By Thor Thomas Equipment and Land Services · Updated October 16, 2026 · 5 min read
What moves the bid, job by job
| Service | What moves the price |
|---|---|
| Land clearing | Size of the area and how dense the trees and brush are; tree diameters and the number of stumps; what happens to the debris; terrain, slope, wet ground and access; distance to the site |
| Forestry mulching | Acreage and how dense the vegetation is; tree sizes; terrain, slope and wet ground; rocks, old fence wire and hidden debris; distance to the site |
| Brush cutting | Acreage and the height and thickness of the growth; terrain, ditches and slopes; hidden hazards like stumps, rocks and old wire; one-time cut or recurring; distance to the site |
| Grading and dirt work | Volume of dirt moved, in cubic yards; hauling distance for imported or exported fill; soil type and moisture; compaction requirements; access and staging room |
| Gravel roads and driveways | Length, width and depth, which set the tons of rock; rock type for the base and surface layers; condition of the existing surface and drainage; culverts and ditching; distance rock is hauled |
How a bid works
- 1Tell us about the property online: the services you need, the rough size, and photos if you have them.
- 2We follow up within one business day. We sometimes bid from photos and often visit the property.
- 3You get the bid in writing, with the scope, the method and the price spelled out.
- 4We schedule the work, run the machines and walk the finished job with you.
How to get a tighter bid
- Mark your property lines and tell us what must stay.
- Tell us about anything hidden: septic systems, wells, buried lines, old fence wire.
- Make sure we can get through your gates.
- Send photos: a few wide shots of the area and a few close ones of the densest or most difficult spots.
What a good bid includes
Whoever you hire, ask for the scope in writing, the method that will be used, what is and is not included (debris handling and stump removal are the usual surprises), and the price. A bid that spells those out is easy to compare with another, and it leaves no room for a dispute about what was agreed.
Common questions
How long does it take to get a bid?
We reply within one business day. We sometimes bid from photos and often visit the property, and the bid is in writing.
Do you publish prices for land work?
No, because no two properties are alike. Equipment rental prices are published on each equipment page; land work is bid per job.
Does the method change the price?
Often, yes. Mulching in place avoids hauling and burning, while clearing may add stump removal and debris handling. We choose the method that fits your plans and spell out the difference in the bid.