“I don’t believe in setting up a job from a computer screen,” he said. “I believe in going to a job with a crew and showing them the job.” After walking the site, Buell asks the crew leader how long the job will take. If their estimate differs significantly from his own, he knows something was misunder- stood or misjudged. For instance, a crew leader might see additional work the tree needs beyond what the client approved, leading to scope drift, in which the project scope includes more than the client’s desire or involves too many stakeholders. “The crew leader might be right that the tree needs crown reduction in another part,” Buell said. “But the client does not want to pay for that. So, we cannot do it.”
matches helps prevent rework, mis- communication, and unapproved tasks. Digital platforms now enable estimators to map every tree on a property, give crews clear job details aligned with customer expectations, and produce performance insights that strengthen future work. 4 Use Technology to Trans- late Estimates into Reality One of the most persistent challenges in arborist management is converting an estimator’s written instructions into clear directives that crews can follow. Missing details create inefficiencies, safety risks, and unhappy clients.
Proactively identifying these mis-
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