Stress

[treeseer]

Well I don't have a fulltime crew so I don't have the volume pressure. But even if I did, I'd have to charge SOMETHING--$10 for 10 minutes maybe. I tell new callers that I don't do free estimates unless they are very close to where I am (and the tree sounds interesting).

My standard reply is to offer a comprehensive landscape inventory/diagnosis/risk assessment/plant health care analysis with recommendations, usually one hour's work, leaving them a tape recording (people like this!) and info brochures for a set fee. Most callers buy this, and most of them ask for and accept an estimate after that consultation.

All extimates are potential consultations; even if it's a simple removal there's the effects on the surrounding plants to consider, replacement options, etc. Don't charge for estimates, charge for consultations; it's you who knows about managing trees, more than the owner, and making the right decisons takes time and time is money.

 

[a_lopa]

i must admit my day off today still had three qoutes involved, one was time consuming.getting tiring guy i cant keep up just going to the best option$.wether it be a t/d or a fine prune,but t/ds are shorter and less effort

 

[treeseer]

Spent ~2 hrs on a fine prune leaning red oak--light thinning and reduction cuts all over.
1 hr later fert + mulch, many hours later annually.

Spent 2 hrs day before doing little removals. So much harder work for me. nO followup but planting--more hard bodywork.

Give me maintenance work any day!

 

[MasterBlaster]

Hey Darkstar, here's a video that'll turn that frown upside-down!

 

[darkstar]

cant the the link to work .... hey good note since i'''' lost it''''' at my worker hes working much better .....life?????????trees ........ chainsaws........