Storm Clean Up

[Tim/South]

I have some question about helping people clean up after bad storms or tornadoes.

The tornado outbreak that hit Mississippi several weeks ago also did some damage close to me.
One family I know asked if I could use any logs and if so, to come mark what I wanted.
My son went over and marked @ 50 oak and hickory trees.
Looking at the mess was almost overwhelming. We had to cut a place to pull off the road and park.
I spent the next 3 weekends helping them cut and burn limbs. Countless loads of fire wood were given away. We did not only cut our own but just waded in and cut what needed done.
I also used it as an excuse to buy a new 372. I have a 757 Shinny and one 'large' saw was never going to get the job done.
I have hauled home 84 pieces so far, including some large limbs to cut into fire wood.
I used our BobCat to push limbs close to the burn piles and to stack logs out of the way to haul later.

One day the man across from where we are working came over and asked how much I was paying for the logs? He had @ 60 down and would "entertain an offer".
I told him I could buy the logs for $40 a ton and was working to help the family.
He scoffed and said I was getting rich on another persons disaster.
The owner I know said he did not care if I made a million bucks, that I deserved anything I got.

My question is this....
Do people help clean up for free logs or do they charge to clean up and remove the logs?
It never crossed my mind to pay or charge, just help a family I knew.

A friend of mine made $3200 the first week with his skid steer. He knows he over charged but said insurance was paying and to get it while he could.

The rest of the story...
The smart mouth that said I was "getting rich" now wants me to clean up his mess like I have his neighbors, same type deal, free logs. That dog does not hunt.
It ends up he finally found someone to come out and the "offer" was for him to pay them $6,400 ($100 per tree since they were already down) to remove the logs and pile the brush. That did not include stump removal in the woods.
His insurance will only cover what was in his yard.
I have no problem with how my deal worked out. I feel pretty good about helping.
I would like some insight on what to do in the future. I am concerned that I will be called and expect to do this in trade for the logs.
How does a person price this sort of thing?

[beenthere]

Seems you are the one in charge of what you do, when you do it, and for what you will do it for.

If you feel like charging for your work, or paying someone for their logs and doing the work...that is up to you.

Appears you are worrying about what someone else is thinking about your work.

And it sounds like you are happy with the arrangement exchanging work for logs, as well as your family of friends.

Enjoy it. 

[Stan snider]

If there were all the logs you needed in the area without dealing with the smarty my inclination would be to let him make a "donation" to someone else to clean up his mess. You might even be able to buy the logs from them cheaper than you can work them up yourself. Occasionally people need a lesson in good manners!

[Tim/South]

Seems you are the one in charge of what you do, when you do it, and for what you will do it for.

If you feel like charging for your work, or paying someone for their logs and doing the work...that is up to you.

Appears you are worrying about what someone else is thinking about your work.

And it sounds like you are happy with the arrangement exchanging work for logs, as well as your family of friends.

Enjoy it. 

It is not that I worry about what others think.
I am concerned that others will expect me to remove logs or free. Word gets around when people sit and compare.
The logs I removed were nice woods logs, tall and clear.
That is different to me than possibly expected to remove a few large yard trees blown over by a storm.
I have no idea how much to charge a person if I am called.

[Tim/South]

If there were all the logs you needed in the area without dealing with the smarty my inclination would be to let him make a "donation" to someone else to clean up his mess. You might even be able to buy the logs from them cheaper than you can work them up yourself. Occasionally people need a lesson in good manners!

Yes, the guy with the attitude will be doing his own clean up. Both times he talked to me he had also been in conversation with Jack Daniels

I do not have a ready market for the logs I have already hauled. I just hated to see them waste. I will saw them into some dimension and store them until myself or someone needs them.

