The Cost of Tree Cutting

Pros versus Amateurs

Recently, my company started a tree removal project in Falls Church, VA. The homeowner called Pro Arbor after becoming frustrated over dealing with another company. That company (a small landscaping company) quoted a price in the beginning and, as the project got started, they realized that more labor and equipment was needed than they originally thought. So, instead of honoring the commitment made in the original proposal, the owner of the company stopped work and asked for more money. The scope of the work had not changed, but still the price was going up.

When I heard of this, I was reminded of a saying that my grandfather used, "If you think it's expensive to hire professionals, you should try an amateur!" Throughout my years in business the meaning of this statement has become more clear. At first glance, it may appear costly to hire trained professionals to complete any task. But what is not clear at first glance is how costly it can be to hire the apparently cheaper amateur.

Amateurs do not always know what they're getting into when they quote a price. So, as happened in the case just mentioned, sometimes they need to adjust the price as they go. This leaves the buyer in a difficult position, having no assurance or confidence in the final cost of the project. Sometimes the service provider will attempt to avoid this by simply charging an hourly or daily rate for the work. Again, the problem is that the buyer still has no clear idea of how much it will eventually cost.

Worse yet, sometimes the amateur will not adjust the price, but instead proceed with the project using an insufficient level of manpower and equipment. Knowing that a price adjustment will be unacceptable, he attempts to keep the job profitable by eliminating some of the more expensive overhead costs. This is when it can become very costly to the buyer. Some of the equipment used in tree work serves to make the work easier and go faster. But some of equipment and tools used are for safety. Performing tree work without this puts everyone at great risk. The cost of the project pales in comparison to the cost of property damage when corners are cut.

Another cost factor that is not often considered is the cost of following bad advice. Someone who is not trained in tree care may not know what is the best course to take in tree care. Improper pruning techniques can set a tree on a course that will be very expensive over time and could lead to its removal after spending much money on pruning. A good arborist will consider the future cost implications of what he or she does to a tree.

While professionals may have cost factors that put their price higher than the amateurs, it's usually worth it when you consider the actual cost of the amateur.

See also: Tree Cutting in your Yard: The Cost of Getting it Wrong