How do I price a tree removal when I cannot see the whole tree?

Some trees are hard to read: thick canopy, tight access, a heavy lean, a hollow trunk, or roots that may be weak. Guessing low to win the job puts the risk on you. Guessing very high can lose work you could have done well.

Walk the whole property. Look at the base, the trunk and the crown from more than one side, and take photos. Use binoculars or a pole camera if you have one. Do the inspection from the ground. Never climb or cut just to get an estimate.

Then write the estimate with conditions. The price assumes sound wood, clear access and no hidden hazards. If the crew finds rot, hollow sections or buried obstacles, the price changes, and the customer approves the change in writing before work continues. That is fair to both sides.

If the tree is near power lines, stop and call the utility before anyone works on it.

See the estimating guide and the tree height calculator.