lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

hoot gibson · 10th February 2008, 10:28 AM

just a quick question . me being the uneducated men i am about tree work it amazes me to read your stories and watch your vids. i had a friend over the other day and was showing him some of the videos , and pictures . he ask. what does it cost to have a tree cut down . i replied, im sure it would depend on the job , so i was just wondering . what was the least you ever made off a tree job and what was the most you ever made off a job . i do understand that each and every one of you have probably done it for free just to help someone . hope im not prying to much .. h

wulkowicz · 10th February 2008, 10:53 AM

I had a friend once, but he grew up.

Bob Wulkowicz

Pro Nemus · 10th February 2008, 11:00 AM

Hell, I've charged as little as $150 and as much as $10k, depending on many factors.

I try to bid a removal at a rate based upon labor and equipment hours. With the state of our local economy, even the big guys are really bidding low; hence, I don't get as many removal contracts as I used to. However, thats okay if you look at it from a profitability point of view, for we make better profits off of pruning work anyway.

TREEMONKEY · 10th February 2008, 12:22 PM

I usually take the amount of man hours, technical difficulty, danger level, and if the tree is a pain in the ass, into consideration.
If i had 2 identical trees but one had a large split in it the price may very 500$-1000$ or more and only take 20 minutes longer.
I also guess what the other companies may estimate and try to stay lower untill i am lined up with work.
I aim to make 150-200 $ per hour for chipper 2 trucks 3 men.

Therrin · 10th February 2008, 06:50 PM

Wulkowicz,

if you're going to bother to reply, you could try adding something *to* the thread, or explaining why you disagree with it. Was kinda amazed that you took the time and went out of your way to say....that?? wth?

Hoot,

I'm on the lower end than these guys.... I don't have a big boom, or lots of machinery. Climb everything (mostly). Rent a chipper if I need one.
Just to answer your question, but stating that it really is difficult to give a realistic answer with such dynamic situations and a somewhat vague way of putting it...

$25 low end
$850 high end

It answers the question, but doesn't say what they were, what factors went into it, etc etc... This is just for ONE tree right? I've made up to $1500 in a day, but I'm sure thats hella cheap compared to what alot of these guys can bring in.

There's alot that goes into this kind of thing. Some of them like Pro Nemus & Treemonkey mentioned, and alot that Wulkowicz could have mentioned, but failed to.

Personally I think of things like,
How long will it take?
How much effort does it take? How much knowledge to do it properly?
How big is it? How dangerous is it? Will I have to rent a chipper? How many groundies do I need? What will it cost in gas to get back and forth, etc etc.

Seeing as how you were right up front saying that you're uneducated about tree work specifics, I can understand where you're coming from by asking it. Afterall, I'm not sooooo old that I can't remember what it was like when I started, and remember that I really didn't know how things like that worked.

Pricing is dynamic, you have to figure it out as you go. Hope that answers your question a little more thoroughly.

TREEMONKEY · 10th February 2008, 07:32 PM

Just to clarify my 2 trucks would be a newer pickup and a very old dirty dump truck and chipper paid 5000$for the pair. i try for over a 1000$ which is a good Day but try for 1500$ish. have done much better on occasion but much worse also still new to estimating but learn every time.

newguy18 · 10th February 2008, 07:36 PM

I usually charge by the job.the more danger the more cash.

bigshea13 · 10th February 2008, 07:43 PM

depends on how bad they want the work done and how much the other guy is willing to do it for followed up with your sales pitch. one bit of advice: try not to do it too cheap or else everyone that they tell and the ones they tell and the ones they tell will expect a deal from you. kinda like a crappy chain letter.

Therrin · 10th February 2008, 07:49 PM

What Bigshea says is dead on,

but if you work for yourself you've gotta figure it out somehow. The learning curve for the first year, I think, is close to a vertical line, especially if you weren't schooled in it and haven't worked on anyone else's crew.

I've a question of my own to add in here....

Like NG said, I price per project, not an hourly thing usually.
If you give a quote for say...10 trees to be done.... and they ask you how it breaks apart on paper, do you all have it quanitified per tree, for all the things being done to it, that you can tell/show the h.o. to justify your price, or is it just a "thats just how much i need to do it all" kind of thing?

