Price check!

[Iustinian]

I thought $700/tree sounded pretty low too, what with the rigging involved but mainly because of having to haul it all uphill.

Our bids/pricing in this area have been mid to high and typically we plan to make these amounts hourly:
$90/hr climber
$65/hr labor (ground guys, or sawman)
$150/hr chipper (includes one laborer)
$200/hr aerial truck (includes operator)

I will say that I know of more than one company that just figures everything $55/man hour, but one in particular that I know of has not been able to pay their guys much, had high turnover, but they have nice equipment and follow ANSI & ISA pruning standards and are TCIA acredited. I'm pretty sure we're quite a bit faster than they are, because our bids aren't unreasonable compared to theirs though.

I wouldn't discuss your pricing strategy with a customer though, unless he's interested in having you do it by-the-hour. Most customers I know of tend to shy from by-the-hour bids so ocassionally we still do that, but with a "not-to-exceed [X] dollars" clause in the contract.

Hope this helps.

 

[sgreanbeans]

I did a "by the hour" deal last year, guy was a IT dude, had a huge home and had cameras everywhere. When it came time to settling up, he pops out this time line, tells me that he inst paying for when "this guy took a break from 8:14 to 8:36" and when he was changing a chain from 10:12 to...........I looked at him and told him very firmly "NO, we are not playing this game" I gave him my hours and a total, then held out my hand, he kinds smirked and wrote a check.

 

[Rickytree]

I did a "by the hour" deal last year, guy was a IT dude, had a huge home and had cameras everywhere. When it came time to settling up, he pops out this time line, tells me that he inst paying for when "this guy took a break from 8:14 to 8:36" and when he was changing a chain from 10:12 to...........I looked at him and told him very firmly "NO, we are not playing this game" I gave him my hours and a total, then held out my hand, he kinds smirked and wrote a check.

Good for you, Good 4 u..
Good for you. - YouTube

 

[treeman75]

I thought $700/tree sounded pretty low too, what with the rigging involved but mainly because of having to haul it all uphill.

Our bids/pricing in this area have been mid to high and typically we plan to make these amounts hourly:
$90/hr climber
$65/hr labor (ground guys, or sawman)
$150/hr chipper (includes one laborer)
$200/hr aerial truck (includes operator)

I will say that I know of more than one company that just figures everything $55/man hour, but one in particular that I know of has not been able to pay their guys much, had high turnover, but they have nice equipment and follow ANSI & ISA pruning standards and are TCIA acredited. I'm pretty sure we're quite a bit faster than they are, because our bids aren't unreasonable compared to theirs though.

I wouldn't discuss your pricing strategy with a customer though, unless he's interested in having you do it by-the-hour. Most customers I know of tend to shy from by-the-hour bids so ocassionally we still do that, but with a "not-to-exceed [X] dollars" clause in the contract.

Hope this helps.

Sounds right to me!

 

[PremiereTreeNet]

I agree with tree md. Lowering your pay rate with a bigger crew doesn't make sense. But, like Iustinian said, don't discuss your pricing strategy with your customer, especially if it involves telling him that you pay your workers more than average. While that makes you a great guy, it tends to scare customers off. Even the entertainment industry is having problems with the bills in this economy and paying more than they need to is not something a customer wants to know. That being said, it sounds like you handled that well. If you're still getting work, you must be doing something right!

 

[capecodtree]

Rates

Iustinian
I typically run a four man crew. climber, bucket truck/op, chipper, two ground guys. According to your rates you would get $505/hr or $4,040/day for an eight hour day, $5,050 for a ten hour day. let me know if I read you right. my bags are packed and we'll be out. Jim

 

[Rickytree]

chipper, bucket, plus 2 guys. umm carry the 1 and um ya that's alot a dough

 

[tree md]

chipper, bucket, plus 2 guys. umm carry the 1 and um ya that's alot a dough

And aught, aught and carry your aught...

 

[treemandan]

You should have kept your mouth shut. From the way it sounds you do way to much talking. I am not trying to be offensive, it sounds like you are volunteering more information than needed.
If you are still wanting to do the job try this: Call him up, say this exactly " Look, I am trying to get some work done, I have people I need to keep busy, bills to pay. I spent a good amount of time making sure you understood everything. We are ready to go. How about it? "
You are gonna want to sound authoratative but not like a hard ass.

 

[beastmaster]

Here's a pic from top of one of the neighbor's palm trees. Actually looks to be more than a couple hundred yards away. It is a MASSIVE sign!

View attachment 221908

Hey, I remember that job:smile2:
Mike I bet those pines if single trunked are canary island pines. They can be deceiving figuring out how long they'll take. They are one of the few pines that have dormant buds(they'll grow from a stump) If the last time they were trimmed they were over thinned or loin-tailed which seems to be the status quo these days, they put out a ton of suckers. Everyplace the bark got nicked, suckers.. They get heavy and shaggy on the ends. Their not always as straight forward as most pines. So I don't think you bidded high. The drag alone is worth adding a 100.00 a tree.
Even the butchers are going to bid high on those trees.(Hollywood hills surcharge)
It only takes one bad trim job to ruin those trees and lower his property value.
He's British? i hate the British. :msp_rolleyesJust joking)

 

[mikewhite85]

You should have kept your mouth shut. From the way it sounds you do way to much talking. I am not trying to be offensive, it sounds like you are volunteering more information than needed.
If you are still wanting to do the job try this: Call him up, say this exactly " Look, I am trying to get some work done, I have people I need to keep busy, bills to pay. I spent a good amount of time making sure you understood everything. We are ready to go. How about it? "
You are gonna want to sound authoratative but not like a hard ass.

In retrospect I did do too much talking. Sometimes I overexplain myself. Will keep that in check next time- thanks for the advice.

Hey Wade- they weren't Canary Islands but were somewhat similar- not sure the exact variety but it looks like the last few trims were done quite well. The HO moved in recently and I imagine a certified arb trimmed them last time.

I am going back to that area tomorrow for a couple bids. Methinks I will drop by and see if those trees have been wacked yet.