[site]

I am bidding (against myself, and a schools budget) on a job for spring that is 75 miles from home. It's a fantastic job, and I plan on doing what it takes to get it, but I have never traveled for an extended period before. This one should take 6-8 weeks.
To get there we must fight the morning rush hour Boston commute. We tried it today, and it took two hours one way. I am planning on renting hotel rooms and leaving the guys down there most nights. I have connections who can help me find materials and equipment locally. The school will allow me to store my equipment on site. What else do I need to think about? How much extra $ should I offer my guys to work out of town?

[Stonehenge]

Extra? I think you may find that many of them (so long as they don't have family obligations) will think it's pretty cool to be out of town on a project. We've only been away for a week at a time, but they brought along their videogames and fishing poles. I took them out for a few beers a couple times, too.

I picked up all food and lodging for the duration.

For a project that took 2 weeks, we just went home for the weekend, back on Monday.

[Will Pacala]

Will you be able to store materials on site as well as equipment?? That's a biggie. Also sometimes that towns permit system may be different from the one you are currently in. Check that out first even if you don't need one. You never know what will change. To answer your questions better I could use some info on what the plan calls for. That should help us help you!

[site]

I will need a whole bunch of stuff not normally required in New Hampshire. I wll have to get licensed as a contractor in Mass. I will need to charge sales tax. New Hampshire doesn't have any sales tax. I will need a hoisting license- a license to operate motorized lifting equipment. I think there might even be laws about minimum living expenses for traveling workers, but I don't know.
We will be planting trees, shrubs, and groundcovers on a newly re-done section of a college campus. We are responsible for inital planting and care, and mulching. The rest is by others.

[Will Pacala]

What kind of equipment is or will be needed to do the project? What are you refering to when you say lifting equipment? I mean what will you be using that you would need that license???

[Will Pacala]

oh. One more thing. Are you going to be doing any irrigation or any underground utilities at all for that matter?? Just wondering. Because that may require a different permit. Also which employees will you be taking. Foreman, laborers, workers, designers, etc.

[site]

Hoisting license is required to operate any machine with a bucket-from a bobcat on up. You need to take a class and pass a test. I would guess the class is mostly about safety. I will not do any utilities. Just planting, and maybe some minor finish grading. The crew will be me, one foreman, and 5 laborers. The LA is who got me the job. He will stop in peiodically to do his job ( you know... change plant quantities on the day they are delivered, ask for plants to be moved over one inch after they have been backfilled, and so on)

[Paul]

First check with the school to see if they are tax exempt most schools are. Next check with the local labors union or landscape labors union. You might want to hire a local equipment operator that way getting around the histing license.

As for travel expenses you will have to pay them for lodging and meals. I don't know what rooms cost in Boston but I would check it out first.

[Tim]

One thing you may be able to swing is to get some dorm rooms lined up from the college at a real cheap rate. At this time of year, many dorm rooms go empty till Spring time due to Winter graduates. Another possibility is checking with some local Landlords about renting some houses for a short stay. Possibly work out a trade for services. Motels and window time can eat up profit margins very quickly! On meals, try to go for family style cooking. Pot lucking even. Gives the guys a chance to show off their stuff, and it's much cheaper on you. Your people will eat better too. Tim

[Will Pacala]

I agree with Paul. That hoisting license is weird. From bobcat up that's small. I wonder if you rent the machine the license wouldn't be needed or not due to the fact that homeowners may be renting the machine. They don't need a license. Maybe that's a way to fit under the wire on that. Sounds like a big job. Now with all of this going back and forth about how long should it take? Another thing, any lighting???

[agla]

It sounds like an aweful lot to go through to get a job. Why is it so important to commit your people for so long, deal with the extra expense traveling, and have to get so much bureaucratic stuff done?

I think that my biggest concern would be timing. On jobs like this other peoples work dictate when you can do what. You might not be able to get in there and do the job and then get out. There is nothing worse then shipping a crew and making reservations only to find out that they need your planting area as a parking area as the carpet crew bangs out their work, or that kind of thing.

Be careful if it is a public institution because the rate you pay your laborers might be dictated by the state.

[site]

Thanks for the replies. It is a wortwhile job because of what I can charge, and it will lead to even more like it. There is some possibility of delay by other contractors, but as far as I know that possibility is just part of doing commercial work.

[site]

Check out this link- http://www.mvvainc.com/index.php. Under projects the job is Wellesley College (Tower Hill Phase) I think it's worth traveling for. Also, if you look at Phillips Exeter Academy on the same website- that's where we have been recently.

[Stonehenge]

I can't seem to find any kind of separation by phase on that site - just a small pic of the whole plan.

Certainly some gorgeous stuff - I think the first image on the index page was on the cover of Landscape Architecture magazine awhile back.

What a shame it'd be to have your work displayed on the cover of a magazine, eh? I'd say it'd be worth traveling for.


I've been looking more at that site - the residential stuff is mesmerizing. Actually, a lot of it is. (but the ice walls, not so much...)

Great inspiration for me to use in the design for my yard.

[dan deutekom]

Interesting site and a great project for you to land. I am not overly impressed with the residential design to be honest with you. It seemed a little to commercial/municipal for my tastes and the ice wall is well......different. It is a neat concept but I think it is difficult to translate from concept to reality. I do think their forte is in commercial/public landscape design.