TreeCo · 10th February 2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wulkowicz

I had a friend once, but he grew up.

Bob Wulkowicz

LOL.

I have fishing buddies.

Pro Nemus · 10th February 2008, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therrin

but if you work for yourself you've gotta figure it out somehow. The learning curve for the first year, I think, is close to a vertical line, especially if you weren't schooled in it and haven't worked on anyone else's crew.

Amen, brother.

quercus · 10th February 2008, 10:31 PM

Hoot every tree is different. In the beginning you will make wrong calculations because sometimes a tree looks very different when you are in it, then when you look at it from the ground.

What may seem simple at first, is a death trap once you start on it... but hey... that's what learning is all about huh.
Sometimes environment and surroundings change in time... So start on a tree as fast as you can after putting a price on it.
Say for instance you calculate a price and put that in writing, but two months later you arrive on scene and the HO built a shed under the tree?
That's a totally different situation huh....
or... you calculate your price, and you will take it down using a false rigging crotch in an adjacent tree. One month later you arrive on scene and the adjacent tree is gone, so rigging will be a lot more difficult now...
Ya'll gonna have thoughts now like... yeah then change your price and client must understand. But since I'm a little bit allergic to that kind of practices, I try to complete the job asap and stick to the price. Fast service is real good for your businness...

wulkowicz · 10th February 2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoot gibson

I had a friend once, but he died.

Quote:

Wulkowicz,

if you're going to bother to reply, you could try adding something *to* the thread, or explaining why you disagree with it. Was kinda amazed that you took the time and went out of your way to say....that?? wth?

Am I really having to write this? My post was in response to Hoot's tag line, and I said, "I had a friend once, but he grew up." It was meant to be a small humorous comment and some apparently even got it.

I agreed with, and enjoyed, your post in another thread:

"Looks like things are going well over here Ekka...
Nice way to capture 165 posts in just a couple days. The input has been amazing, as well as pushing towards some group cohesion. Good job!!
Thanks to everyone for posting so far."

Then I have to read some judgmental drivel about about what I should contribute or that I somehow disagreed with something, but wouldn't say...?

I can't non-write for the non-reader; never have figured it out, and really any attempt to do so would be an insult to those who read. I write carefully, I write with passion, and I go back again and again to help those who have trouble with what I'm saying.

I don't write what you want--or what you expect. I do however understand how important that post is to you and you have many excellent replies, but I had nothing to comment, so I didn't and wandered away.

If you want to criticize what I do or say, go right ahead, just let it have bit of substance. Perhaps out of professional courtesy, but any reason at all would be appreciated.

By the way, I make a disciplined effort to try to think like a child; children are innocent honest observers of the world around them and I envy them. Never once have I heard a child say, "Watersprouts sap the vigor of the tree." But I have heard that ad nauseam when I started in this business and I still hear it today. But then again, what do I know?

The photo is from 1990 or so.

Bob Wulkowicz

Ekka · 11th February 2008, 12:54 AM

Oh Bob, stop it my sides are busting ... these young'ns take a bit to cotton on that's all.

Classic's.

Quote:

I can't non-write for the non-reader; never have figured it out.

I don't write what you want--or what you expect.

He asked for posts, anything, and you supplied. He wanted to flood the server here Members with Zero Posts

But I did it here Unregistered how's it going?

Hence there was the young bull and the old bull .........

Therrin · 11th February 2008, 01:29 AM

Appologies Wulkowicz,

Apparently your small humorous comment could be taken two different ways.

I agree that at times I'm full of spice and during other's that I'm more full of
crap, but I'll be upfront with that. Sometime's I'm so driven to defend my
own way of seeing things that I get overly flowery and wordy and write
lengthly posts that just put people to sleep. As a result, they don't bother
reading much of my stuff till something controversial comes up.

I notice that you posted exactly what I said that you liked, then got pretty vague with the one you didn't like, not allowing me to address it.

