These are things that are important to get your "gig" on the road...
-be honest: don't tell lies to get a job and then do something else
-don't make promises you can't keep... never ever do that!!!!
-be straight and tell them the problem without walking around it...
-always keep your promises, so stick to dates and appointments and be there ON TIME!!! (even in the event of a hurricane, we always show up, even if that means that we have to leave after 15 minutes.)
-keep copies of certifications and estimate forms nice and tidy in your truck.
-add insurance policies to that and show them without asking
-keep your gear nice and tidy: some people think it reflects on how well and nice work will be performed for them.
-show respect for the tree as if it was your own.
-care for people's things as if they were your own.
-when work is done, it has to look like you were never there...and leave things better then when you arrived.
-stay true to your work ethics and perform accordingly.
-certainly don't do everything the client ask, that does not comply with professional arborism
-stick with the price, even if that means that you have to work one or two hours more. Also stick to it when it turns out the other way. Even if you calculated your price wrong... keep sticking to it. It's YOUR fault, not the client's. Try to explain what went wrong, but you have to understand that chances are you will have to go home.Never ever laugh at the fact that the price is wrong and now the client has to pay more, but seek a way in the middle of both parties. Don't go argue with the client but explain gently...
-always write a written agreement... this will save you money and time although it looks like a done deal at first.
-stick to logic... Safety and tree at first, client second, money third...
If you get all these things straightened out, WORK WILL FIND YOU instead of the other way around.
MD: we discussed this in another thread but I'm gonna repeat my opinion...
If one can't perform the work themselves, one has NO BUSINESS calling oneself an arborist.
This is what I mean about being honest. A landscaper must lay on the table that he will overlook the job or work, because an EXPERT ARB will actually do the work for you.And if you do so, people will realize the fact that they are paying TWO people for the work of ONE. Don't tell them that this expert arb NEEDS you to overlook his work, because that's simply NOT the truth....We are quite capable of overlooking our own work thx...