11 Tips to Find a Good Tree Removal Service
Make sure you’re barking up the right tree
Tackling any tree issues is a lot more straightforward if you know how to find a good tree removal service. Whether you need to remove a dying tree or find a company that can relocate a tree to a different part of your yard, following these 11 tips will ensure you find the best tree service for your home.
1. Create a Plan
Hiring a tree removal service is similar to hiring a remodeling contractor. Just like picturing your remodeling ideas and conveying them to a remodeler, it can be helpful to think about how you’d like your landscape to look after your tree service is complete and to tell that to your potential tree service provider. That could mean removing one or several trees or pruning existing trees for health and appearance. You don't need to know every detail, but having a good idea of your goals is important.
Prepare yourself to explain to your arborist or tree service what work you’d like them to perform. Though the company you hire may have additional ideas, use your plan idea as a starting point.
2. Ask Neighbors and Friends
Hiring a tree service instead of doing the work as a DIY project is a good idea because of the potential hazards of working on trees near power lines or structures. Not to mention, felling a tree takes some serious knowledge and skill to do the job correctly.
Start by asking your friend with the admirable oak tree or your aunt who is always remodeling her yard who they use for their tree service needs. Ask them about who they brought in, what the company did, their experience, and if they’d recommend them.
3. Get Three Estimates
Getting at least three estimates is the best approach whenever you hire any company to perform a service inside or outside your home. Service companies of all types know that you’ll be price-checking and that they’re competing for your business based on several factors. The practice is accepted and understood, so you don’t have to feel guilty turning down service and going with someone else.
Obtain the three estimates from companies that are willing to come to your home and see what your trees need, are eager to answer your questions without hesitation, and can offer advice about the next steps if necessary.
4. Check Referrals and Reviews
Ask and receive referrals for customers in the area from each tree removal service that offers you an estimate. Ask each referral about their experience working with the company, whether the yard was clean when they left, the time to complete the work, and any other questions that are on your mind.
Check sites like Angi for consumer reviews and even to find pros in the first place. You may also choose to follow up by checking the Better Business Bureau website for information regarding how the company handles complaints when they happen. While online reviews don’t tell the whole story, they can be useful.
5. Verify Credentials
Ask each tree service that you interview for a list of their credentials. Professional organization credentials help ensure that the company you’re considering has a history of professionalism and takes the time and money necessary to ensure its staff is trained and knowledgeable.
Verify the credentials by going to the certifying organization’s website and performing a search. Credentials for tree service companies may include ISA certification, Certified Tree Care Safety Professional certification, or Tree Care Industry Association accreditation, and it’s common for companies to hire at least one International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist.
6. Check Insurance and Licenses
Tree service companies are subject to several regulations regarding licenses and insurance. Depending on where you live, tree removal companies may need one or more of the following licenses or registrations.
State business license
Local business license
Contractor license
State or local company registration
Each state or municipality has a website where you can look up the companies you’re considering to verify their license, if applicable.
Also, at minimum, ask each tree company to produce proof of insurance, including general and professional liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance. Some states also require that tree services have a bond as well as be insured.
7. Create a List of Questions to Ask Your Pro
Once you’ve narrowed down your options to a few finalists, ask each tree company for more details about how they work. What methods will be used to remove the tree? Will they need to bring heavy equipment onto your property, and if so, what steps do they take to protect your lawn? Are services like stump grinding and debris removal included, or do they cost extra? Asking questions like these in advance can help keep you from being blindsided by something unexpected on the day the work gets done.
8. Get Quotes in Writing
Only accept written price quotes when hiring your tree service or arborist. Even for a small tree project, you’ll want a record of the services that are part of the agreement. The scope of the project can change if unforeseen circumstances come up. Having proof of your contract with the company can save money and avoid having unpleasant discussions. As always, communication is the name of the game.
9. Avoid Abnormal Price Quotes
Prices that seem too good to be true probably are, and services that charge much higher than competitors should have a good reason for doing so. Legitimate tree services must protect themselves from losing money if something unexpected happens, but the price buffer in the estimate should be reasonable and explainable.
Although hiring a company offering the lowest bid isn’t an inherently bad decision, use caution if you’re hiring a company based solely on price.
10. Use Caution in Emergencies
If you need emergency tree service quickly, you may feel like you’re in a vulnerable situation, especially after a disaster. It’s not unusual for less-than-reputable tree service companies to knock on doors after a storm looking to sell their services in a hurry. Don’t fall for the fast-talking salesperson.
After a storm that produces tree damage, it’s usually a case where you’ll need to call on your homeowners' insurance policy. To avoid feeling trapped or getting caught up in the urgency, call your insurance company and ask which companies they recommend for emergency service.
11. Hold Payment Until Completion
Regardless of the type and scope of work you hire a tree service to perform, wait to pay them in full until the job is complete. Most reputable tree companies won’t ask for any payment until your project is complete. In some cases, such as large landscaping jobs, you may have to place a deposit before work starts. If you pay a deposit to any type of contractor, refrain from offering the final payment installment until after you inspect the work and decide that it meets your expectations.