The only people who feel completely confident when faced with an estimate for professional tree service are either those who have been hiring a tree care service for many years or those who actually work in our industry. If you don’t fall into either of those categories, you might feel a bit mystified or overwhelmed when reviewing an estimate for professional tree care. What do the terms on the estimate mean? Which services are reasonable? What should all of this cost? Are there any red flags to watch out for?
First and foremost, you’ll want to START with a company you feel confident in. But how can you feel comfortable with a company you’ve never worked with before?
Get a Referral from Someone You Know
The absolute best way to choose a tree service company (or any service provider) is to start with a personal recommendation. You can start by asking friends or neighbors who have great looking trees. That way, you have at least one point of reference for someone who had a positive experience with the company for a similar type of work. If you can collect more than one recommendation for the same company, even better!
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions
A great tree service company will welcome your questions, because they know that a well-informed customer is more likely to end up being a happy customer. When there’s something in the estimate you don’t understand, just ask for clarification. Finding a post on the internet like this one can be helpful, but it can’t replace a personal interaction.
Choose a Company with a Great Reputation
If you’ve asked around and haven’t been able to get a great personal recommendation, then you can search the internet to find out which local tree service companies have a stellar reputation. When a company has built its business on providing great, reliable service to people throughout your community, you can feel confident that they’ll do the same for you.
Once you’ve chosen a company you already feel pretty good about, here’s what you need to know:
What Are You Likely to See on Your Estimate?
Generally speaking, a tree service company will outline the services they are quoting a price for and which trees they are planning to work on. This may include the type and number of trees, as well as their location on your property (for example, “6 cherry trees along both sides of the driveway”, or “mature oak tree on the north side of the house”). There will be an explanation of the work that will be done (“annual trimming and pest inspection”, or “dead branch removal”, or “stump grinding”). And then there will either be a cost estimate, or an estimated number of hours needed for the work along with an hourly rate.
What Services Are Reasonable?
If you’ve called on a reputable tree service provider, the services they’re suggesting are probably reasonable, but you can always provide feedback if you have questions on the proposed services or don’t agree with the suggested course of action. Trimming/pruning, dead branch removal, pest inspection/treatment, and stump grinding are some of the typical services you will see on a tree service estimate.
What Should All of This Cost?
There’s a wide variety of possible costs for tree service. It will vary depending on your geographic region, the types, sizes, and location of your trees, and the amount of work that needs to be done. There’s a big difference between an annual trimming of the branches on a healthy, young tree in the middle of a wide-open yard and removing dead branches from a mature oak that hangs over your garage and hasn’t been pruned in a decade. That being said, the nationwide average (in 2024) for tree trimming is about $425. This is definitely an average, though, as it’s possible to have a small, straightforward tree trimming done for as little as $75 per tree (depending on where you’re located). One of the most important things to remember, in terms of cost, is that a tree that is pruned annually is going to cost far less, per year, to care for than a tree that has been left to develop on its own for a long period of time.
Any Red Flags to Look Out For?
If you’re started this process with a local company with a great reputation, you’re probably on solid footing in terms of not being taken advantage of. A company that stands behind their work, has roots in your community, and has built their reputation on providing great service to your neighbors is unlikely to wake up tomorrow and try to pull a fast one. But the best insurance against being taken advantage of (other than doing your homework when choosing a company) is to ASK QUESTIONS if you don’t feel certain. A great tree service company will be enthusiastic about answering questions for you throughout the process, because they know that a happy customer is a well-informed customer. If you’re in the Cincinnati area, call us here at Tree Images. We’ll give you a detailed estimate, answer all of your questions, and make sure that you, and your trees, are well taken care of.
