A good friend asked me to cut these 2 pines down. They are about 20 ft high and its clear all around to drop them. He would like me to haul it all away also. I don't know how much to charge. I'm thinking it will take 5-6 hours. I was thinking $150.
Need more info. Can you drive right up to them for loading? How far do you have to haul them to get rid of them. Honestly I don’t see more than about an hour of work there to drop, limb, buck and load but the pic might be deceiving... if it was just a friend, I’d probably do it for $100... if it was a good friend, I’d do it for free, or a case of beer...
With that, I think $150 is reasonable. Fuel and wear and tear on vehicle and trailer certainly isn’t free. Tree service would prob charge more.
Friends are a tough call, I usually just do it for free because the anxiety of money/ friendship and possible issues.
I don't see more than 15 minutes of work there, but I don't know of any physical issues you may have. those are tiny. Could you just cut them into 7 foot lengths and quickly throw the limbs in the truck and leave? I guess it depends if you have a full size pickup, and if you have traffic. I would charge a friend nothing if was physically unable. As a call business call... 350 dollars if it is 2 or three trips to the government dump for time. sounds like you would have 120 minutes of drive time at least if it is twenty minutes drive. is it possible to lay the limbs flat in the bed and lay the logs on top by hand? that is the beauty of pines
Charge more since they ain't "pines"---look like a kind of spruce. Tell him it's rare and difficult to cut.
If it's a good friend, just ask him to help you and maybe take you out to dinner. Ask the friend to cover any gas or dump fees.
Your price sounds fair for a casual acquaintance. For true good friends I would do it for free. Sometimes that is a good way to find out if they are really a friend or just someone who uses you for favors. I don't have that many good friends so I treat them really well. I have had lots of 'friends' who wanted me to often help them for free but then disappeared the rest of the time. Real friends are invaluable.
Yeah...the one friend that wants me to do plumbing the most is the one that never has time when i want help. On the other hand, I've done plumbing a handful of times for the neighbor that lets me cut firewood and it got me some side work at his wifes dentist office changing out faucets for $50 an hour. So sometimes things work out.
$150 for a friend sounds fair. Pine branches can be a little difficult but 2 twenty foot trees seems easy enough.
Rule # infinity : never use a friend or relative to do serious technical work for you. When it goes south (sic) , what are you going to do ? Don't go cheap. Go pro.