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

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.

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.  

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.

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.