You address not being able to non-write for the non-reader, but then somehow suppose that you don't write what I expect or want =)
How would you know that? lol. We're both passionate with what we write, but we approach things from different angles.
When it all comes down to it, we both agree on proper stewardship in the tree care industry, the rest is personal adherance to slightly differing doctrines.

<shrugs> This is all alright though. Apparently there are parts of what we both say that are agreeable as well as disagreeable. Go figure.....

As I understand it, a watersprout is often initiated from overpruning by an untrained tree-worker (hesitant to say "arborist" here) and also often happens as a reaction to severe stresses.
In addition to the sprouting issues, is the initiation of "suckers", which are from the roots.

I liked the picture, thanks. I think that men should all strive to be able to attain the serenity required on occasion to relate to boys.

hoot gibson · 11th February 2008, 04:06 AM

wulkowicz , i understood completley . my wife always used to ask me .. when are you going to grow up?? now she is just use to it ..

i understand that there is alot of things to take into concideration . kinda like remodling a home . ekka should understand that , thanks for the responce guys ,

hoot

10th February 2008, 10:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
hoot gibson Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: central ohio Posts: 71	lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ just a quick question . me being the uneducated men i am about tree work it amazes me to read your stories and watch your vids. i had a friend over the other day and was showing him some of the videos , and pictures . he ask. what does it cost to have a tree cut down . i replied, im sure it would depend on the job , so i was just wondering . what was the least you ever made off a tree job and what was the most you ever made off a job . i do understand that each and every one of you have probably done it for free just to help someone . hope im not prying to much .. h __________________ i had a friend one, but he died .

10th February 2008, 10:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
wulkowicz Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NOVA SCOTIA Posts: 49	Re: lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I had a friend once, but he grew up. Bob Wulkowicz

10th February 2008, 11:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
Pro Nemus Sappling Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 39	Re: lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Hell, I've charged as little as $150 and as much as $10k, depending on many factors. I try to bid a removal at a rate based upon labor and equipment hours. With the state of our local economy, even the big guys are really bidding low; hence, I don't get as many removal contracts as I used to. However, thats okay if you look at it from a profitability point of view, for we make better profits off of pruning work anyway.

10th February 2008, 12:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
TREEMONKEY Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ONTARIO, CANADA Posts: 96	Re: lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I usually take the amount of man hours, technical difficulty, danger level, and if the tree is a pain in the ass, into consideration. If i had 2 identical trees but one had a large split in it the price may very 500$-1000$ or more and only take 20 minutes longer. I also guess what the other companies may estimate and try to stay lower untill i am lined up with work. I aim to make 150-200 $ per hour for chipper 2 trucks 3 men. __________________

10th February 2008, 06:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,273	Re: lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Wulkowicz, if you're going to bother to reply, you could try adding something to the thread, or explaining why you disagree with it. Was kinda amazed that you took the time and went out of your way to say....that?? wth? Hoot, I'm on the lower end than these guys.... I don't have a big boom, or lots of machinery. Climb everything (mostly). Rent a chipper if I need one. Just to answer your question, but stating that it really is difficult to give a realistic answer with such dynamic situations and a somewhat vague way of putting it... $25 low end $850 high end It answers the question, but doesn't say what they were, what factors went into it, etc etc... This is just for ONE tree right? I've made up to $1500 in a day, but I'm sure thats hella cheap compared to what alot of these guys can bring in. There's alot that goes into this kind of thing. Some of them like Pro Nemus & Treemonkey mentioned, and alot that Wulkowicz could have mentioned, but failed to. Personally I think of things like, How long will it take? How much effort does it take? How much knowledge to do it properly? How big is it? How dangerous is it? Will I have to rent a chipper? How many groundies do I need? What will it cost in gas to get back and forth, etc etc. Seeing as how you were right up front saying that you're uneducated about tree work specifics, I can understand where you're coming from by asking it. Afterall, I'm not sooooo old that I can't remember what it was like when I started, and remember that I really didn't know how things like that worked. Pricing is dynamic, you have to figure it out as you go. Hope that answers your question a little more thoroughly. __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

