Mention backlog before going on estimate?

[TreeAce]

Kinda what I was thinking. I know everyone's situation is different, but for me, if I'm booked out more than 3 weeks, I'm looking at buying more equipment, or hiring more help, whatever it takes. At the very least I bump my prices up. I can handle losing work because I cost too much, losing it cause I can't get to it in time is not even something that would cross my mind.

I guess if you're satisfied doing what you do, at the pace that you do it now, then by all means, add to that backlog. But if you want to grow, you gotta up your game. Just saying. Even adding something as cheap as a skid steer, a second chip truck, chipper, etc. could get that work done quicker. ####, I'd call that crazy midget treeslayer or another contract climber to run another crew.

I hear ya. If my business continues to grow at the rate it has over the last several years I will def need to expand in order to keep up with the volume. But for the rest of this season I need to just keep plugging away as best I can. Another truck/chipper combo may be in order. IDK

 

[treeclimber101]

Sorry to hear your not 100%. I will def keep you in mind. Do you have a chipper to rent? Mine has been acting funny. It cut out the other day and I thought I had it fixed but it cut out again today. I got a guy gonna take a look in the morning. I dread the thought of taking it out to Vermeer. Who knows how long they could have it. Hopefully the problem will be solved in the morning.

Believe me I am not trying to derail this thread at all , but I called them and asked for service regarding the shaft bearing on the movable infeed wheel on my 1230 a and you wanna know what the service manager actually said to me when I asked what's the norm to do that job ! He said well I dunno , I think we just cut the shaft in half , I Managed to get it apart in less then 5 hours saved the shaft and got off with a 90.oo bearing and a few roller bearings ! I called and got a price for the shaft retaining ring and bearing , 700.oo for parts alone ! and at the tune of 85.oo an hour ! I thought what crooks they are ! Sorry don't mean to add salt in the wound .

 

[BlackOakTreeServ]

I am slammed with work (IMHO) at six weeks out. Last weekend I didnt get a job because of it. No biggie really except that I spent almost an hour at the guys house. Nice guy but not that nice cuz I got way better things to do with my very limited time. I also gave some estimates lately that when the HO asks me how soon i could be here n I tell them 4-6 weeks they looked at me like I was an idiot. Should I mention it BEFORE going on the estimate or will that just scare of people cuz it sounds bad? Or will it save me running around and wasting my time on people who think it will be done next week?

YES, I will tell them on the phone im backed up, till next week or so, or how ever long.

No reason to spend the time and gas on a bid when they need the work now, you need that time to get your work done.

 

[mattfr12]

YES, I will tell them on the phone im backed up, till next week or so, or how ever long.

No reason to spend the time and gas on a bid when they need the work now, you need that time to get your work done.

Scheduling is key if we where not a few months out that would be a bad thing. Once you get equipment you need a lot of work if your working on a day to day basis or only with like 1 week of work you could go under fast.

People get a date on the spot of when we are coming and as long as they are good with it we uphold that promise. 90% of the time it works and we have clients wait anywhere from 2-3 months very regularly. The wait is usually due to the price savings, people will wait a long time if they are gonna save a buck. we took out 12 cherry trees not one under 50 foot or less than 20 inches today for 2100.00 next closest guy was like 3800.00. so they are usually good with the wait.

so if you get really backed up start offering better deals. always having work is always gonna be better than no work.

 

[Ms2004life]

This is a great thread cause i've just been in australia then in the north island of nz and just bought a new truck for the chipper and been out of the loop passing on work oh well up and up

 

[sgreanbeans]

I am always about 3 wks out, I tell people up front about it. If it is a sit where they need it done soon, for a legit reason and I want the job, I will adjust to accommodate them. I tell all my custys that this is the tentative timeline, but things change. The weather has a huge affect on what we do, so I make sure that they are aware of that fact. Plus I tell them, that if I walk on a job and the tree is a dangerous tree!, it gets bumped up. Most peeps are cool with all this, those that are not, I let them loose to hire someone else. I get some calls with people who must think I have nothing else to do, "I need this done tomorrow by 5" and its some joke of a job.

 

[Rocko]

I leave a message on my answering machine saying that I am currently running 6 weeks behind but if you can wait that long or are an existing customer than please leave a message.I find this also seems to weed out those who are looking for the lowest price.I usually receive about 50 calls a day and without that message I would spend all day and night on the phone

 

[mr. holden wood]

I leave a message on my answering machine saying that I am currently running 6 weeks behind but if you can wait that long or are an existing customer than please leave a message.I find this also seems to weed out those who are looking for the lowest price.I usually receive about 50 calls a day and without that message I would spend all day and night on the phone

Sorry but I call b.s. Unless your running the candian division of asplundh or a pizza hut I doubt you are getting 50 calls a day . Especially in a town of barely 100,000. More power to you guys doing well,but c'mon the whole backlog im so busy thing seems to be getting a bit exaggerated round here.

 

[treebilly]

I can say that my "boss" is two months out running three crews five days ten hours minimum but as far as my "business" goes i'm a month out.

 

[treebilly]

i call bs to the bs call because i was with my boss looking at jobs for three hours today and we might have spoken for ten minutes with out the phone going off. that is only the commercial clients that get that number.

 

[mr. holden wood]

I can say that my "boss" is two months out running three crews five days ten hours minimum but as far as my "business" goes i'm a month out.

