Excellent post Tim. I agree on all points.
What I have explained to landowners is this. If you cannot accept my word/ handshake that I will do right by you, then no amount of signatures will do any good. As far as I am concerned a man is only as good as his word. Solid references always help too, I give a list of HOA's, Ranchers,etc I also point out that we can be considered an asset rather than a liability in that we are on the property at odd hours that the rancher is not. We are extra eyes looking for down fences, water gaps, etc, and can notify him of anything that looks out of the ordinary.
Now with that said, I do have a 4 page contract that some lawyers drew up for a development I was doing hog removal for. I guess it made them feel better
