things have picket up how about you

[sharkfin12us]

How is every one doing things are picking up.Thank god if you have your own business or steady job.

 

[TDunk]

The garage is staying pretty steady and the same for the tree work. The garage i'm not to worried about (bad economy= people keeping there cars longer=more garage work) The tree work on the other hand i've heard more than a few guys say that they think it's going to start dying off after the "spring fever" is over. But no signs of that hear.

 

[Blakesmaster]

I'm back on 4 days a week with the old boss climbin' about 10 hrs. a day and my phone's ringing enough to fill the other 3 days of the week. Lots of small jobs though. No one seems to want to pony up a few grand for a big removal but I keep lining up $200 here, $600 there and make out all right. Not my style really, I like the monster jobs that take a day or two but I'm still makin' money runnin' 'round pickin' up a bill or two where I can.

 

[tree md]

I'm back on 4 days a week with the old boss climbin' about 10 hrs. a day and my phone's ringing enough to fill the other 3 days of the week. Lots of small jobs though. No one seems to want to pony up a few grand for a big removal but I keep lining up $200 here, $600 there and make out all right. Not my style really, I like the monster jobs that take a day or two but I'm still makin' money runnin' 'round pickin' up a bill or two where I can.

Same here. Most of mine have been smaller jobs lately. I have done a few drive byes on the larger ones I've bid and three of them are still standing. Nobody wanting to pony up the big bucks right now. I'm getting by on the smaller jobs though; That is when I don't get my throat cut by the hackscapers who are working for peanuts.

 

[prentice110]

In my ten years this is the worst Ive seen of the "TreeScapers". Everyone with a chainsaw and truck is cuttin in my area. Were still busier than I expected though, thanks to an emergancy city contract job. Actually have a lot booked, just cant get in due to 4 inches of rain in the last 2 weeks. Also have a city brush pickup starting on the 5th of may thatll keep us busy for over 2 weeks. I sure hope it dries up by then cuz Julio dont mind rippin up the lawns for a few quick peso's!

 

[ozzy42]

A little better than it was in dec. or jan. ,but nothing like it was last year.
Like everybody else,lot of small jobs.
This place is going to be a wreck when a good tropical storm comes thru.
People are for the most part being complacent with their trees.
How soon they forget.

 

[B-Edwards]

I spoke to a grading contractor today about building a pond. This fellow said he has nothing going on and he is one of the more honest fellows around here doing this kind of work. I spoke to two others who arent as honest as this fellow and they have work booked but no new work coming in. I spoke to home builders as I am going to build a house very soon. Same story, these guys are running out of work . Add to that the pig flu and it looks very very very scary. Lets all pray I am over reacting.

 

[Raymond]

I guess I should quit talking crap on churches.

I landed a chuch job last week for 3 grand. Was nothing but a bunch of pole sawing and cutting underbrush, around the parking lot.
I had 5 groundmen and the claw. So many guys I really didn't do crap but point and clean and sharpen saws. After paying everyone and the claw I made an even 2 grand and was done by 3:30...Now that's what I'm talking about.

But yeah I'm back to small jobs again myself.

 

[talloak]

I hope things get better where iam people are not spending any money on there trees here

 

[tomtrees58]

its dead here on L I tom trees

 

[John464]

we were averaging 3-4k a day per crew last year. now we are right around 2k a day. We are working just as hard if not harder to hit that number per day. Here and there an occassional big money job comes along. Normally the days consist of doing multiple small jobs to hit our target. We are very busy though, but not making the profit Id like.

 

[Raymond]

we were averaging 3-4k a day per crew last year. now we are right around 2k a day. We are working just as hard if not harder to hit that number per day. Here and there an occassional big money job comes along. Normally the days consist of doing multiple small jobs to hit our target. We are very busy though, but not making the profit Id like.

Doing what? Where? For who?

 

[booboo]

Very slow here, slowest I've ever seen and no sign of improvement yet. Very few calls coming in and those that are are small jobs. The one bigger job we've bid on lately we didn't get. Owner balked on the price, we had a serious discussion between ourselves about the pros and cons of lowering the price just to land the job. I was opposed but the price got lowered and the owner went for it, then called back and canceled. I haven't been by to see if we got underbid or if they just decided not to do the work. I'm totally thankful we don't have a lot of overhead like the big players around here do.