I bet your a month out, prolly means you have one small job a month,if the "boss" has ya running around for ten hrs a day 5 days a week. I remember those days, wasn't to thrilled about sidework on weekends. You guys must have very little competition to get that many calls a day in such a small market. We have well over 400 tree services in the seattle area alone, if the call goes to voicemail chances are you aren't going to get a chance to do a bid. If you tell hem they have to wait a few months you can kiss that job goodbye.

 

[jefflovstrom]

I bet your a month out, prolly means you have one small job a month,if the "boss" has ya running around for ten hrs a day 5 days a week. I remember those days, wasn't to thrilled about sidework on weekends. You guys must have very little competition to get that many calls a day in such a small market. We have well over 400 tree services in the seattle area alone, if the call goes to voicemail chances are you aren't going to get a chance to do a bid. If you tell hem they have to wait a few months you can kiss that job goodbye.

Jealousy is an ugly thing!
Get over it Holden, If I told you how far out we are, you would call me a liar too. I got a buddy in Seattle that is very comfortable with his op.
BTW, I know where I will be next year.
Jeff

 

[treeclimber101]

Sorry but I call b.s. Unless your running the candian division of asplundh or a pizza hut I doubt you are getting 50 calls a day . Especially in a town of barely 100,000. More power to you guys doing well,but c'mon the whole backlog im so busy thing seems to be getting a bit exaggerated round here.

Bet you wish you have been "handed" someone else's business , ehhhh holding my jock waiting for the phone to ring , shame on ya for being green with jealousy LOL xs a bajillion

 

[mr. holden wood]

Jealousy is an ugly thing!
So is a drama queen, you old troll. I' m not jealous,I have 2 weeks worth of work and things are going well. I'm just suprised to hear that guys are getting that many calls in these po dunk markets. You and I both know you cant realistically do more then ten bids a day,what are you doing so amazing to get 50 calls a day.
Btw, I really don't care one way or another about guys on this site, it's just a way for me to kill some time while my g.f makes me dinner. I'm just amazed when guys say they are months out getting hundereds of calls and then post pics of there old chuck and duck and blown out bucket truck. Just trying to get the real story thats all. Btw you should be in bed by now watching matlock reruns at this hr you old coot.

 

[treeclimber101]

Myself I am currently about 20 years backed up cause I am throwing In the towel at 65 and my customers are just a phone call away from me and they will call believe me they always call maybe not all at once tomorrow but I never have cob webs on my chipper chute !

 

[treeclimber101]

Jealousy is an ugly thing!
So is a drama queen, you old troll. I' m not jealous,I have 2 weeks worth of work and things are going well. I'm just suprised to hear that guys are getting that many calls in these po dunk markets. You and I both know you cant realistically do more then ten bids a day,what are you doing so amazing to get 50 calls a day.
Btw, I really don't care one way or another about guys on this site, it's just a way for me to kill some time while my g.f makes me dinner. I'm just amazed when guys say they are months out getting hundereds of calls and then post pics of there old chuck and duck and blown out bucket truck. Just trying to get the real story thats all. Btw you should be in bed by now watching matlock reruns at this hr you old coot.

Realistically !!!! For god sakes your a moron is your ringer on ? Man short bus alert !

 

[mr. holden wood]

Bet you wish you have been "handed" someone else's business , ehhhh holding my jock waiting for the phone to ring , shame on ya for being green with jealousy LOL xs a bajillion

No jealousy, I wish you great success and weight loss in the coming years. I was just trying to get a realistic idea on whats going on around the country in the tree bizz. Like i've typed before,cracks me up that you have yet to respond in less then 5mins of my every post. If anyone is holden my jock it's you. Good thing you are so funny ya phat phuck or I would be a little creeped out. stay safe and goodnite

 

[treeclimber101]

No jealousy, I wish you great success and weight loss in the coming years. I was just trying to get a realistic idea on whats going on around the country in the tree bizz. Like i've typed before,cracks me up that you have yet to respond in less then 5mins of my every post. If anyone is holden my jock it's you. Good thing you are so funny ya phat phuck or I would be a little creeped out. stay safe and goodnite

It's luck on your part that I keep you In check before your accidentally make an ass of yourself ! Later putz ohh and spoiler alert your first post was almost 2 hours ago I got here maybe 20 minutes ago ! Doucha bagga

 

[jefflovstrom]

Jealousy is an ugly thing!
So is a drama queen, you old troll. I' m not jealous,I have 2 weeks worth of work and things are going well. I'm just suprised to hear that guys are getting that many calls in these po dunk markets. You and I both know you cant realistically do more then ten bids a day,what are you doing so amazing to get 50 calls a day.
Btw, I really don't care one way or another about guys on this site, it's just a way for me to kill some time while my g.f makes me dinner. I'm just amazed when guys say they are months out getting hundereds of calls and then post pics of there old chuck and duck and blown out bucket truck. Just trying to get the real story thats all. Btw you should be in bed by now watching matlock reruns at this hr you old coot.

Oh, you poor sad man!
He maybe stretching the 50 calls thing, but you have no idea what I do. Actually, you could not do what I do.
Jeff

 

[treeclimber101]

Oh, you poor sad man!
He maybe stretching the 50 calls thing, but you have no idea what I do. Actually, you could not do what I do.
Jeff

Simmer down he ran and hid under his GF's thigh he will be back in another couple of days to act like a drunk baboons' ass !