Free tree removal!!!

[douglisa]

We had two dead trees and two walnut trees we needed cut down.
It was going to cost us an arm and a leg, then I got the idea!!
I put an add on craigslist that I needed my trees removed and right away I got 6 emails saying that they would cut them for free because they needed fire wood. I never would have let someone that was not insured do it if they were a threat to anything, but we have a big yard and these trees are not near any power lines, house, or road.
We needed trees to replace them so I went to the Arbor Day site http://www.arborday.org/
We were able to purchase 6 very nice trees for just $40. Huge savings!

 

[CarolinaMomOf3boys]

Great idea!! Can you tell me how you worded your ad? I have one that needs to be removed!

 

[mombare]

My husband looks on craigslist all the time for free wood - we have an outdoor woodburner and could really use it!! It's pretty amazing what others might want!!!

 

[douglisa]

I put the add in the free column and headed it "Free firewood!"
and then I said "We have trees that we need down, you cut them and take all the wood. No power lines, house or street to get in your way."
Then I put my phone number and our first names. I would suggest not putting your last names, you never know.
Good luck!
We also got rid of my sons beater car that no longer worked. Some guy came and paid him $200 for it.
Once in a while we see adds for free jacuzis and wide screen tvs. We are never quik enough though.
We see free pianos all the time and plan on getting one so our youngest can take piano. We love craigslist!

 

[stacieps]

I never would have let someone that was not insured do it if they were a threat to anything, but we have a big yard and these trees are not near any power lines, house, or road.

What if the person gets hurt while taking them down? Sounds like a good deal, but that's what I would worry about. We spent $1000 to have 2 taken down last fall that were pretty much away from everything, but they were really tall and the tree co. was planning to climb and cut before letting the whole thing drop. I didn't want to worry about someone uninsured getting hurt working on my property so I paid the tree co. to do it.

 

[bonzarella]

OMG I wish I would have thought of this Last month we put out over $6000 to have trees cut down and gave away the wood. I am just sick
Thanks for sharing the idea though for future reference

 

[douglisa]

What if the person gets hurt while taking them down? Sounds like a good deal, but that's what I would worry about. We spent $1000 to have 2 taken down last fall that were pretty much away from everything, but they were really tall and the tree co. was planning to climb and cut before letting the whole thing drop. I didn't want to worry about someone uninsured getting hurt working on my property so I paid the tree co. to do it.

I guess you could draw up some sort of agreement that you are not responsable if they or their equipment gets hurt and then both of you sign.

 

[douglisa]

OMG I wish I would have thought of this Last month we put out over $6000 to have trees cut down and gave away the wood. I am just sick
Thanks for sharing the idea though for future reference

I believe it, my sis payed $700 to have one cut down. It was near some power lines and too close to her house. To save money she told them that all they had to do was cut it down and should would take care of clean up. She advertised on craigslist and the wood went fast! So even if you do decide to have someone that is insured do it you can save yourself some money that way.

 

[jennifer293]

It is too ex*****ve to heat your home with fuel this year so many are going to woodburners and fireplaces..I LOVE IT because we clean and service chimneys and we are already booked till December!!!! We have had a few cold snaps here already and I hope it keeps on!!! We need to pay my car off!!!

 

[jennifer293]

why does the word expensive get blurbed out??

 

[lovesmurfs]

why does the word expensive get blurbed out??

Did you misspell the five middle letters? It could say a word that's not allowed, if you switched the s and the i. ...

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

What if the person gets hurt while taking them down? Sounds like a good deal, but that's what I would worry about. We spent $1000 to have 2 taken down last fall that were pretty much away from everything, but they were really tall and the tree co. was planning to climb and cut before letting the whole thing drop. I didn't want to worry about someone uninsured getting hurt working on my property so I paid the tree co. to do it.

we know someone who did this. They allowed people to cut trees down for free and they got to keep the wood. One of the guys got hurt real bad and 5 years later the law suite is still going on. They had them sign a agreement that the home owner was not at fault if they got hurt and sadly enough it was not worht the paper it was written on

 

[locodemickey]

we know someone who did this. They allowed people to cut trees down for free and they got to keep the wood. One of the guys got hurt real bad and 5 years later the law suite is still going on. They had them sign a agreement that the home owner was not at fault if they got hurt and sadly enough it was not worht the paper it was written on

We have a tree that needs to come down (probably 80 ft. tall) but this is what worries me. Maybe just have the professionals down the tree then you cut it up and advertise it so someone can take it away for free. They could still get hurt somehow though.

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

sadly is this day an age people sue all the time.
If that never happened to our friend I would have never thought twice about doing it.

 

[Imzadi]

we know someone who did this. They allowed people to cut trees down for free and they got to keep the wood. One of the guys got hurt real bad and 5 years later the law suite is still going on. They had them sign a agreement that the home owner was not at fault if they got hurt and sadly enough it was not worht the paper it was written on

Yes, this was my worry when I read the OP. You really don't know who will show up and how much experience they have with saws, cutting, or climbing up trees (if necessary.) Someone with no experience sawing could see the Craigslist ad & think, "How hard can this be?" They have no problem at the time signing away their rights if they get hurt. Until, of course, they slice up their arm or a part of a branch whacks them and they fall.

I seriously wonder how much such an agreement would really hold up in court? If your homeowners insurance doesn't cover liability for him, he'd be suing YOU, the homeowner. His story could change greatly, in court, from what you both agreed on, where he says he didn't know it would be so dangerous.

Professional tree cutting services, I would think, would have their own liability insurance in place. Plus they'd hire experienced cutters.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

If they are near power lines I would ask your power company if they will remove them. Ours will if they pose a threat of falling on a line.

What I have heard about homeowners is that you have no control on if someone gets hurt on your place. Basically, where it happened is where the insurance will be placed. Even if you want to use your own and not hinder the fault on the homeowner. Sadly, it has made us rethink even allowing anyone to do anything on our place (like a dirt bike).

Pines are really useless. I would not burn them in our wood stove. The sap can coat your pipe and cause a house fire. We have 15 acres and we did have a tree company take a lot of our pines for no cost. They left the stumps and that was a holy mess.