Pricing removals and pruning

[lone wolf]

You're telling me! Just last week I bid a tree ( 1/2 dead and surrounded by a vinyl fence and near lines and in the wayyyy back of a guys yard) I tell him $1200 to talk it down to where he wants ( to about 18 ft) and I call him back the next day to see what's up. He tells me he hired Pedro Lowballer who is doing it for $600 with a bucket!

Funny thing is I drive by a few days later on my way to another quote and realize his fence is missing a few more panels than before.... Beware of who you hire!

Honestly I don't mind though. The day after that I sold a $3000 job to remove a big 80ft oak. My phone never stops ringing so it doesn't matter to me!

Even funnier, I just looked at one an hour ago, 11oo tree someone said that they thought I would do it for 700.00 , I said that's pure ridiculousness!

 

[DR. P. Proteus]

I just wanted some advice man, nothing wrong with that.

If you say so it must be true.

 

[jefflovstrom]

I would never ask someone what to charge,,,dumb,,,,
Jeff

 

[DR. P. Proteus]

I would never ask someone what to charge,,,dumb,,,,
Jeff

Its said that there is no such thing as stupid question. I don't think that statement is true.

 

[david1332]

Its said that there is no such thing as stupid question. I don't think that statement is true.

I'm not looking for exact numbers, THAT is stupid. Just some tips to help figure out overhead, how long something will take, etc.

 

[ATH]

......

Honestly I don't mind though. The day after that I sold a $3000 job to remove a big 80ft oak. My phone never stops ringing so it doesn't matter to me!

Yep. That is the best attitude to have. Do something to make yourself worth it! (I know...some markets are really flooded with really low priced competition. I still believe if you find a niche in those markets there is room for success!

 

[jefflovstrom]

I'm not looking for exact numbers, THAT is stupid. Just some tips to help figure out overhead, how long something will take, etc.

OK, here are some tip's,,
figure out your overhead and how long something will take you,,,
Jeff

 

[david1332]

Yep. That is the best attitude to have. Do something to make yourself worth it! (I know...some markets are really flooded with really low priced competition. I still believe if you find a niche in those markets there is room for success!

That's how I like to look at it.

 

[no tree to big]

Now here's a question if you are a crappy climber and it takes you twice as long to cut down a tree do you charge double? Or do you work for less per hour? Now if you are as graceful as a squirrel and it takes you half tge time of an average guy do u focus on your hourly rate or the tree itself? Like some trees are huge but with proper gear take less then 2 hrs so is that a 1000 dollar tree if u are shooting for 100 man/hr plus drive time? Or do you price it as a 2000 dollar tree because it would take a guy with out a bucket or crane all day of back breaking work?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[david1332]

Now here's a question if you are a crappy climber and it takes you twice as long to cut down a tree do you charge double? Or do you work for less per hour? Now if you are as graceful as a squirrel and it takes you half tge time of an average guy do u focus on your hourly rate or the tree itself? Like some trees are huge but with proper gear take less then 2 hrs so is that a 1000 dollar tree if u are shooting for 100 man/hr plus drive time? Or do you price it as a 2000 dollar tree because it would take a guy with out a bucket or crane all day of back breaking work?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

If you're more efficient you actually charge more so you can make what you need to make in a day. You can be a little cheaper if you like but not by a crazy amount. I just don't understand how you can use a crane or a bucket+ crew+ insurance etc. for $600 on a job that will still take atleast a 1/2 day with a bucket.

 

[mckeetree]

The longer it goes the weirder it gets.

 

[jefflovstrom]

The longer it goes the weirder it gets.

Jeff

 

[Griff93]

Unfortunately sometimes it's what the market will bear. Pricing according to your costs and overhead is a nice idea but somewhat unrealistic depending on where you are located. I'm not the cheapest guy around but I'm also not the most expensive either. I regularly loose out based on price. At some point, not getting work becomes a problem. Our market is flooded. There's 112 tree services in a 20 mile area. There's basically no enforcement of following the rules. I know of multiple tree services that don't even have a chipper because their mode of operation is to dump illegal. It's tough to get good paying work with that kind of stuff going on.

 

[david1332]

Unfortunately sometimes it's what the market will bear. Pricing according to your costs and overhead is a nice idea but somewhat unrealistic depending on where you are located. I'm not the cheapest guy around but I'm also not the most expensive either. I regularly loose out based on price. At some point, not getting work becomes a problem. Our market is flooded. There's 112 tree services in a 20 mile area. There's basically no enforcement of following the rules. I know of multiple tree services that don't even have a chipper because their mode of operation is to dump illegal. It's tough to get good paying work with that kind of stuff going on.[/QUOTE
Why would you stay in the industry if you can't support yourself then?

 

[crotchclimber]

How do I prune and shape the outside and canopy without a bucket or lift?

Climb with a pole pruner. Learning to prune tips from inside the tree to improve shape or thin is usually the most difficult skill to learn for new climbers.

 

[david1332]

Will do!

 

[Griff93]

I'm able to support myself but not to the extent that I should for the amount of work we do. I'm not interested in working for peanuts forever. I have a second business that is taking off. I think my tree work days are getting numbered.

 

[david1332]

I'm able to support myself but not to the extent that I should for the amount of work we do. I'm not interested in working for peanuts forever. I have a second business that is taking off. I think my tree work days are getting numbered.

Let me know when you're done and I might have a look at some equipment for a deal

 

[MSgtBob66]

David,
Once again, don't listen to the pr!cks on this forum tha give you sh!t. Go at it smart, pay for your equipment with cash until you figure out what to finance, and keep asking questions. No question is dumb, no matter what the salty veterans say. Sounds like you are approaching jobs safely, and make that your number 1 priority. 2 should be good value for the customer, and oftentimes that means educating them. Keep learning trees. I stopped the tree removals because I'm beat up. But I know root systems and keep learning about them because I wreck them. You are young and can learn a little about a lot, or a lot about a little. Your choice, but keep learning, be smart about your money, and you'll do fine.

Bob

 

[jefflovstrom]

David,
Once again, don't listen to the pr!cks on this forum tha give you sh!t. Go at it smart, pay for your equipment with cash until you figure out what to finance, and keep asking questions. No question is dumb, no matter what the salty veterans say. Sounds like you are approaching jobs safely, and make that your number 1 priority. 2 should be good value for the customer, and oftentimes that means educating them. Keep learning trees. I stopped the tree removals because I'm beat up. But I know root systems and keep learning about them because I wreck them. You are young and can learn a little about a lot, or a lot about a little. Your choice, but keep learning, be smart about your money, and you'll do fine.

Bob

Who are the 'pricks'?
Do you have more experience than these so-called 'pricks'?
What are your credentials?
I think David can handle straight talk, but you can not.

Jeff,,