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Dawkins Tree Care

Tree Service: 12 Things You Should Expect from the Company You Hire

VWB Blog 2 years ago 7

There are 3 trillion trees on Earth!

Critter homes, oxygen sources, brilliant leaves; trees have it going on. But the moment you become a homeowner, you start to look at trees a little bit differently.

Sure, there’s still gorgeous to behold. But when you’re busy raking up leaves and worrying about dead limbs, you see trees in a whole new light.

If you want to regain the joy of trees, then you should hire a tree service company to take care of all of your tree needs. From trimming to stump removal, there’s a team of tree professionals out there for you. We’ve created this short guide to help you hire the right company.

What should you look for when you hire a tree company? Read on to find out.

1. Affordable Tree Service

First, look for an affordable tree service. What’s a fair price? Prices are going to range based on where you live, the type of work you need to be done, and who you’re hiring.

More experienced and professional tree trimming and removal services will charge more. Having a stellar reputation gives these companies the right to raise their prices a little bit. However, that doesn’t mean that the price points should be astronomically higher than the competition.

For instance, having a tree trimmed should cost between $450 to $550. However, that’s the average cost of having a tree trimmed. If it’s an intricate trimming job, you could easily wind up spending closer to $2,000.

Another service you might need is called topping a tree. A tree between 30 to 70 ft tall will probably cost just under $500 to top. If the tree is over 70 ft tall, you can expect to spend over a thousand getting it topped.

2. Expertise in Tree Trimming Service

You should also find out if the company offers any tree pruning services. Sometimes large trees can make your property feel small or crowded.

Tree trimming or pruning can be the perfect solution if you want to enjoy the clear blue sky. Double-check that the company you’re hiring has the expertise to trim extra tall trees.

Not only will you be clearing up your view, but you’ll also be making your yard safer. Overgrown trees can be a hazard during storms.

Overgrown trees can also present a major risk to your property if you try to prune them yourself. Instead, ask the professionals of the tree trimming company what type of pruning services they offer. The best companies will be able to prune short and large trees and anywhere in between.

3. Reasonable Tree Removal Cost

What if you need a tree completely removed? How much will that cost you? Tree removal usually costs between $10 to $15 a foot.

The difficulty of the removal will depend on how accessible the tree is. If the tree is hard to access, you can expect to pay more to have it removed.

You can also ask the tree removal company about their policies for eliminating debris. Not having to rent a dumpster and ditch the debris yourself can be a major convenience.

4. A Written Contract

Review the contract multiple times before signing it. It’s a good sign if the company offers an e-signature. It shows a commitment to customer convenience!

When will you sign the contract? Before or after paying? Typically you should sign the contract before paying.

Watch out for tree service companies that require you to pay upfront. Oftentimes, tree removal companies are more than happy to take payment after completing all of the services.

Post-service payment is one of the ways to guarantee customer satisfaction while also gaining your trust. When a company requests payment upfront, it could be a sign that they already expect you to be unhappy with their work.

Detailed Service Agreement

The written contract needs to list every single service that the company is going to perform. The contract should also state the exact dollar amount you will have to pay for the services.

Do you have special stipulations for how you want the work performed? The contract should outline these stipulations as well.

For instance, let’s say that limbing work needs to happen on a tree. However, you want to protect the surface of the tree.

You can request that the climbers use ropes instead of climbing spikes. Spikes can damage the tree’s cambium, but ropes won’t cause any harm.

5. Prepared for Anything

When it comes to tree trimming or removal, mishaps can happen. Before hiring a company, find out how they plan to handle potential mishaps.

For example, let’s say that they’re trimming a tree that’s close to telephone wires. If the tree limb falls out of place and goes to land on the wires, will they have a backup plan in place?

Professional tree trimming companies will know how to use a system of ropes to control the limb. When there’s a high risk, such as electrical wires, they’ll have safety procedures in place to cover all of their bases. For instance, they might have a team member who knows how to repair cable wires if something should go wrong.

6. Great References

One of the best ways to find a company you can trust is by getting references. Reach out to coworkers, family, friends, and even neighbors. Find out who they use for their tree services.

After asking what their experience was like, get an estimate of what they paid. Keep in mind that your payment is going to be different depending on the service you need. But at least by finding out what your friend paid, you can get a ballpark figure of what the company charges.

When you call the company, be sure to let them know that somebody referred you to them. Sometimes having a referral will qualify you for special discounts or deals!

You can also let the company know that you’re looking for special discounts and deals. Even if they’re not having a promotion, they might throw something together for a new customer.

