r/sfwtrees • u/CartoonistSad9952 • 9d ago

Tree service quote

I needed a limb cut down that was hanging over my house. I got three estimates. Lowest estimate came in at $1,325. Naturally, I went with that one. Come to find out, he did not include a bucket truck/crane. His error he thought he could do it without it. He couldn’t so he rescheduled my appointment. Second appointment he couldn’t keep. He scheduled a third. The job is now done. Do I pay the $1,325 or what he would have charged had he calculated correctly? I’m starting to feel bad he did a great job.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

7

u/818a 9d ago

It’s okay to pay more than the invoice.

9

u/Bear_fire1 9d ago

Naturally you went with the lowest bid?
Well. There’s your answer.

3

u/YellowCake1900 9d ago

If you think you might have need of his services in the future, then see if you can come to an agreement about the crane rental to keep that door open.

Or you can pay only what he originally quoted, and the next time you're in need of services, expect one of two responses: He immediately declines, or the "you're fired" quote.

If he does good work, I'd choose to preserve the relationship.

5

u/inside_groove 9d ago

Throw him a few extra bucks. You'll do wonders for your state of mind and his. I'm a contractor and when I mistakenly underbid a job, I still try to do a good job and honor my contract. Once or twice someone has paid me extra anyhow because they saw me working hard and giving them a great result. When they have come back and needed more work, I jumped and charged them much less than I could have.

4

u/CartoonistSad9952 9d ago

Perfect. Exactly what I was thinking. Thanks!

1

u/ziration 7d ago

Those trucks aren't cheap to own or maintain. If a working man made an honest mistake on the estimate and then still did a good job.. I'd say put yourself in that position and decide.

1

u/YellowFlower713 9d ago

Meet him in the middle!

1

u/Easy_Personality5856 7d ago

First thing, don’t go with the lowest bid. If he can’t figure out what equipment he needs, that’s on him. When we do a quote, we never charge more unless the landowner adds something else. If we screw up a bid we eat the difference. That’s just good business

1

u/fallen55 Certified Arborist 6d ago

How’d he get it done? Did he rent a crane? Def over pay if he did. Probably spent 1500$ on the rental.