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Tree service quote comparison checklist
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How to hire a tree service: insurance, written quotes and red flags
Tree work is dangerous, and a bad hire can cost you money or a damaged roof. This guide shows what to check before anyone starts a saw in your yard. Lirevon is not a tree company and does not list or rank tree companies. We help tree companies with phones and websites.
By Umair Nawaz, founder of Lirevon Updated How we check facts
Safety first
Before you think about hiring, make sure everyone is safe.
- A tree or limb is on a power line: stay far away and keep kids and pets away. Call your electric utility. Call 911 if there is fire, sparks or anyone in danger.
- A tree is on the house: get everyone out of the rooms under it and call 911 if anyone is hurt or trapped.
- Do not do it yourself: do not climb, do not cut near wires and do not use a chainsaw on storm-loaded wood. Bent or twisted wood can spring back with great force.
If a storm just passed, read the after a storm guide first.
The hiring steps
Most good hires follow the same five steps. None of them takes long.
1. Find two or three local companies
Look for a real business name, a local phone number and a history of reviews. Read the low reviews too, and how the owner replied.
2. Ask each one to look at the tree
A fair price usually needs someone to see the tree, what is under it and how a truck can reach it.
3. Ask for proof of insurance
Ask for a certificate of insurance before any work starts. More on this below.
4. Get every quote in writing
Compare what each quote includes, not only the bottom line. Two quotes that look different may cover different work.
5. Agree on the plan and the date
Know who will be there, when they will start, what happens to the wood and the mess, and how you will pay.
Want a list of things to ask on the phone? See questions to ask a tree service.
Insurance: what to ask for
This is the most important check. Tree work can damage houses, cars and fences, and workers can get hurt. Ask for two kinds of cover:
- General liability: pays for damage the crew causes to your home or your neighbor's.
- Workers' compensation: pays when a worker is hurt on the job. Without it, an injured worker's bills may become a problem for you.
Ask the company's insurance agent to send the certificate to you directly, with current dates. A business card or a line on a website is not proof. If you want to know how your own home policy treats tree damage, read trees and insurance. This is a short explanation, not legal or insurance advice; ask your own agent.
Written quotes
We do not list prices for tree work, because every tree and yard is different. What we can tell you is how to compare quotes fairly. Get two or three in writing. A good quote spells out:
- The company name, phone number and the name of the person who wrote the quote.
- Exactly which trees, which limbs and what work (for example removal, pruning or cabling).
- Whether the stump is included, and if so, how deep it will be ground.
- Cleanup: whether they haul away branches, logs and wood chips, or leave them.
- Equipment that may touch your lawn or driveway, and who fixes damage if it happens.
- Who gets any permit that your town requires.
- The total price, any deposit, and when the rest is due.
- A start date or a time window.
The cheapest quote is not always the best deal, and the most costly is not always the safest. Look at what is included. For what moves the price up or down, see tree removal cost factors.
What "certified arborist" means
An arborist is a person trained in the care of trees. Tree care bodies offer certified arborist credentials to people who meet their experience or education rules and pass their exam. To keep it, they must keep earning continuing education credits.
It is a sign of tree knowledge, not a license and not insurance. It matters most when you want to keep a tree healthy: pruning, a sick tree, or deciding if a tree is safe. Ask for the person's name and check the credential with the body that issued it.
Red flags
Most tree companies are honest people doing hard work. These signs tell you to slow down and check more.
Door-knockers after a storm
After big storms, some crews travel in and knock on doors. Some are honest; some take a deposit and leave. Be careful with anyone uninvited, with no local reviews, who pushes you to sign today.
Cash only
A company that will only take cash, wants it all up front, or will not give a receipt leaves you with no record if something goes wrong. Ask for a written quote and a receipt for every payment.
No insurance, or "I'll bring it later"
If a worker is hurt or your house is damaged and the company has no insurance, you may be the one facing the bill. No certificate, no work.
A large deposit before any work
A large cash deposit before a date is set is a warning sign. If you pay a deposit, get what it covers in writing.
Pressure and scare talk
"That tree will fall tonight" may be true, or a sales line. If unsure, get a second opinion. If a tree truly looks about to fall, keep people away.
Quick checklist
Use this for each company you talk to. For a version you can fill in and print, try the hiring checklist tool.
| Check | Done? |
|---|---|
| Real business name, local phone number, reviews | Yes / No |
| Certificate of insurance (liability and workers' compensation) sent to you | Yes / No |
| Written quote with the work, cleanup and stump spelled out | Yes / No |
| Two or three quotes to compare | Yes / No |
| Certified arborist on staff, if the job is about tree health | Yes / No / Not needed |
| Permit question answered (who gets it, if needed) | Yes / No |
| Payment by check or card, with a receipt | Yes / No |
| No pressure to sign today | Yes / No |
More guides for homeowners are on the homeowners page.
Common questions
How much does tree removal cost?
It depends on tree size, nearby houses or wires, access, whether a crane is needed and cleanup. We do not list prices. Get two or three written quotes; our cost factors page explains what changes the price.
What insurance should a tree service have?
Ask for general liability (covers damage to your property) and workers' compensation (covers injured workers). Ask the insurance agent to send the certificate to you directly. This is a short explanation, not insurance advice.
What is a certified arborist?
A tree care worker who has passed a recognized tree care exam, after meeting the experience or education rules of the body that certifies them, and who keeps up with continuing education. Ask for the name and check the credential with the body that issued it.
Do I need an arborist for every job?
Not always. For a simple removal, a careful insured crew may be fine. For pruning, a sick tree or a tree you want to keep, a certified arborist is a good choice.
Should I pay a deposit?
Some honest companies ask for one, often for big jobs. Get it in writing, pay by check or card, and get a receipt. Be careful with a large cash deposit before a date is set.
A crew knocked on my door after a storm. Should I hire them?
Slow down. Ask for their business name, a local phone number, insurance and a written quote. Look them up on Google Maps and read reviews. If they push you to sign right now, say no.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree?
Some towns, cities and homeowner groups require one, especially for large or protected trees. Rules vary by place. Ask the company who gets the permit, and check with your town. This is not legal advice.
Can I cut the tree down myself to save money?
We do not recommend it for anything big. Do not climb, do not cut near power lines and do not use a chainsaw on storm-damaged wood that is bent or under tension. Those jobs are for trained, insured crews.
How do I know if a tree service is legit?
Look for a real business name, a local phone number, a written quote and proof of insurance sent by their agent. Check recent Google reviews and how the owner replies. Rules for licenses differ by state, so ask your state or city what applies.
What are the red flags when hiring a tree service?
Pressure to sign today, cash-only deals, a big payment up front, no written quote, no proof of insurance and no local address. Any one of these means slow down and call two or three other companies.
Keep reading: how to choose a tree service, red flags when hiring, what a certified arborist is, and the tree care guide for your state.
This page is general information. It is a short explanation, not legal or insurance advice. Lirevon does not do tree work and does not recommend or rank any tree company.
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