Fixing a customers mess

[Wwallace52590]

So a guy I did a job for a month or so ago decided to do some tree work himself and had made a mess.

First time dealing with something like this, obviously gonna make him sign something saying I’m not gonna be held
Liable since I’m walking into a mess trying to fix it. Currently one tree is holding up another tree from smashing his shed.

My question is as far as payment, I’m not gonna touch it unless I feel like I can fix it, but if something does go wrong should I still ask for payment?

 

[lumberjack]

Mitigation work is mitigation work, regardless of how the situation was created.

Predictable outcomes are usually fairly easy to come by, even if some of those outcomes are less favorable. When selling the job, those projected outcomes should be reviewed for acceptability... and part of that is the payment expectations.

A shed sounds like there's maybe decent access... a crane sounds like it would offer considerable certainty towards a favorable outcome.

 

[Cobleskill]

Pics would be interesting, maybe good for some ideas.

 

[Marc-Antoine]

It all depends on the case, as it can go from a routine job (for us, not for the scared customer) to a tricky and dangerous one. If you don't feel it, don't take the risk, both for yourself and for the customer's property. If the job has from the get go a serious risk to involve your own assurance or letting go the payment as a compensation ( even not saying your health), don't do it.
Even if the customer still agree to take the risk on him (at least financially), I think that a catastrophic outcome, even if it's a previous forecast, has a devastating effect at least on your morale and confidence.