That time a big limb drop went sideways in a Denver suburb

I was clearing a storm damaged silver maple in a backyard in Aurora, Colorado. The plan was to lower a 20 foot limb with ropes, but my ground guy's hand slipped on the friction device. The limb swung hard and took out a section of the client's cedar fence. My heart just sank. We stopped everything, told the homeowner right away, and I paid for the fence repair out of pocket that same day. It was a rough lesson in double checking every connection point before making the cut. Has anyone else had a rigging fail that caused property damage, and how did you handle it with the customer?

3 comments

3 Comments

quinn_flores802mo ago

Honestly, telling the homeowner right away might have just scared them and made the whole thing a bigger deal. Sometimes it's better to just quietly fix the problem first, then explain what happened after the new fence is already up. That way they don't have time to get angry or doubt your skills. Paying for it was the right move, but the immediate confession could have cost you the job or a bad review.

linda_kelly172mo ago

My contractor in Austin always said honesty upfront builds trust that lasts, @quinn_flores80.

the_joseph21d ago

Honesty upfront would probably cost me my own house key. Your mileage may vary.