Terms of Service
These Terms of Service govern estimate requests and residential or homeowner stump-grinding services provided by Brown Bear Land Services. The accepted Stump Grinding Price Estimate & Work Authorization identifies the specific work, price, and any job-specific terms.
Work requested by contractors, property managers, homeowners’ associations, community associations, or other commercial clients is governed by the applicable signed service agreement, work authorization, job request form, and other job-specific written terms. Those documents control when they differ from these general Terms. If no separate written agreement applies, these general Terms remain in effect.
01 · Estimate Requests and Work Authorization
Submitting a website form requests an estimate only and does not authorize work or reserve an appointment.
Once the customer accepts the Stump Grinding Price Estimate & Work Authorization, Brown Bear Land Services will arrange any required SC811 clearance and provide an estimated service window based on weather, site readiness, and availability.
Before grinding begins, Brown Bear Land Services will verify the measurements, access, and work scope onsite. If a material difference requires a change to the price or scope, the customer will be notified and must approve the change by text message, email, or a revised authorization form before the affected work proceeds. If no material difference is found, the accepted authorization remains the agreed price and work scope.
02 · Customer Authority and Information
The customer confirms that they own the property or are authorized to approve the work and grant Brown Bear Land Services access to the property.
The customer agrees to provide reasonably accurate information about the number, location, and measurements of the stumps; property access; known hazards or embedded materials; and known private or unmarked underground systems.
03 · Estimates and Onsite Verification
Estimates are based on the information, measurements, photographs, and access details available when prepared. We verify the site before work begins.
If actual stump size, quantity, access, terrain, roots, obstructions, or other material conditions differ from the estimate, we may revise the scope or price, postpone the work, or decline the affected work. Material changes will be discussed before changed work proceeds.
04 · Standard Stump-Grinding Service
Unless the accepted estimate states otherwise, standard service includes below-grade grinding of the primary stump, its normal root flare, and typical adjoining visible roots within the agreed work area, subject to site conditions, obstructions, and underground-utility clearance requirements.
Grindings are raked and leveled within the work area and remain onsite. Stump grinding is not complete root-system excavation.
05 · Excluded or Additional Work
Unless specifically included in writing, standard service does not include:
- Tree cutting or removal.
- Complete subterranean root removal or extended root chasing.
- Hauling away grindings or debris.
- Imported soil, seed, sod, lawn restoration, landscaping, grading, or construction preparation.
- Removing or altering fences, gates, structures, hardscape, or landscaping to create access.
- Removing significant embedded obstructions, including fencing, wire, concrete, rebar, piping, or large or immovable rocks.
Brown Bear Land Services will move ordinary loose rocks or debris when reasonably practical. If embedded metal, concrete, piping, large or immovable rocks, or other hazardous material prevents safe grinding, Brown Bear Land Services will work around the obstruction and grind as close as safely practical. Some stump or root material may need to remain when the agreed grinding area or depth cannot be completed safely because of these obstructions.
06 · Utilities and Underground Conditions
For work at developed residential or commercial properties—or at any other location where utility clearance is required—Brown Bear Land Services will arrange an SC811 locate request before grinding begins. Utility markings identify the approximate horizontal location of covered facilities but do not establish their depth or identify every private underground system.
The customer must disclose and correctly identify or mark known private or unmarked systems, including irrigation, invisible fencing, private electrical lines, septic components, drainage, landscape lighting, and similar installations.
Before grinding, Brown Bear Land Services will submit or review the applicable SC811 locate request and review its Positive Response status and available markings. If a marked or suspected underground facility conflicts with a stump or the required grinding area, Brown Bear Land Services may limit the grinding depth, modify the work area, postpone the work until the conflict can be resolved, or decline the affected stump. Safety and utility-clearance requirements take priority over the standard grinding depth and scope. A stump may be declined when a marked or otherwise verified gas facility—or another underground facility that cannot be safely cleared—is located directly beneath it.
07 · Access and Site Readiness
Unless otherwise approved, the work route must provide at least 36 inches of clear opening and sufficient room for safe machine travel. Most standard 36-inch gates should provide adequate entry, but the entire access route must allow safe equipment travel.
Before the scheduled visit, the customer must unlock gates, remove or secure movable items in or near the access and work areas, secure pets, and disclose any known access or ground conditions that could affect safe equipment travel.
If the site is not ready or safe access is unavailable, the work may be rescheduled and an agreed return-trip charge may apply.
08 · Scheduling and Delays
After the job is accepted and any required utility clearance is complete, Brown Bear Land Services will provide an estimated service window.
Service dates and arrival windows are estimates and may change because of weather, unsafe site conditions, equipment problems, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control. The customer will be notified if the work must be rescheduled.
09 · Grindings, Settlement, and Future Use
Standard service leaves the stump grindings onsite, raked and leveled within the work area. The area may be left slightly crowned to allow for expected settling. Grindings may be reused as mulch or added to compost elsewhere on the property.
Because the grindings contain wood and soil that will decompose and settle over time, establishing new grass may require removing excess grindings, adding topsoil, and applying seed or sod. These additional restoration services are included only when specifically stated in the accepted estimate.
10 · Hidden Conditions and Property Protection
We use reasonable care around disclosed property features and visible conditions. You are responsible for identifying private utilities, hidden objects, fragile surfaces, irrigation, septic components, landscape lighting, invisible fencing, and other conditions that are not reasonably visible.
To the extent permitted by law, Brown Bear Land Services is not responsible for damage caused by undisclosed, unmarked, hidden, or inaccurately identified conditions.
11 · Payment
Unless the accepted estimate or job form states otherwise, payment is due upon completion and receipt of the invoice. Additional work must be approved before it is performed and will be added to the invoice.
12 · Cancellation and Scope Changes
The customer may cancel or request rescheduling before the scheduled service date without charge.
Cancellations or rescheduling requests made by the customer on the scheduled service date are subject to a $75 trip charge because service time has been reserved for the property and may no longer be available to another customer.
Changes to the requested work may require an updated price, different equipment, or a new service window. Brown Bear Land Services will discuss any required changes with the customer and obtain approval before proceeding with changed or additional work.
13 · Photographs and Electronic Communications
Brown Bear Land Services may take before, during, and after photographs or video for estimating, job documentation, invoicing, dispute prevention, and marketing.
Job photographs or video may be used on our website, Google Business Profile, social media, or other business materials. Brown Bear Land Services will use reasonable care to avoid displaying the customer’s name, street address, or other private personal information.
Reviews or testimonials voluntarily provided to Brown Bear Land Services or posted publicly may be quoted or shared in business and marketing materials using the reviewer’s name as displayed with the original review.
Customers who do not want photographs or video from their job used for marketing should notify Brown Bear Land Services before work begins.
14 · Service Results
Brown Bear Land Services will perform the accepted stump-grinding and cleanup scope in a professional and workmanlike manner. Standard service is intended to remove the visible stump, grind the normal ground flare below grade, and leave the grindings raked and leveled within the work area.
Stump grinding is not complete excavation of the underground root system. Remaining roots will naturally decompose over time and may result in some settlement or occasional sprouting.
15 · Controlling Terms and Contact
If an accepted estimate or job form conflicts with these general Terms, the job-specific written term controls for that job. The version of these Terms linked or provided when you accept the job applies unless both parties agree otherwise in writing.
Questions may be directed to info@brownbearlandservices.com or 864-416-1339.
Acceptance
These Terms are incorporated into the accepted estimate or job form. Electronic acceptance and a required website-form acknowledgment may be used in place of a separate signature on this page.