1/2 acre cost to clear.

[redprospector]

Just remember that being fair is a 2 way street.
If you accept the job, you should do the very best job you can.
If you do that being paid an amount that puts you in the black on the job should be expected.
That is fair, it's fair to everyone.
If you don't make a profit, you can't stay in business. But you already knew that.

Other than breaking my knee, second guessing myself on the price of a job is the biggest mistake I've made on a job.
You know what your figures are, and you know how much wiggle room you have. Run the numbers and stick with them.

I've done 1/2 acre jobs that I charged more for, and didn't have to remove the stumps. Without seeing the job, I can't say for sure, but it doesn't sound too high to me.

Andy

 

[yellowdogsvc]

Just a suggestion, but you might want to hire a dump truck to do the hauling. That dump trailer of yours will have a workout if you do it yourself.

Normally that would be the case but I can get more shreds, chips, and stumps and logs in my dump trailer than a tandem truck can dump because of the tailgate. Unless it has barn doors, the stumps or chips can and do get hung up. Ask my trucker.. He's still mad about that!

 

[yellowdogsvc]

Here in Texas, I'm competing with the guys that will take two weeks to haul it all off and dump it on some ranch. No insurance just a backhoe and tag trailer. I see it a lot. I was under the impression that when someone started this, they wanted it done. I know another contractor who occasionally competes against me. He told me he does not carry insurance and rents machines as needed. Hard to price when the playing field isn't level but it is what it is.
thanks for the opinions..

 

[redprospector]

Yep, unfortunately I have to deal with the same thing here some.
I get to clean up after those guy's once in a while.
I still say that you know what it will take to make a profit, and if you don't make a profit you can't stay in business.

Andy

 

[wolftree]

yellowdogsvc,

I would make your having insurance and completing jobs in a timely and professional manner part of your advertising and on your business cards. Make yourself known to the business professionals in your area, realtors, contractors. The professionals do not want to deal with fly by night operators. They want timely results, done in a workmanship manner.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

yellowdogsvc,

I would make your having insurance and completing jobs in a timely and professional manner part of your advertising and on your business cards. Make yourself known to the business professionals in your area, realtors, contractors. The professionals do not want to deal with fly by night operators. They want timely results, done in a workmanship manner.

You would think that would be true. I started here in 1997 and have advertised in almost all mediums but t.v. and only one radio ad. My name was is out there and I have a lot of repeat customers but mostly land owners. Many real estate agents use whomever is cheap that day. Some demand quality but many just want a quick fix.

I know a few good contractors and try and take care of them. Unfortunately, there is no licensing in Texas for tree work or home building and there is not much regulation unless you are in the big city on what can and can't be cut so I see a lot of lots that have been raped or oaks gouged up because the "contractor" was not astute and opened up the oaks to oak wilt. While I'm not a big government guy, oak wilt is devastating our trees in Central Texas and there are too many contractors who do not care, don't understand, don't know any better or have bad information. At least if there was some licensing and continuing education and insurance requirements, we might have higher caliber contractors.

 

[wolftree]

I am normally a small/ no government person. But I see this as a failure of the Government to protect the taxpayer.

While building my home, I did most of the work myself, but I had to hire somethings that just made sense to. I demanded that they be licensed and insured before setting foot on my property. This protected me, the home owner.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

I am normally a small/ no government person. But I see this as a failure of the Government to protect the taxpayer.

While building my home, I did most of the work myself, but I had to hire somethings that just made sense to. I demanded that they be licensed and insured before setting foot on my property. This protected me, the home owner.

I agree. It's sad that I actually want more regulation but I was an EMT for a long time. Had to be licensed, fingerprinted, background checked, and need a lot of schooling, hours of rotations, and a lot of CEU's each year. Ditto for when I was a realtor after college. In addition to what I needed to satisfy the state, to be Realtor, I needed a lot of ceu's each year at my expense.

I get frustrated by the fly-by-nighters and guys who work for beer money..literally. I've been insulted a few times by potential clients who wanted me to work "under the table" for a couple of twelve packs. I think my truck, trailer, Bobcat and mulcher cost more than his property... said "no thanks, this equipment isn't cheap to operate or repair."
When people try and chew me down because joe skid steer only charges $50/hr, I tell them they get what they pay for and my mechanic charges me $90/hr to fix the machine. I won't work for less than the shop rate for repairs.. otherwise I'm behind before my other costs are factored in.

 

[notrees]

Ive been trimming, removing, chipping, grinding stumps in FL for 17 yrs.. and I also come across some of these, "too hard for the average large excavation company" jobs. I absolutely bid them to do as a tree service, and often get them because nobody wants to do the hand work required to complete these jobs. and most tree services don't have the capabilities of total stump removal by means of excavating. Your price is more than fair in my opinion, and many of these guys are spot on about educating the customer about exactly what it will take to complete your task in such a tight and strict environment.. I would be about $6500 based on your detailed description, but you have laid eyes on the job, and we haven't. Best of luck to you

 

[RDrancher]

I agree. It's sad that I actually want more regulation but I was an EMT for a long time. Had to be licensed, fingerprinted, background checked, and need a lot of schooling, hours of rotations, and a lot of CEU's each year. Ditto for when I was a realtor after college. In addition to what I needed to satisfy the state, to be Realtor, I needed a lot of ceu's each year at my expense.

Yep, pretty ridiculous at times. The realtors and even the home inspectors have to be trained and licensed to do business, but the builder and the grading, concrete, framing contractors etc...Nope.

Anyway...I hope you got the job and made some money.