extensive tree reports

[Jock]

Hi guys, I'm a little curious about how things are done in north america, and other countries come to that, I've been asked by a local council to carry out a tree report on 3 trees 2 are Fraxinus excelsior, which have Inotus hispidus, and 1 is an Acer pseudoplatanus which has Polyporus squamosus, I have carried out all the usual site overviews etc, etc, and have finalised the report in a staggering 56 page documented report, and all this took around 1.5 days .......... is this type of reporting expected by local authorities,residential and commercial customers in your regions or is a 1 to 2 page document sufficient? just curious, Jock.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Well, for 6 trees with pictures that is only 9.3 pages per tree. if you take off the cover, contents, discalimer page, citations, bibliography and glossery, that is more like 8.

I guess it depends on how you put it together, bulletts or cogent points with supporting documentation and images can make a voluminous report.

For better input you can go to an ASCA site to ask this question, but I think their answer will be the same. More is better as long as they can get the main points right away.

http://tree-tech.com/board/?topic=topic1

 

[TREETX]

What do you charge to write a report?? Just curious, I had a big learning curve when I started doing reports. Mainly mgmt plans, construction damage mitigation, and letters stating there is no oak wilt on X property.

What do you charge?

I'll follow up with my findings.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Depends on how invloved it gets. if it is just some boiler plate language that I cut and paste from computer files, like your "no oakwilt" letter then it is a set fee. if it is a long drawn out research type thing with basal excavation it is t&m including travel times.

Around here the regular ASCA types are $80-110/hr. Some of the established guys from out east are over $200.

 

[TREETX]

Keep in mind that I am 27 and fairly new at some business aspects. The first cut and paste letters I did, I charged $50. I thought it was great until they asked for a few small changes, before you know it, I have invested drive time, printing time, for 3-4hr for $50??

My old employer(2000) laid it out to me a year ago when I asked him the same question. Consult only, $75. Anything written, $200. Estimates - free.

The guy has a great rep. I have stuck with $150.

This is where the ISA cert and Forestry degree come in handy - that is what they like to see at the bottom of the page.

 

[Jock]

Here in the UK I personally charge the local authorities £250.00 per tree, for a detailed report, but some councils want basic reports to suit there budgets which are around £70-80.00, residential customers, where i know i'll be tendering for the work get charged £250.00 for a report of up to 6 trees, which they seem to accept round here, probably not expensive when you consider the information they recieve on the trees health....Jock

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I've never had to make revisions for a single letter report, guess i'm lucky. But I do word it so that I don't think i would get caught in that bind.

Something like a one page report for $XX, additioanl time at $XX per hour.

How do you as an independent, disinterested consultant revise a proffesional opinion if there has been no ommission on your part?

I've even done quick hand writen reports for 1/2hr rate when people want a simple answer. On a number occations I've given a verbal report gratis, especial for the eldely and blue collar people.

 

[Jock]

I'm very well educated JPS, but that reply confused me a little...sorry...Jock

 

[TREETX]

My revisions were do to the fact that the moron of an arbo for the city wants to hear certain buzz words, etc before he will remove a red flag from a project. The bad thing is that there are no checks to see if practices were implemented or if replacement trees live for longer than 1 yr.

If you are dealing with red flagged construction projects, charge high, they are twisting in the wind.

Some city foresters/arborists really want to make a difference (and do), others are just to lazy/dim to make it in the private sector.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Nate, now i understand, you were writing a report for a second party to submit to a third. I can see where that can come back to you for additional work. I've never done that as a flat fee letter. Those are designed for single users, such as homeowners on tight budgets.

Jock, that is the problem. I'm not formaly educated. just blessed with a very high retention. Everyone here knows my thought prosses is rather disjointed. They've all learned to adapt or ignore.

One time I was talking to Fred B, he said that the first time he read one of my post he thought I was an idiot, then he read a little more.