10th February 2008, 07:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
TREEMONKEY Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ONTARIO, CANADA Posts: 96	Re: lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Just to clarify my 2 trucks would be a newer pickup and a very old dirty dump truck and chipper paid 5000$for the pair. i try for over a 1000$ which is a good Day but try for 1500$ish. have done much better on occasion but much worse also still new to estimating but learn every time. __________________

10th February 2008, 07:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,680	Re: lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I usually charge by the job.the more danger the more cash. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related

10th February 2008, 07:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
bigshea13 Mature tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: hiding Posts: 378	Re: lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ depends on how bad they want the work done and how much the other guy is willing to do it for followed up with your sales pitch. one bit of advice: try not to do it too cheap or else everyone that they tell and the ones they tell and the ones they tell will expect a deal from you. kinda like a crappy chain letter.

10th February 2008, 07:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,273	Re: lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ What Bigshea says is dead on, but if you work for yourself you've gotta figure it out somehow. The learning curve for the first year, I think, is close to a vertical line, especially if you weren't schooled in it and haven't worked on anyone else's crew. I've a question of my own to add in here.... Like NG said, I price per project, not an hourly thing usually. If you give a quote for say...10 trees to be done.... and they ask you how it breaks apart on paper, do you all have it quanitified per tree, for all the things being done to it, that you can tell/show the h.o. to justify your price, or is it just a "thats just how much i need to do it all" kind of thing? __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

10th February 2008, 10:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
quercus Mature tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: belgium Posts: 428	Re: lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Hoot every tree is different. In the beginning you will make wrong calculations because sometimes a tree looks very different when you are in it, then when you look at it from the ground. What may seem simple at first, is a death trap once you start on it... but hey... that's what learning is all about huh. Sometimes environment and surroundings change in time... So start on a tree as fast as you can after putting a price on it. Say for instance you calculate a price and put that in writing, but two months later you arrive on scene and the HO built a shed under the tree? That's a totally different situation huh.... or... you calculate your price, and you will take it down using a false rigging crotch in an adjacent tree. One month later you arrive on scene and the adjacent tree is gone, so rigging will be a lot more difficult now... Ya'll gonna have thoughts now like... yeah then change your price and client must understand. But since I'm a little bit allergic to that kind of practices, I try to complete the job asap and stick to the price. Fast service is real good for your businness...

11th February 2008, 01:29 AM	#15 (permalink)
Therrin The Tree World Bandit Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancaster, Ca Posts: 1,273	Re: lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Appologies Wulkowicz, Apparently your small humorous comment could be taken two different ways. I agree that at times I'm full of spice and during other's that I'm more full of crap, but I'll be upfront with that. Sometime's I'm so driven to defend my own way of seeing things that I get overly flowery and wordy and write lengthly posts that just put people to sleep. As a result, they don't bother reading much of my stuff till something controversial comes up. I notice that you posted exactly what I said that you liked, then got pretty vague with the one you didn't like, not allowing me to address it. You address not being able to non-write for the non-reader, but then somehow suppose that you don't write what I expect or want =) How would you know that? lol. We're both passionate with what we write, but we approach things from different angles. When it all comes down to it, we both agree on proper stewardship in the tree care industry, the rest is personal adherance to slightly differing doctrines. <shrugs> This is all alright though. Apparently there are parts of what we both say that are agreeable as well as disagreeable. Go figure..... As I understand it, a watersprout is often initiated from overpruning by an untrained tree-worker (hesitant to say "arborist" here) and also often happens as a reaction to severe stresses. In addition to the sprouting issues, is the initiation of "suckers", which are from the roots. I liked the picture, thanks. I think that men should all strive to be able to attain the serenity required on occasion to relate to boys. __________________ Ken Fessia I.T.S.A. Tree Service (661) 916-4703

11th February 2008, 04:06 AM	#16 (permalink)
hoot gibson Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: central ohio Posts: 71	Re: lets talk $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ wulkowicz , i understood completley . my wife always used to ask me .. when are you going to grow up?? now she is just use to it .. i understand that there is alot of things to take into concideration . kinda like remodling a home . ekka should understand that , thanks for the responce guys , hoot __________________ i had a friend one, but he died .