Looking for a reasonable price for tree work(Central Maryland)

[gdb]

I've got a large forked tulip poplar growing next to and over, a historic spring house. It needs to come down carefully,I can't do it, and not even when I was a young man either. I've had a couple estimates ranging between $900-$1200 and I just didn't think they were reasonable for the job. I just need it on the ground,no clean up or chipping. (I've got saws and can cut it up) If anyone knows of a good climber that could use a "side job" located in Mt. Airy MD shoot me a PM. There's no rush,it can be done in the dead of winter or any other slow period. Lunch and drinks provided, beer of choice.(after the saw is shut down!) gdb

 

[ddhlakebound]

I've got a large forked tulip poplar growing next to and over, a historic spring house. It needs to come down carefully,I can't do it, and not even when I was a young man either. I've had a couple estimates ranging between $900-$1200 and I just didn't think they were reasonable for the job. I just need it on the ground,no clean up or chipping. (I've got saws and can cut it up) If anyone knows of a good climber that could use a "side job" located in Mt. Airy MD shoot me a PM. There's no rush,it can be done in the dead of winter or any other slow period. Lunch and drinks provided, beer of choice.(after the saw is shut down!) gdb

With all due respect, what you think is reasonable for this job is quite unreasonable. The estimates you got sound fair to me, possibly even low, depending upon how "large and forked" and how "over the historic house" it is.

You may be able to get it on the ground for less from somebody who isn't licensed or insured (you'll just have to risk the property damage and injury liability). That works out sometimes for people.....

Do you realize that a legitimate tree climber or service will be using $400-$1000 worth of cimbing gear, $500ish for a arborist saw, the labor expenses of a crew, and taxes, and insurance, and fuel, hundreds or thousands in rigging gear, AND assuming the risk and liability if something goes wrong?

But hey.....lunch and a beer always make me forget about the bills and risk....

I wonder how much a new roof would cost for a historic house? Or worse yet....structural damage...? Is it worth $900-$1200 yet?

 

[gdb]

ddh, yeah, I know how much stuff costs,I also know that one customer shouldn't need to "underwrite" a large percentage of those equipment costs on just one little job. It's not like new gear is bought for each job and then retired,it all lasts quite a while and is capable of serving on many many jobs! The only way I'm gonna pay someone $300-$400 an hour is if they're a doctor that's saving my life or a lawyer that's keepin my as:censored: s outa jail ! Sorry if you're offended, if it comes to it, I'll rent a manlift and do it myself ! (a lot cheaper) I was interested in giving a working man a chance to earn more than he likely receives for his time, working for a company. The tree services around here all seem to have guys from W.Virginia working
for peanuts while they rake in big bucks. All anyone has to do is say yes or no,right? gdb

 

[(WLL)]

it just so happens that i know a good climber who will be going near your area in the future. shoot me a pm. 15 cash with lunch n cold drinks and we will have most any tree SAFELY on the ground. shoot us some pics:smoking:

 

[BC WetCoast]

ddh, yeah, I know how much stuff costs,I also know that one customer shouldn't need to "underwrite" a large percentage of those equipment costs on just one little job. It's not like new gear is bought for each job and then retired,it all lasts quite a while and is capable of serving on many many jobs! The only way I'm gonna pay someone $300-$400 an hour is if they're a doctor that's saving my life or a lawyer that's keepin my as:censored: s outa jail ! Sorry if you're offended, if it comes to it, I'll rent a manlift and do it myself ! (a lot cheaper) I was interested in giving a working man a chance to earn more than he likely receives for his time, working for a company. The tree services around here all seem to have guys from W.Virginia working
for peanuts while they rake in big bucks. All anyone has to do is say yes or no,right? gdb

You say it is large forked and over a roof, yet you figure it can be taken down in 2-3 hours (900/300). If it's that awkward, then you'll need two guys even just put it on the ground because everything will have to be rigged.

If I'm going to do a side job and working weekends, I'm going to make it worth my while and it won't be cheap.

