I found it useful that the bid, while somewhat open ended as to final cost, over-estimated the amount of time that the crew might need to finish the job. I would prefer to be told up front that a job might well be $1400 and then have it come in at $958. I was mentally prepared for the larger sum and so signed off on the bid. But when the work was done to my satisfaction (and the crew checked with me three different times), I was delighted both with the work and the cost. I am sure that my cypresses will continue to grow like cypresses do, but I know now where I will go for help in reining them in.