, and would not give up some of their best paying customers to keep a guy that those customers asked not come back onto the property.

It works for me, here, and now.
-Ralph

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by begleytree
... and also with not less than 5 rings in their face.