Learn How to Choose a Tree Service That’s Right For You

You check the weather on your phone for the week so you know what outfits you can expect to lay out for work. Apparently, there are going to be some pretty nasty storms rolling in. Your mind drifts to the tree in your yard that’s been leaning a little bit.  

Perhaps, now is the time that you should get rid of it. You start flipping through Google to try and find tree services in your area to call, but you’re not sure what you should be asking for. Truth is, there are always a few red flags when it comes to how legit businesses are.

To help you pick out the best tree services around, here is a quick guide on what you should be looking for.

1. Credentials

You wouldn’t let just anyone babysit your kids. This same rule should apply when hiring a tree service. Workers who have been poorly trained can quickly rack up a lot of damage.

One surefire way you can make sure that you’re hiring a quality service is by asking any tree company how long they’ve been in business. If their answer is anything less than 10 years, you should be a little skeptical about letting them handle your yard.

2. Are They Licensed?

For the most part, it is illegal for a tree company who isn’t licensed to do business so you can bet that they have it, but it’s still a good question to ask.

Even without the legalities, it’s nice to know if a company has certain certifications or not. It tells you that leaders in the tree removal industry have decided that the company you’re considering works hard to meet proper standards and practices. It gives you a sense of trust.

3. Do They Have Insurance?

You want to make sure any company that you hire has liability insurance. If they don’t and end up breaking something on your property, they won’t be obligated to pay for it. This means if a tree that they are cutting falls on your roof, you may be without a home until you can pay for the repairs yourself.

You also want to ask them if they have worker’s compensation insurance. This means that you legally can’t be sued if one of the workers are harmed while performing a job on your property.

4. Referrals

While you hope that you can trust your own instincts, sometimes it’s good to get a second opinion. After all, no great hero would have gotten anywhere without the advice of a wise mentor. You can get this advice by asking a company for the contact information of previous customers who had similar work done.

Most companies are more than happy to give you this. If they are a little less willing this is a huge red flag because it means they have something to hide. You can also check out customer reviews.

All companies usually have a few of these on their site but if they don’t, you can always ask your friend Google.

5. Money Matters

One of the biggest factors that will probably determine your decision is money. It’s important when calling around that you find out how you’re going to be charged and you also want to get an estimate.  

How Will You be Charged?

Nothing is more annoying than a company who gives you one price for their services just to slap you with an extra service charge right at the end. You can avoid all this stress by asking a company how they charge you.

They’ll be able to tell you if they charge a flat fee for everything or if an extra fee is applied to additional services such as stump grinding.

Getting an Estimate

Sometimes a company does charge you to get an estimate but more often than not, it’s completely free. Whatever you do, make sure that you get this estimate in writing either by hand or electronically. This way you can make a case if you’re charged for something that you didn’t agree to.

You also don’t have to go with the first company you email/call. Get a couple of estimates from multiple companies. This way you make sure that you get the best deal.

It’s important to note that most companies will be completely okay with giving you an estimate. If they seem hesitant to do so then this is a huge sign that you shouldn’t go with them.

6. What Measures Do They Take to Protect Your Yard?

One of the most important parts of any tree service is protecting the yard that’s surrounding the tree that they’re working on. Any company should be able to give you a detailed response on how they plan on doing that.

Heavy equipment can potentially put holes in your yard unless adequate measures are taken. There is a little more to it than filling the holes back up with dirt from your yard.

How to Choose the Best Tree Service to Handle Your Yard

When huge storms are rolling in, it may be time to clear any dead-looking trees out of your yard. The right tree service can remove them but the tricky part is finding the right one for the job. Use this guide so you know all the big questions that you need to ask.

Still looking for a company that can meet all of your needs? Put the job in our hands. Contact us to tell us about your tree removal project.