You’ve watched the growth over the course of 20 years.
From a sapling to a grand oak tree, you’ve looked to the tree in your backyard as a sort of clock. It was planted when your family moved into the home, and it was 10 feet tall when you’re daughter started 5th grade.
Now, you notice how it takes up most of the backyard as she packs up for college. You also notice that the tree doesn’t look as full as it usually does, and you’re concerned. You need to call an arborist to come and check it out.
Below are 10 questions you need to ask your arborist when you hire them. Make sure you keep scrolling to find out more.
1. Do You Have Any References?
Keeping a tree alive may sound simple to some, but it’s a big task to handle. Because trees add so much value to a home, you’ll need to find a certified arborist with plenty of references to back them up.
Don’t be afraid to dig into their references. You can also hop online and read any reviews. A review can tell you a lot about them.
Dead trees can cause damage. Avoid this situation by hiring someone you and past customers can trust.
2. Can You Give Me an Honest Quote?
It can be hard to tell by yourself how much work needs to be done in order to save your trees. Save yourself from a guessing game and ask your arborist for a quote on how much it’ll be to get the job done.
Remember, some of the problems may be underground so you may not catch it if you try to come up with your own price. If one arborist’s quote seems a bit high, gather a few quotes from professionals in your area.
3. Do You Have the Proper Insurance?
Every tree care specialist should have proper insurance. As you can see from major storms, trees have the potential to cause a lot of damage. They not only cause damage to homes, but they can also cause damage to equipment.
Avoid major issues in the case of damage by asking to see an arborist’s insurance information. It’ll keep you and them at peace of mind.
4. What Equipment Will You Use?
It’ll be no surprise they’ll need equipment to get the job done, but you don’t want to peak out your window to see unnecessary machinery rolling around your lawn. That can cause serious damage.
When asking about the equipment, don’t be afraid to ask them to clarify the purpose of it all. They can explain to you why they’re using certain equipment so you have a better understanding of all the work that’s about to take place.
Before they start working on your lawn, go around and take pictures of things like your fencing and sprinklers. That way, if there’s damage from the equipment, you can alert the company.
5. Can You Tell Me How You’ll Be Handling the Job?
This question goes a little further than asking them about equipment. By asking your arborist how they’re approaching the job, you’ll know if you’re going to be receiving properly planned tree care.
They should be able to tell you how long the job will take and all the necessary steps to complete the job. You can also ask them if they predict any major difficulties or any risks they might face in the job. Do keep in mind that there’s always the possibility of unplanned issues, and you should give them the time to properly handle those issues.
6. What Safety Equipment Will You Be Using?
No homeowner wants to be making a delicious lunch only to look out and see professionals working on their trees with no safety equipment. The thought of having a preventable injury on your own lawn is enough to make you shudder.
They should be using proper gloves, safety goggles, hardhats, and much more. After your arborist tells you what safety equipment they’ll have, don’t be afraid to take a peek to make sure they’re using it.
7. Are You Properly Licensed?
Every good tree care specialist will be happy to show you their license. Always make sure to ask and check to see if it’s up-to-date. If something seems off, do your own research to see if it’s legitimate.
8. What Do I Do If There’s Damage?
As much as we’d like the job to be done quickly without any mess, small damages are a strong possibility depending on the type of work that’s getting done. Always make sure you understand their damage policy.
Ask them about needed documentation, any paperwork, or how to get in contact with someone at the company that can help file any damage reports if needed. Make sure you have clear answers on all of this before they do anything in your yard.
9. Do You Have Experience With This Type of Work?
Once they tell you what kind of work needs to be done, whether it’s tree removal or simple trimming, ask them if they’ve done those things before. You want to make sure your arborist feels confident about the job they’re about to do.
If they seem a bit unsure, it might be time to find someone else.
10. Can I See Your Work Contract?
Avoid being scammed by pseudo-professionals by asking to see updated work contracts. These contracts are a must, and you want to quickly find someone else if your tree care specialist can’t provide a contract.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask Your Arborist the Above Questions
Fixing up the trees in your yard is no small task so you want to hire an arborist you can trust to get the job done right the first time. Make sure to review the questions above when hiring a tree care specialist in your area.
By making sure they have the proper license, contract, and insurance, you’ll be saving yourself from any legal trouble. You’ll also want to make sure they have a solid plan of how to approach your tree issues. Never be afraid to ask for references.