 

[NCTREE]

This is my third year in business. Spring is my best time of the year, I make most of my hibernating winter money in spring. I've had very sucessful springs my first two years. This spring has been rough, I am getting some big jobs but still finding myself working only two or three days a week. This worries me already about this coming winter. I've had lots of sucess with advertising in the past but this year I barely made my money back on the advertising. Right now it is steady with only three to five calls a week but I think its gonna die off very quickly this summer. I feels sorry for those guys that have lots of unpaid equiptment and crews to feed. I agree that every tom, ####, and harry with a chainsaw is out there cutting, screwing up trees and taking work away from the true professionals.

 

[TDunk]

I don't know if this is a good idea or a bad idea, but what about having to have a permit to do tree work in cities or within city limits. It won't help the people in rural areas (like me) but it might cut down on the "slash and hacks". Just a thought.........

 

[B-Edwards]

I don't know if this is a good idea or a bad idea, but what about having to have a permit to do tree work in cities or within city limits. It won't help the people in rural areas (like me) but it might cut down on the "slash and hacks". Just a thought.........

I spoke to the Health Dept last week about putting in a septic system for a house I am building for myself. They said" nope you cant do it, you have to be a certified septic tank installer" . I think it is BS because i will do at least as good but probably better job than anyone I can hire. With that being said i still think it is a good idea over-all. The thing with a septic system is, the inspector has to inspect it anyway , no matter who does it. As far as tree business, I think it is a good idea. I was always competing with clowns who had no general liability or Workman's comp. They could charge less and always made more. Most don't understand that when you hire some-one to do tree work for you ,you are responsible for them because you "HIRED" them. They are considered your employee.

 

[Raymond]

Working in/on the shop due to rain

I spoke to the Health Dept last week about putting in a septic system for a house I am building for myself. They said" nope you cant do it, you have to be a certified septic tank installer" . I think it is BS because i will do at least as good but probably better job than anyone I can hire. With that being said i still think it is a good idea over-all. The thing with a septic system is, the inspector has to inspect it anyway , no matter who does it. As far as tree business, I think it is a good idea. I was always competing with clowns who had no general liability or Workman's comp. They could charge less and always made more. Most don't understand that when you hire some-one to do tree work for you ,you are responsible for them because you "HIRED" them. They are considered your employee.

Just a suggestion but have you checked into getting a septic tank licence? Anyone with 30 bucks can walk in and get one, they just want your money they care if you know what you're doing or not.

I remember when I went in to get my tree trimming licence. I thought I was going to be proud of it but NO they just wanted my money they don't even know what I can do.

You get/pay it once and let it expire, just a thought.

 

[B-Edwards]

I was told by the health inspector that it cost $300.00 for the license here but I am not sure.

 

[tree md]

Just a suggestion but have you checked into getting a septic tank licence? Anyone with 30 bucks can walk in and get one, they just want your money they care if you know what you're doing or not.

I remember when I went in to get my tree trimming licence. I thought I was going to be proud of it but NO they just wanted my money they don't even know what I can do.

You get/pay it once and let it expire, just a thought.

Raining here too.

Some municipalities require a license to do tree work. I was working for my attorney in a small municipal just South of Atlanta onetime and was asked for one by a city flunky. My attorney did a lot of investing in small houses and would fix them up and flip them. I did a lot of tree work for him. I was taking out a tree on one of his projects and he was the only one helping me. All of a sudden the city flunky pulled up in his city car and asked me if I had a license to do tree work in the city. Before I could answer my attorney told the guy that I was not a professional and was working for him. The guy insisted that I still needed to purchase a license to do the work. My attorney then told the guy that he was an attorney and an officer of the city court and had never heard of such a thing. After a few words the city flunky backed down and left us alone. I just smiled at him as he left. He gave me a look that could kill. I was lucky to have just so happened to be working for my attorney. No secret about what the flunky was doing; he was trying to shake me down for money.

 

[tree md]

Stumps, stumps, stumps

Stumps,stumps, stumps. Rain, rain, rain!

Got 11 stumps backed up due to rain and just had a lady call on 3 more. What else you gonna do on a rainy day. Wish someone would call on a tree! :chainsawguy: