Ma1eficent t1_j4769fs wrote on January 13, 2023 at 5:15 PM

For 120k you could buy a tractor (24k) and get to work yourself.

brothers1201 t1_j48dy8a wrote on January 13, 2023 at 9:44 PM

This is the answer! It goes pretty fast with the right equipment. Pay a few friends in beer and pizza and you can do an acre a weekend. Clear underbrush first then fell excessive/damaged trees site clean up isn’t bad if you find a place to take organic material for compost, or chip it yourself for landscaping. I did a similar project and it’s pretty rewarding when it’s done and then you sell excess equipment and your cost is the difference + time.

snowleopardone t1_j47d96m wrote on January 13, 2023 at 5:57 PM

LOL, sure, go for it. But clearing 5 acres isn't like working on your back yard.

Don't forget your dump truck to get the debris to the dump. And there is an art to being an operator. Plucking tree stumps particularly.

Screw it, I'll burn it! Sure. Go for it. Burn 5 acres of debris. See how that works out for you.

And I'm not sure if OP needs the lot cleared and graded. But that's a different machine. (and skills)

By the way, the Department of Ecology will come to visit. They are going to want to make sure you are in conformance with the Storm Water Management Manual for Western Washington. (I'm sure we are all familiar with that, right?)

Speaking of which, do you have any required permits from the County?

And, you'll want to secure the property. (ditches and logs typically) Because semi-rural Snohomish County will have your average nutjob with a 4x4 bombing around because they think it's fun. All good until they get stuck or hurt. Then problems.

What? Insurance? License? Bonded? Why am I being sued? What do you mean there's an eagle nest on the next property over? Why does that matter? (oh sweet summer child...)

So, by yourself save some dollars and 5-acres should take... a couple of months? Assuming one guy doing everything full time? Assuming no break downs, no issues, and no surprises.

Or you pay an experienced crew and they are done in half the time. (or less)

120K is a lot, but that is professional land development for you.

Not saying there aren't people out there that do exactly this. That's where we see projects get started and sort of stop. And then hang out sort of half done for years.

Good times...

Ma1eficent t1_j47ocm9 wrote on January 13, 2023 at 7:05 PM

Lol. This insane rant would have been better aimed at someone who didn't buy 2 acres and a tractor. You have overblown every potential issue to try and claim 120k is reasonable.

intrepidated OP t1_j47wy6b wrote on January 13, 2023 at 7:58 PM

Well, it's 1/2 acre on already-developed land that is just a 30ft wide strip along the road.

Main issue with doing myself is accidentally toppling a 40ft+ tree with a shallow root ball trying to rip the brush out of the way. Also just cutting down a few 60ft+ cottons is beyond my skill.

If it was truly clearing 5 acres at $120k I think that's a steal. $50k for 1/2 acre of shallow trees on flat land along a road seems a rip-off. The other $70k is for grading and planting a hedge row - which seems even worse. I was expecting bids to come in around $40k total for the entire job + cost of the hedges.

brothers1201 t1_j48eh13 wrote on January 13, 2023 at 9:47 PM

It’s not that hard of a skill to pick up if you learn on the smaller stuff first…just make sure you have good chain saws and sharp chains…rent a brush cutter first and clear underbrush so you can see what your doing. You got this, and you’ll have new skills when you are done.