TIL my neighbor's 'free' landscaping advice cost me $150 more than doing it myself

About three weeks ago, my neighbor Bob told me I was wasting money by hiring a crew to trim my big oak tree. He said a pro would overcharge and that I could do it myself with a rented pole saw. I rented the saw for $45, spent a full Saturday fighting branches, and ended up cracking my gutter when one fell wrong. Yesterday I got a quote from a licensed arborist: $120 for the whole job. Add in my $45 rental and now I am out $150 plus a dented gutter. Has anyone else had a well-meaning neighbor steer them into a bad decision like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

blair_davis509d ago

Holding up a sec here. Bob gave you advice that saved you from paying a crew $120, but your own execution cost you $150 and a damaged gutter. That's not really his fault. He gave you a solid idea, you just made a mistake with the branches. A lot of guys I know have saved real money doing tree work themselves when they take their time and plan it out. Next time you could have a buddy help spot branches or tie a rope to guide them down. Your real lesson here ain't about helpful neighbors, it's about knowing your own limits before you start the job.

kevin_roberts419d ago

100% agree Blair. I once spent a whole weekend "saving" $80 trimming my own hedge and ended up cracking my neighbor's window, so yeah, the lesson was definitely on me!