Tree Wizard said:
Without specs, all three can have a different idea of what deadwooding means.
So true, the more detailed the agreement, the better off you are. Even if you both write it and perform the work.
Things like
"thinning cuts shall not exceed 2 inch diameter branches"
"the customer agrees to rake and dispose of twigs, leaves and sawdust"
"stump grindings will be raked and piled over pit"
"price includes removal fo debris coarse debris created by our work" so they don't have you cleaning out the 10 years of duff under the trees and in the gutters.
When there are exclusions in the agreement, it is best to have the customer initial of on them to show they are aware of them. This way it makes it harder for them to Refuse To Pay unless you "finnish" the job.
I know a few people who had "get it down only" contracts where the clilent freaked out at the jumbled mass they were left with and insisted that they clean up at the bid amount. One of them now has a clause something to the effect "at the clients discression we will clean up at $XX hourly rate after the tree is on the ground"