Quick note: Issue #50. If you have been here since the early days, thank you. If you are new, welcome.
Behind the Bark
Most “bad buyers” are not bad people.
They are buyers with unclear expectations, no plan for access, and a mental picture of cleanup that does not match reality.
And when your scope is vague, you accidentally invite the worst version of every job:
“Can you just…” add-ons
Clean-up arguments
Property damage disputes
The classic: “I thought stump grinding was included.”
Here’s the question: Are you selling tree work, or are you selling certainty?
Better buyers pay for certainty.
So give them certainty, in writing, on one page.
That one page is your Site Safety and Clearance Plan. It does three things:
Protects margin (by defining “done”)
Filters problem buyers (they self-select out)
Makes your services easier to buy (less back-and-forth)
Ask yourself:
When a buyer says “leave it clean,” do you and they mean the same thing?
Do you have a written line that defines what happens to wood, brush, ruts, and blow-off?
If your crew shows up and access is blocked, do you already have a rule for what happens next?
Limb of the Week
The 1-page Site Safety and Clearance Plan (copy and paste structure)
This is not a long proposal.
It is a one-pager that sits on top of your quote or becomes the “scope” section inside it.
Title: Site Safety and Clearance Plan
Project: [Address / Job Name]
Crew Date Window: [Date range]
Primary Contact on Site: [Name + phone]
1) Safety perimeter and access
Work zone boundaries: [driveway, sidewalk, yard sections]
Access required: gate width, driveway clearance, overhead obstructions
Customer responsibilities before arrival: move vehicles, clear patio furniture, secure pets
If access is blocked at arrival: [reschedule fee / time and materials / wait time rate]
2) What we are doing (scope)
Trees included: [Tree A, Tree B, Tree C]
Work type: removal / prune / cabling / storm work
Equipment: [bucket, crane, mini, chip truck] if relevant
3) What “clean” means (choose one)
Pick ONE of these and make the buyer choose it. This is where margin gets protected.
Option A: Basic clearance (lowest price)
Brush chipped and removed
Logs cut to manageable rounds and stacked in a designated area
Rake and blow hard surfaces where we worked
Option B: Standard clearance (most common)
Brush chipped and removed
Logs hauled off OR cut and stacked exactly as specified
Rake, blow, and leaf cleanup as needed
Final walk-through with homeowner
Option C: Premium clearance (best buyers)
Everything in Standard
Haul all wood and debris
Extra detail: beds, fence lines, and behind structures
Photo confirmation of finish
4) Property protection
Lawn protection: [mats / plywood / none]
Risk areas noted: irrigation heads, septic, decorative stone, fences, overhead service
Pre-job photos: yes/no
Damage policy: [brief, plain language]
5) Exclusions and triggers (this kills scope creep)
Stump grinding included: yes/no
Hauling wood included: yes/no
Hauling chips included: yes/no
Firewood splitting included: yes/no
Debris beyond work zone included: yes/no
If we uncover hidden hazards (rot, hornet nests, protected species), we pause and confirm the next step.
6) Acceptance
Buyer initials next to the selected clearance option
Signature line and date
That is it. One page.
Now your buyer is not buying a vague promise. They are buying a defined finish.
One more question: How many of your “difficult customers” would have walked away if they had to initial what “clean” means?
Pricing models that protect you (without line-item chaos)
You do not need to show your whole internal math. But you do need a structure that makes upgrades easy.
Use a base plus clearance tier:
Base price = tree work scope
Clearance tier = Basic / Standard / Premium
Or use a scope bundle:
“Removal + Standard Clearance” (default)
Premium as the upgrade
Rule of thumb: Default to Standard. Let bargain hunters downshift to Basic. Do not start at Basic.
Outreach and pitch (how to sell it without sounding complicated)
When you present the quote, say this:
“I’m going to send you a one-page Site Safety and Clearance Plan. It spells out exactly what we protect, what we remove, and what ‘clean’ means so there are no surprises on job day.”
That line alone positions you as the professional choice.
Sawdust
Two quick upgrades that help this land with better buyers:
Photo proof baked in: “Pre-job photos and post-job finish photos available upon request.”
Final walk-through: “We do a 2-minute walk-through at finish so you can approve before we leave.”
Kickback
If your quote can fit in a text message, you are competing with text message contractors.
“Tree removal $2,500” is not a quote. It is a disagreement waiting to happen.
Your best buyers are looking for:
a plan
a clean site
no drama
and a crew that protects their property like it matters
Give them the plan. Let the bargain hunters pick someone else.
If you want, reply with one of your recent scopes (copy/paste is fine).
I’ll tell you where it is vague, where it invites scope creep, and what to tighten so you win better buyers.
And if you are running 2+ crews and want a second set of eyes on where jobs are leaking between demand, phone, estimate, and booked jobs, you can book a $197 leak-scan below. We’ll keep it simple and practical.
Written by Jacob Hastings
Head of Growth & Client Strategy at Growth Ring Media
