A possible answer to such requests might be “I’d like to help you out but my insurance won’t cover my liability or myself doing tractor-work for someone else.“I say those exact words to myself all the time. Honestly, I now shy away from offering to do stuff for others anymore. I've been bitten way to many times and its always been at my expense in time and broken equipment.
I finally said "No" to a neighboring property owner (vacant lot) with lots of concrete debris. He's asked me 4 times if I would bury the stuff for him. Each time, I replied "no, you need a bigger machine. The last time he asked me I got a little agitated and told him that the last time I helped a neighbor, it wound up costing me $30K for a new tractor.
He just sold the lot, so I'm now hiding from the new owner.
I sort of tell people that I'm just too busy now. There are some that I continue to help, but I'm definitely more selective now.
If I could just learn to say "no" to mother, I'd be in great shape. Just finished loading the tractor to head up there in the am...I surely hope I don't break anything.
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