7. Solid Online Presence

Does the company have a website like Dawkins Tree Care that’s easy to navigate? Do they have a social media page that’s up to date?

A strong online presence is a sign of a thriving company. Good business is a reflection of quality workmanship.

Take 5 minutes to research each company’s online presence. Along with their website and social media pages, read a few customer reviews.

Customer Reviews

Be sure to read at least 5 to 10 reviews so that you can get a fair picture of how the company is doing. Watch out for reviews that are from years ago since these won’t give you the information you need. Instead, you need fresh, local reviews with the inside scoop!

8. Extensive Work Experience

While you’re visiting the tree service company’s website, look for a photo gallery. Photo galleries are a great way for the company to showcase its current and past work.

You’ll want to look for companies that have a long line of experience. While new companies may have lower rates, they’re not going to have the professional know-how that veteran climbers bring to the table.

Removing trees is a complex task. A lot can go wrong in a short amount of time. If you want to protect your house and your loved ones, you should only hire the best of the best.

Choose tree removal companies that have been in business for a while. When a tree company has been in business for a while, it’s a sign that they care about safety. You may wind up paying a little bit more, but it’ll sure beat the hassle of having to repair your house.

9. High-Quality Tools and Equipment

Does the company you’re hiring have the right tools? The quality of service you receive is going to directly rely on the tools brought to the job. High-quality equipment and tools handled with the right expertise mean safe and effective tree removal.

Take a few minutes to double-check what type of tools the company is going to use. If the company appears to have outdated equipment, that’s a red flag.

If the customer service agent you’re talking to doesn’t know what type of tools the climbers use, that’s also a red flag. Tree removal companies should be proud to let you know what type of equipment they’re using.

10. The Right Insurance Coverage for Tree Cutting Service

When you find a company with the right experience and equipment, you might be ready to sign the contract! But hold off just a minute. You also need to double-check that the company has the right type of insurance.

You should never work with a tree service company that doesn’t have the right coverages and place. Hiring somebody for a cheaper rate simply because they’re uninsured is always a recipe for disaster.

Tree clinging is dangerous and can be fatal. Take for instance what took place in Jacksonville, Florida.

A tree climber became trapped under a stump grinder and died. The company had numerous safety violations and a history of reckless behavior.

If a company doesn’t have insurance and the mishap takes place, you could wind up liable. Can you imagine having to pay to repair your house while also covering the worker’s injuries? You could wind up in the middle of a lawsuit too!

To avoid any legal hassles or financial obligations, only hire companies with insurance. Next, you’ll need to double-check that they have the right licensing and certifications in place.

11. Certifications and Licensing for Tree Trimming Service

Is the tree trimming company licensed in the state where they’re performing the work? If the company doesn’t have a license, it’ll be illegal for them to work on your property.

If you don’t want to get in trouble with the law, only higher licensed companies. You’ll want to take things a step further by double-checking what certifications they hold.

Certification Check

The more certifications, the better. For instance, companies can earn the climber safety certification, the power line safety certification, and even an emergency aerial rescue certification.

Tree trimming services don’t necessarily have these certifications to do a great job. However, when you find a company with these credentials, you’ll know you’re in good hands. It means that the company is willing to go above and beyond to ensure a safe experience.

12. Stump Removal Tree Services

Does the company offer stump removal services? Limbing and trimming are great. But sometimes, to get the look or safety that your yard needs, you’ll need stump removal.

Instead of hiring another company to come and remove the tree stump, we suggest getting an all-in-one package. Find a tree trimming company that also performs stump removal services.

If you’ve never seen stump removal in action, then you have no idea how challenging the test can be. Removing a stump can be a time-consuming process.

Unless the company owns the right equipment to make that stuff disappear, it can take forever! That’s why you should look for companies that use a stump grinding machine.

They’ll be able to grind the stump down to ground level. All you’ll need to do is add a little bit of salt on top, and nobody will ever know a tree was there.

Of course, you can also look for complete stump removal. Completely removing a stump takes more time.

However, in some instances, it’s the best approach. When getting quotes, double-check that the company can both grind and remove stumps. Then you can decide what would be best for your yard.

Find a Tree Removal Service Company You Trust

If you follow all of the tips in this article, you can hire a trustworthy tree service company. Reach out to friends and family members for referrals and look at local tree trimming service websites. You can get a customized quote once you find a company with the right expertise and price point.

Before you know it, you’ll be picking the perfect company to come and take care of all of your tree needs. What other needs could you be taken care of? For more proactive tips, read another article.

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