Choosing a Tree Service:

Questions to Ask Your Arborist

So you’ve googled “tree service near me” and scanned the top-rated tree service results for good reviews, maybe read through a couple of websites, and requested an estimate or two. What now? How can you be sure you’ve picked the right company to work with? Planning a tree pruning or removal project can be overwhelming. There’s a lot to consider when deciding who you want to work with, and there are many differences when comparing tree service quotes, beyond just the price.

We’ll give you our top questions to ask any arborist, and what information you can use to make informed decisions about your tree care!

1. Are you insured? 👇

Why is this important? Tree work is dangerous, and bad things can happen to people and property if not handled by a qualified tree service. In the worst case scenario (which you’ll also feel confidently equipped to avoid by the end of this article), you want to at least ensure that your tree company has both liability and worker’s compensation insurance so you’re covered!

Pro-tip: Ask for copies of insurance certificates to be forwarded to you directly from their insurance company.

2. Are you an ISA certified arborist? 👇

Why is this important? Tree work is a somewhat under-regulated industry in the US. While there are many experienced and qualified tree services out there without a certified arborist on staff, ISA certification is a little extra assurance that the company you’re working with values staying up to date on current best practices, and that all work will meet current industry standards.

3. Do you do more than just tree removals? 👇

Why is this important? While a company that does only tree removal may be perfectly fine for certain projects, we recommend looking for a company that offers other tree services such as pruning and plant health care. If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail– and not all trees have to be removed! It never hurts to work with an expert who has depth of knowledge in their field.

Signs of a Quality Tree Service

There are many high quality tree care companies, and when we first started our company we modeled our standards off of some of the best, and then built on that foundation to continually improve our company and our clients’ experience. These are the qualities we strive for, that we also recognize as excellence in other tree services when we see them:

1. Good client communication. 👉 This is a no brainer. From the very beginning, a quality tree service will show care for your experience and good communication through every step of the process. This shows they are organized and likely to handle the details of your project responsibly.

2. Good reviews, demonstrated capability. 👉 Can you find reviews, photos of their work, people in your community saying good things about their experience working with them?

3. Education vs. Sales Tactics. 👉 Are they giving you all the information you need to make an informed decision about your trees? Or do you get the sense they’re trying to push you to remove a healthy tree that isn’t on your list? In general, if you express concern about their recommendation or you ask a question, do they answer in a helpful and informative way?

4. May not be the cheapest quote. 👉 Sometimes you do just get a good deal from a reputable company, but it may be worth questioning why a quote for tree removal was half the cost of your other quotes. Sometimes there are hidden costs or headaches with a super low quote, and you’ll end up paying less now only to pay more later.

5. May not be available tomorrow. 👉 Unless you have an emergency tree removal, the best tree service is unlikely to be able to make room for your project in the schedule tomorrow.

This isn’t always a red flag, as sometimes tree crew schedules can shift due to weather or client schedule changes, but it is worth noting that especially during the busy season (late spring through fall) most of the best companies are going to be in high demand and there may be wait time between accepting your quote and scheduling.

In general, we find that most businesses can consistently deliver on one or two (but usually not all three) of the following: fastest speed, lowest price, highest quality. In an industry where low quality work can result in massive property damage (think trees through roofs) or even death, we don’t advise skimping on quality.

Need help with your trees in or near Chapel Hill, NC?

We’ve got you! Request an estimate from us and enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re working with qualified professionals.