Never Pay Before The Service Is Finished

David Burges • March 9, 2020

One important thing some people don't think about is when to pay......before or after?

Paying For Services in Advance

There are some services you pay for in advance, for example you may put down 1/3 if you're having a deck built. On the other hand, you should never be expected to pay up front for a service that supplies are not needing to be purchased in order to complete the service. Tree service and stump grinding is one such service that you should not pay for in advance.

Paying After the Service Is Complete

You don't have to worry about the person offering the service to run off with your money if you wait till, they have finished. I have had to finish many jobs both trees and stumps, because the homeowner decided to pay upfront before the service was complete, only to find out the person decided to leave early and never come back. I have been offered money upfront and always tell the customer I don't need to be paid until I finish.

Stories

Customers have told me the following: "The guys left for lunch and said they would be back, but it's been 3 weeks and I still can't get in-touch with them." Another "I had to leave to go somewhere and decided to pay them because I would not be back before they finished". Only to find that they left shortly after the homeowner left and never showed up or answered phone calls). Another one "They told me the equipment broke and they would be back tomorrow to finish everything but needed the money so they could fix the equipment so they could finish". Only to find out they were scammed, and they never returned or answered phone calls.

The Ugly Truth

We like to think that everyone we meet is an honest person...but the ugly fact is not everyone is honest. If you decide to pay for a service like tree service or stump grinding up front you may be left paying someone else to finish what someone else started, and it may cost more than the original person quoted. Some people will under-bid then pressure you into paying up-front only to leave you with the job half done.

In The End

I hate having to quote a job that someone else has skipped out on and scammed the homeowner. I feel bad for them, but I also know that I have to feed my family and keep my equipment in good working order. It's a bad situation all the way around. Please do yourself a favor and don't risk getting into that situation. Never pay for tree service or stump grinding services up front.

< Older Post Newer Post >

Storm Damaged Stumps

By David Burges • December 8, 2024

Up-Rooted or Storm Damaged Stumps

Ways to remove a stump

By David Burges • June 2, 2024

How do I get rid of my stump?

Grinding stump in a flower bed next to a deck with a Carlton stump grinder.

The Do's and Don'ts of Stump Grinding

By David Burges • December 10, 2022

Ever think about removing a tree or stump yourself?

House with a sidewalk leading up to it and no stumps in the yard.

Improving your curb appeal

By David Burges • January 3, 2021

Improving Curb Appeal There are many reasons to improve curb appeal. Some people may be interested in a new look, and change the landscaping. Others are thinking about selling their house and wanting to make it more attractive. While others realize they need to do something to keep their yard from being the eyesore in the neighborhood. Stumps Are Often Overlooked Sometimes something small is all it takes to make a big difference, but it is overlooked because you just don't think about it or know there is a way to get it done. I am talking about stumps. They are simple and often overlooked. In some cases people don't want them but have no idea of how to go about getting rid of them. Something Small Can Make A Big Difference If your looking to have a new look you may have to do something bigger like repaint your house or change your landscaping, but not always. If a stump is in your yard, removing the stump gives you more usable landscape and opens your yard up to more possibilities. Someone looking to purchase a house may find the perfect house but something about the appearance outside is just no quite right, and they can't figure it out. If the stump had been removed before it went on the market it may improve not only the chance of it selling quickly but may increase to property value.