Tree business must be good.

[widefat]

At least in my locale. I have been working on clearing a small area. I have one tree that has a severe lean over one of my sheds. I have learned quite a bit over the last few years, and can generally get a tree to fall where I want. However, this one makes me nervous. So, I have been calling local tree shops to come out and take a look. So far, I have contacted 5 - 3 have yet to return my call. Two set up appointments, but were no-shows. I understand it's a small job and some will not want to deal with it, especially when they can drive a couple of hours north and get $$$ for cutting a 3 foot bush in Conner and MacKennzies yard - but what galls me is the companies don't bother to even let me know they cant make it. No call, text, nada. Set an appointment and just dont show up. I'll be darned if I am going to chase anyone down in order to give THEM my money or business.

 

[EddieWalker]

People that cut trees down are hustlers. They aint normal, and everything they do reflects that. I have no idea what it's like where you live, but here, if you want somebody to cut your tree down, you find one that everyone recommends, give them a call, and ask them when they can come out to take a look. They are busy during the day, so they like to come out first thing in the morning or late in the evening.

I've only hired a guy once, so I'm no expert at hiring them, but I know quite a few of them from my clients who have done this, and it's always an adventure at who you get, and what they are like. Just don't think of them as professionals, or blue collar workers. It's more of a circus.

 

[nybirdman]

Just had a similar tree job;I was able to get a company that I had used before.All of our tree cutters are busy with Ash tree removal,large state and city contracts.Ash are dying to Ash borer.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Don't know what to tell you; I have probably spent $5000 in the last 5 years on tree removal. For the most part, those I have hired are notably unreliable. My one ploy that seems to work though, is if you can get them out, I tell them "no rush; give me a good deal and I'll let you work it in when things are slow." I do tell them, that once they start, I want them to stick with it until it's all done. That worked about half the time. One guy, who had to have "gas money" at noon the first day, was a former guest of the D.O.C.

My best results were pros that were recommended by friends. This one particular guy was great, but expensive.

One other guy finished the job except for the stump grinding. He started, and then quit...so I advertised on line for a stump grinder...and guess who responded? The same guy who didn't finish the job in the first place.

 

[newbury]

Welcome to the club.

There are a lot of people out there that won't climb up in a tree.

I had a 20" DBH maple on the fence of my 0.25 acre suburban lot that my next door neighbor was losing sleep over.

We really like that neighbor.

Quotes for removal were ~ $1K.



Did it myself.

It cost me A LOT MORE!!

I made it into lumber.



Got addicted to beautiful slabs of fresh sawn wood.
I ended up buying all the saws in my sig just to properly support my habit.
Plus a 73 acre plot in Mississippi so I can walk out of the house and cut trees anytime I want.
I realized I needed to withdraw some when I bought my Woodmizer



And then needed a bigger tractor to properly put logs on the sawmill



Plus a few more tools to process the wood



Sometimes I think that if I had just paid someone to do it my life would be a lot simpler.

 

[EarPlug]

Try Davey Tree Service. They are nationwide and I have used them in Colorado.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Welcome to the club.

There are a lot of people out there that won't climb up in a tree.

I had a 20" DBH maple on the fence of my 0.25 acre suburban lot that my next door neighbor was losing sleep over.

We really like that neighbor.

Quotes for removal were ~ $1K.

View attachment 560179

Did it myself.

It cost me A LOT MORE!!

I made it into lumber.

View attachment 560180

Got addicted to beautiful slabs of fresh sawn wood.
I ended up buying all the saws in my sig just to properly support my habit.
Plus a 73 acre plot in Mississippi so I can walk out of the house and cut trees anytime I want.
I realized I needed to withdraw some when I bought my Woodmizer

View attachment 560182

And then needed a bigger tractor to properly put logs on the sawmill

View attachment 560183

Plus a few more tools to process the wood

View attachment 560181

Sometimes I think that if I had just paid someone to do it my life would be a lot simpler.

I sense more "brag" than "complaint"! :laughing:

I had a Cottonwood removed; about 36-40" in diameter, and probably 70 foot tall...in between my house and my neigbor's...cost me $1400.00. Took one man three days, but no way I would have attempted it!

 

[hslogger]

Often and in general terms, landowners want the least expensive option for tree work.Maybe leaning heavily to "joe with a pickup, ladder, and chainsaw".
In my experience as a consumer, laborer, and contractor your best bet is to call a certified arborist. Certification by ASA, American society of Arborists, and ISA, International society of Arborists pretty much set the standards for residential type work. Their training goes beyond the strictly line clearance outfits hired by utility companies.

Over the last decade, the line clearing outfits have been training employees to those standards which is good. But getting back to the topic, outfits that go through the ISA and ASA trainings, are more often dedicated to conscientious business practices like providing a time and date to come make a written bid, and following through upon acceptance of the bid.

 

[widefat]

Welcome to the club.

There are a lot of people out there that won't climb up in a tree.

I had a 20" DBH maple on the fence of my 0.25 acre suburban lot that my next door neighbor was losing sleep over.

We really like that neighbor.

Quotes for removal were ~ $1K.

View attachment 560179

Did it myself.

It cost me A LOT MORE!!

I made it into lumber.

View attachment 560180

Got addicted to beautiful slabs of fresh sawn wood.
I ended up buying all the saws in my sig just to properly support my habit.
Plus a 73 acre plot in Mississippi so I can walk out of the house and cut trees anytime I want.
I realized I needed to withdraw some when I bought my Woodmizer

View attachment 560182

And then needed a bigger tractor to properly put logs on the sawmill

View attachment 560183

Plus a few more tools to process the wood

View attachment 560181

Sometimes I think that if I had just paid someone to do it my life would be a lot simpler.

Excellent!! You are the prototypical male!

 

[widefat]

Often and in general terms, landowners want the least expensive option for tree work.Maybe leaning heavily to "joe with a pickup, ladder, and chainsaw".
In my experience as a consumer, laborer, and contractor your best bet is to call a certified arborist. Certification by ASA, American society of Arborists, and ISA, International society of Arborists pretty much set the standards for residential type work. Their training goes beyond the strictly line clearance outfits hired by utility companies.

Over the last decade, the line clearing outfits have been training employees to those standards which is good. But getting back to the topic, outfits that go through the ISA and ASA trainings, are more often dedicated to conscientious business practices like providing a time and date to come make a written bid, and following through upon acceptance of the bid.

I like the certified arborist advice, I will see if I can locate one.
Heck, I dont even want the low bidder - I just want someone to talk to me!