[woeboy]

I started out 3 months ago and I needed to as many trees as I could get so after talking with the tree service, I put a small ad in craigslist saying I would remove downed trees and I got more work than I could handle, but there have been all different expectations from nearly every job. I have found that just going over what they are expecting before I start my chainsaw has saved me from a few hassles down the road. Also alot of my "free removal" jobs turn into small paying jobs cause most people understand we are not actually getting anything for free rather a material with potential to make a profit.  And after all they are geting the log removed for free ;D 8)

[Tim/South]

I started out 3 months ago and I needed to as many trees as I could get so after talking with the tree service, I put a small ad in craigslist saying I would remove downed trees and I got more work than I could handle, but there have been all different expectations from nearly every job. I have found that just going over what they are expecting before I start my chainsaw has saved me from a few hassles down the road. Also alot of my "free removal" jobs turn into small paying jobs cause most people understand we are not actually getting anything for free rather a material with potential to make a profit.  And after all they are geting the log removed for free ;D 8)

Do you pile or remove the limbs or just get the log and leave?
I am curious as to how the removal works for others.

[woeboy]

[/quote]
Do you pile or remove the limbs or just get the log and leave?
I am curious as to how the removal works for others.


[/quote]

I actually do a little both, 1-2 trees I dont mind taking the brush and limbs but anything more may take firewood size but nothing less size. In my experence people for the most part are ok with you leaving the little stuff or burn it up, for the people who unable i ask them if they would like me to burn the small stuff or take it to the road for county pickup.  I say at least half the jobs, all that was there when I got there was the log. thats the sweet ones 8) ;D
there is always someone looking for something for free so I make sure it is perfectly clear what I am going to do before I start anything, and my wife is always reminding me that tree services charge a pretty penney for tree removal, so even offering to do some extras like removing limbs or grinding the stump for a small fee is not  inapproprate.
But do keep in mind I have no equiptment, only trailer, truck and manpower so my overhead is not very high but it takes me a bit longer. Though in my short experence, people in general are happy they are getting  something done for free ;) :D

[SamB]

I personally don't have experience sawing logs from tornado damage, because tornadoes are pretty rare in this part of the country. A friend who runs a large saw mill in this area bought a load of what appeared to be solid logs from tornado damage and ended up with nothing but firewood. When sawed the wood came apart as if you were releasing tension with each cut. Don't know if that's a common issue with logs from tornado damage. You might want talk to some sawyers who've sawn logs from tornado damage, unless you've got a market for firewood.

[Bobus2003]

Here in the last month we've had a 2 really good wind events, not tornado's though. I have been running like crazy cleaning up after these winds and I'm not charging for my time or equipment..I'm just making a deal that i get the Logs from it. Some people see it as i'm making a million bucks and others see it as they still owe me money cause i'm not making any money. Ive noticed people seem to think that every tree is worth 3x what it actually is, plus it takes a few trees to make a ton.. sure i'm getting $30/tn at the saw mill, but once i cover my fuel (Skidder, Skid Steer, Saw) and pay a trucker $6.50/tn to get the wood hauled to the mill, move my equipment to the next job.. theres not a lot too be had

[bill m]

I don't have a sawmill so I would not need the logs. I do all of my clearing and storm damage work by the hour, keep all of the firewood, and sell the saw logs. All of the money from the sale of the saw logs goes back to the land owner.

[Tim/South]

Ive noticed people seem to think that every tree is worth 3x what it actually is

This made me smile. So true.

All of the money from the sale of the saw logs goes back to the land owner.

Do you haul the logs for them or have them hauled?
Just curious as to how others do business.
I can see where the owner receiving a check for the logs might be an education. The local mill sawing RR ties is paying $40 per ton. That might be a reality check for some owners.

[bill m]

Ive noticed people seem to think that every tree is worth 3x what it actually is

This made me smile. So true.

All of the money from the sale of the saw logs goes back to the land owner.

Do you haul the logs for them or have them hauled?
Just curious as to how others do business.
I can see where the owner receiving a check for the logs might be an education. The local mill sawing RR ties is paying $40 per ton. That might be a reality check for some owners.
If it's a small load ( less than 1500 bd. ft.) I will haul them and get paid for trucking. Anything more than that I just have the mill pick them up.