Tree Trimming

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by wavoka

I know a lot of people, my parent's included, who had to hire a crew to remove damaged trees from the ice storm. In talking to them they all, every single one of them, paid $1500-$1700 for the job.

That's all ive been hearing from neighbors and door-to-door trimmers, is that $1500 fee seemingly regardless of what needs to be done.
I wonder if we compare notes there might be a pattern?

Anyway, thanks wavoka, it deserved it's own thread.

[Steve]

If physically able, buy a chainsaw and do it yourself.  Or pool money and labor with your neighbors and everyone help each other out.  Paying someone $1500-$1700 is just ludicrous.

Keep track of your expenses and time spent in labor.  My neighbors across the street have insurance with Farmers, and Farmers is reimbursing them at the rate of $54 PER HOUR (not a misprint) for the time they have spent cleaning up their own yard, labor only and not counting the cash out of pocket.

[Wilbur]

We had a tree service out of Kansas City going through our neighborhood and did very good work for very reasonable prices.  For me, they repaired two trees by using a 'cherry picker' to get to some top limbs, dropped an entire River Birch and piled most of the branches at the curb, all for $450.  I was very pleased with their work.

I still had to work on several trees and dragged numerous branches to the curb.  I cut up two entire trees myself with my chainsaw.  I cut up the good size pieces into fire wood and put that at the curb as well.  It all disappeared each night.

The tree company was Everhart Tree Service.

[tulsa1603]

I paid "Blessed Hands Tree Service" $500 to remove and haul off a pecan that had to go in order to get electric service restored.  They were good for removal, but I wouldn't hire them to do trimming or repair...As for the rest, I haven't said yes yet, but my best bid is $900 from a firm out of Ohio to trim a large Silver Maple, trim a small redbud, and trim a tall pecan with the top half a mangled mess, and clean up two oaks with a few minor broken branches.  It would be 1300 to pull it all to the curb.  I think for the $400 difference I can do the dragging part myself.  They also have to take down part of my fence and reinstall it to get their lift in my backyard.  I might try to get in touch with that Kansas City firm...

Honestly, $900 didn't sound too bad considering I paid that much last summer after the microburst for less actual work.

[tulsa1603]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

If physically able, buy a chainsaw and do it yourself.  Or pool money and labor with your neighbors and everyone help each other out.  Paying someone $1500-$1700 is just ludicrous.

Keep track of your expenses and time spent in labor.  My neighbors across the street have insurance with Farmers, and Farmers is reimbursing them at the rate of $54 PER HOUR (not a misprint) for the time they have spent cleaning up their own yard, labor only and not counting the cash out of pocket.

I've done everything I can myself so far...but what's left is all wayyyy too high.  My extension ladder PLUS a pole saw won't even come close.  The really crummy thing is that State Farm only covers tree damage if it actually damaged the house, so all the trimming to fix the broken trees is not covered. [:O]  I think they'll reimburse part of it since it is what knocked out my electrical service.  

Speaking of insurance, I called on Dec. 11th to report the claim, and it took them TWO WEEKS to schedule me an appointment with an adjuster, and that isn't until January 11th.  I wonder why so slow?  I know there was lots of damage, but a month from report to actually having them come out?  I've already paid out way more than my deductible just to get things up and running again.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by tulsa1603

quote:Originally posted by Steve

If physically able, buy a chainsaw and do it yourself.  Or pool money and labor with your neighbors and everyone help each other out.  Paying someone $1500-$1700 is just ludicrous.

Keep track of your expenses and time spent in labor.  My neighbors across the street have insurance with Farmers, and Farmers is reimbursing them at the rate of $54 PER HOUR (not a misprint) for the time they have spent cleaning up their own yard, labor only and not counting the cash out of pocket.

I've done everything I can myself so far...but what's left is all wayyyy too high.  My extension ladder PLUS a pole saw won't even come close.  The really crummy thing is that State Farm only covers tree damage if it actually damaged the house, so all the trimming to fix the broken trees is not covered. [:O]  I think they'll reimburse part of it since it is what knocked out my electrical service.  

Speaking of insurance, I called on Dec. 11th to report the claim, and it took them TWO WEEKS to schedule me an appointment with an adjuster, and that isn't until January 11th.  I wonder why so slow?  I know there was lots of damage, but a month from report to actually having them come out?  I've already paid out way more than my deductible just to get things up and running again.

I understand your plight about the tall trees; my next door neighbor rented a powered lift (or cherry picker) from a local rental company and spent yesterday afternoon removing damaged limbs from a tall tree between our homes.  It hitched on to the trailer hitch of his truck and he towed it home.  It had a guard-rail platform and lifted one man & equipment about 20-25 feet or more.  I don't know what it cost to rent this, but several families could go in together and share the rental cost.  (Some one else would have to get on the thing besides me, as I get wobbly on a step ladder.)

My insurance is State Farm too; I have only made one claim from them in the past 21 years with no problems, but all the people I have talked to in the last 10 years that have State Farm have had very little good to say about them.  About 12 years ago they endorsed my policy to "depreciated value only" for roof surface replacement.  Then they excluded all mold damage from the coverage.  After this latest storm round, I think it is time for me to investigate other homeowner's insurance firms.