SouthSoundTree-
TreeHouser
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2014
- Messages
- 4,941
Open-ended discussion about how you bid jobs...
I have an easy time figuring the logistics and mechanics of tree work. I have a hard time accurately estimating times involved, especially if employees are involved. Really its a lot of 'lather, rinse, and repeat', in my mind. High TIP, good rigging point, make a plan, express the plan, confirm the plan, work the plan. Work efficiently. Don't make 'double-work' out of a job, or get two or three people involved in a one-person task.
I like the occasional mind-bender of how will we do what they ask. Recently, I had a bid for a tall alder removal with a declining top over a lot of landscape plants, up on a three foot retaining wall with a 20* slope toward the nearby garage, and primary power lines to the side, sorta wrapped around another tree nearer to the bottom. He didn't want the landscaping damaged. By the time I figured out the rigging, logistics of disposal, etc, I forgot to give him a 'crush it' or you/ we dig and replace the shrubs price.
I get that a lot where "we don't want this damaged", but then they take pause at the price. If I say I won't damage something, it means I won't damage it, not sorta smash it and it will grow back.
When I had a State job 40 hours a week, and my employee bid jobs, he would often put a higher number on things because it looked so complicated to him, or he didn't know how we would do it. I, on the other hand, pretty much know how it will all go on the work day before I put a number on it at the bid, at least for simpler jobs with only a few trees.
Pruning neglected apple trees doesn't have a specific end-point, as it is normally a multi-stage reduction and re-structuring. If I tell people that it is too nebulous to put a bid price on, then they naturally ask for an estimate of how long it will take. If I could read my crystal ball well enough for that, and accurately specify the Scope of Work, I could just put a bid price on it. For those cases, I tell them that I have to put an hourly price on it, and we can stay within the budget of $XXXX dollars, focusing on getting things done in the prioritized order of X,Y,then Z if there is time, or that we will do X, Y and Z completely, and see what time it takes.
The rare/ occasional view pruning (lots of waterfront around here) where I shake limbs to get the view just right without exposing the neighbor's whatever, with the direction of the home owner and groundie with Sena, is easy money to me. They get just what they want, and I get my hourly, doing easy work. It takes twice as long, or so, for the same amount of climbing and material disposal. I get to rest while they hem-and-haw. Groundie gets a break the whole time, physically.
You?
I have an easy time figuring the logistics and mechanics of tree work. I have a hard time accurately estimating times involved, especially if employees are involved. Really its a lot of 'lather, rinse, and repeat', in my mind. High TIP, good rigging point, make a plan, express the plan, confirm the plan, work the plan. Work efficiently. Don't make 'double-work' out of a job, or get two or three people involved in a one-person task.
I like the occasional mind-bender of how will we do what they ask. Recently, I had a bid for a tall alder removal with a declining top over a lot of landscape plants, up on a three foot retaining wall with a 20* slope toward the nearby garage, and primary power lines to the side, sorta wrapped around another tree nearer to the bottom. He didn't want the landscaping damaged. By the time I figured out the rigging, logistics of disposal, etc, I forgot to give him a 'crush it' or you/ we dig and replace the shrubs price.
I get that a lot where "we don't want this damaged", but then they take pause at the price. If I say I won't damage something, it means I won't damage it, not sorta smash it and it will grow back.
When I had a State job 40 hours a week, and my employee bid jobs, he would often put a higher number on things because it looked so complicated to him, or he didn't know how we would do it. I, on the other hand, pretty much know how it will all go on the work day before I put a number on it at the bid, at least for simpler jobs with only a few trees.
Pruning neglected apple trees doesn't have a specific end-point, as it is normally a multi-stage reduction and re-structuring. If I tell people that it is too nebulous to put a bid price on, then they naturally ask for an estimate of how long it will take. If I could read my crystal ball well enough for that, and accurately specify the Scope of Work, I could just put a bid price on it. For those cases, I tell them that I have to put an hourly price on it, and we can stay within the budget of $XXXX dollars, focusing on getting things done in the prioritized order of X,Y,then Z if there is time, or that we will do X, Y and Z completely, and see what time it takes.
The rare/ occasional view pruning (lots of waterfront around here) where I shake limbs to get the view just right without exposing the neighbor's whatever, with the direction of the home owner and groundie with Sena, is easy money to me. They get just what they want, and I get my hourly, doing easy work. It takes twice as long, or so, for the same amount of climbing and material disposal. I get to rest while they hem-and-haw. Groundie gets a break the whole time, physically.
You?