 

[ddhlakebound]

I'm not offended at all. I don't blame you a bit for wanting to save a buck. Just trying to let you know that to get a safe, professional crew in to solve your problem, it's gonna cost you $200-$400 per hour for a crew.

You can pay less, if you choose, and you'll very likely get what you pay for. You may be able to do it sucessfully yourself with rented equipment, but even a small error will cost you more than the whole job would have cost from a professional. A small injury could cost several times more.

Whatever you do, keep us updated, and we love pics.....Good luck.

 

[(WLL)]

i chased em all off! hell i may get luckey and use the one cut special or 2-3 bull rope shots and drop the log. get me some pics. so i can give you a better idea on cost. i have worked in md fer a few yrs and have some family down there. i know a few good climbers in the glen bernie area who love to take jobs where the stuff stays where it lays.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

You could put it on craiglist, or post a few pictures of the tree to give us a better idea of what reasonable would be.

I would do it for $100 if you pay for our milage and travel time.

If you find the prices your getting are within the same range, thats what it costs to get the job done legit. If you think its expensive, see what it will cost if the jobs done wrong. We spend massive amounts on gear which all breaks or wears out at alarming rates, we have to so we can take on jobs safely and effeciently, if you dont like paying for that, just hire an arborist at a lower rate and YOU supply all the tools

Arborists are guys trying to make a living. We could make more money doing other work in most cases but because of a love of the type of work and challenge you find a niche group of guys willing to risk there lives to get a job done.

I would look at asking a smaller local company to do the work, they wont have as much big gear and wont need it to do the job or have a big crew that might not be needed on this job, and will have lower overheads, or if possible look at getting the work done off season when theres less work about. Make sure they are insured and experienced.

 

[tree md]

Hey F-you and I bet I make twice what you do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCI_kzeaqhA

 

[Ax-man]

Nice vid. Enjoyed watching it. Always liked John Denver's guitar picking. Even got a little teary eyed toward the end.

In response to the thread poster. The price quote seems average for a legit company to do about a 3/4 to full days work. It isn't all that much money in today's economy.

As far as renting a lift and having saws on hand to do the cutting doesn't mean that much. Having the tools is one thing knowing how to employ them to complete the end goal is another.

Many a DYI'er get themselves in trouble doing tree work. I have carpenter tools but that doesn't mean I can build a house. Same goes for doing a take down on a tree. Looks simple when you watch a true pro doing what has taken years of hands on experience to attain.

Renting a lift and thinking you can take a tree down is like starting at the high end of the experience ladder. Your skipping the steps of the low end of the experience ladder. A few good examples would be. Do you know your wood weights on a cubic foot calcualtion and how those forces relate to a lowering rope and the lowering point and to the people on the ground. What type of cut is called for in a given situation? Some common ones used are notch and hinge, snap cuts, peel, jump cuts and others. Do you know about these cuts and how to apply them with accuracy and be safe so you don't injure yourself. I doubt it.

Just a little food for thought.

By coming onto this public forum and basically saying to us that we are overpriced for doing a so called simple task like taking down a tree without really knowing what goes into a tree removal is kind of in poor taste if you want my opinion. Wanting to hire it out for cheap on the side didn't help either!!!!

I paid a menchanic last year to do a brake job on a log loader truck last year. The bill was almost $5,000.00. I didn't want to pay that either but I did as some things are just best to be hired out to other qualified professionals. I could have done it myself but knew I would be in over my head on this one.

Larry

 

[teamtree]

Rent your manlift and do it yourself you f...ing idiot

I am suprised anyone would even reply to this joker.

I am very offended about this whole post. Whether it be a worker or owner of a company. If someone has the skill and knowledge to bring down a tree hanging over a structure they should be rewarded for it.

If you are a climber and can do it on the side...should you not still be compensated for your skill and knowledge. This guy does not care about you tomorrow or next month. He wants the cheapest thing out there. In this industry you have to charge more than a reasonable rate to compensate for your downtime.

You are still taking a risk....why not charge for it.

When idiots like this tell me they can do it themselve but they can't get up there. I ask them to let me know when they are going to do it so I can come over with my camera and video tape a fool.

For the most part taking trees down is pretty simple but how many doctors and lawyers put themselves in a position to get killed if things go wrong???

#### this guy!!!! And #### anyone who would drop their price below market rates to help him out. What is he going to do for you when you get fired for doing work on the side and or get hurt.

Unfortunately, there is someone who will do it for less and #### up the whole industry especially insurance rates.

Yeah...I am pissed off today.

 

[treeslayer]

why do the moderators allow this post anyway?
"This Forum is for experienced tree climbers. Ask beginner or new to the business questions in the Arborist 101 Forum."


they delete and move stuff all the time, this idiot belongs in a category by himself..

 

[memetic]

I agree. This is the second time I wasted my time reading this post. It is time for deletion. What a prik.

edit: oh wait, I changed my mind. I'll do it for airfare (1st class of course), hotel of our choice, female escorts for the time we are there, limo service, and we require liquor, not beer. We need at least 10 handles of Johnny Walker Blue to start. We will go from there.

 

[treemandan]

Would you be willing to sign a waiver releasing the climber and his crew from all financial responsibility?

It may get you a better price.

Hey, he said there was no rush. I think that means its been dead and dangerous for so long it don't matter to him if its sits there a while longer.

 

[treemandan]

I've got a large forked tulip poplar growing next to and over, a historic spring house. It needs to come down carefully,I can't do it, and not even when I was a young man either. I've had a couple estimates ranging between $900-$1200 and I just didn't think they were reasonable for the job. I just need it on the ground,no clean up or chipping. (I've got saws and can cut it up) If anyone knows of a good climber that could use a "side job" located in Mt. Airy MD shoot me a PM. There's no rush,it can be done in the dead of winter or any other slow period. Lunch and drinks provided, beer of choice.(after the saw is shut down!) gdb

I could probably beat them prices no problem, its just a tree. The thing is I can't start without some beer first, SEE a guy would just have to be drunk for that.
I think your idea of guys who cut trees for a living are incorrect cause all the guys I know are drunk first thing in the morning and to tell the truth I thought that is how it was done. You are going to have to be more liberall with the beer, it makes everything reasonable.

 

[Tree Machine]

if it comes to it, I'll rent a manlift and do it myself ! (a lot cheaper)

One branch, hitting one hydraulic line on that manlift, you die. Can I be more clear?


Have this guy do it. He looks experienced with low overhead. If you put your ear up to the monitor you can almost hear him.... "look at all the money I'm saving...."

 

[treemandan]

One branch, hitting one hydraulic line on that manlift, you die. Can I be more clear?


Have this guy do it. He looks experienced with low overhead. If you put your ear up to the monitor you can almost hear him.... "look at all the money I'm saving...."

I have seen that.... my tummy no feely so good now. Is that a wound from the saw in his calf? I think I am going to puke.

 

[treemandan]

That pic brought up some old memories for The Dan, its raining and now I am all LIT up from that pic so buckle down peeps The DAn is going to get DIRTY. Filthy , eveeen! Scotty baby if you're out there this is for you, !@#$.

Yeah, anybody know old Scott Hornbaker outta Flourtown? Where you be at buddy? You remember that fri afternoon you were all crying about us not getting it done fast enough for you so you took that ladder and did what the guy in the pic did. Didn't you, you certified arborist.
Actually all I remember other than the ladder thing is you ALWAYS driving around in that 350 telling us to move it and how you were always losing money and didn't bid the job to take that long. You were about as fat as that guy in that pic back then too.
well anyway, chump, you see my shingle hanging up again you feel free to give a ring. We can talk about how your punk arse fell off that ladder again. you got nothing for The DAN and you never did you cheese eating hamstein. How is Steve? I'm loling it all the way, bartender set em up again, where are you SCOTTY? Beam me up. Yeah, I get what Tete gets.

 

[memetic]

...you cheese eating hamstein.

What's a "hamstein"?

 

[Blakesmaster]

Hey OP!

What do you do for a living? I bet I can do that. Never mind my lack of experience, training, equipment and skill, I'm sure it's not that hard.