Hiring a Tree Specialist? 5 Questions to Ask
The trees in your yard can sometimes overgrow or show signs of bad health, requiring the services of a tree expert. Nowadays, thanks to their online presence, you can hire a tree service company from the comfort of your home.
No matter your reasons for hiring a tree service company, your goal is to experience quality services at a reasonable price. Therefore, you must ensure that your chosen tree service company is qualified to meet your tree service needs.
No matter the method used to hire a tree service provider, avoid signing the service contract without assessing the expert's ability to offer quality services. Vetting offers an opportunity to learn more about a tree expert's skills, experience, and personality.
Here are some questions to ask a tree service provider before hiring them.
1. Are You Licensed?
Though the requirements may differ between states, most require tree removal experts to have a contractor's and a business license to perform work legally.
Moreover, since all technicians must prove that their technicians have undergone training to get the required licenses, you know your property is safe when you hire a licensed company.
If you hire an unlicensed tree service provider, authorities can hold you accountable for any accidents that could happen during risky processes like tree removal.
2. Do You Have Insurance Coverage?
A tree service company that cares about the safety of their staff and clients should have general liability and workers' compensation insurance. These policies protect your property and the company's employees when at work. So, if a tree expert accidentally damages your property when trimming your trees, their insurer should compensate you for the damages.
If you hire a tree expert without insurance, you are liable for any damages caused by work-related accidents and injuries to their employees or third parties.
3. How Will You Approach the Project?
Since tree experts approach their projects differently, ask how they plan to do the job to avoid surprises. For example, if you have a tree growing too close to your house, leading to roof damage, one tree expert can suggest tree removal while the other may suggest trimming.
While both solutions can solve the job, a reputable tree expert should be able to explain why they feel their approach is the best solution. This question can also help you gauge a company's work ethics, as they should mention their safety concerns and precautions when defending their approach.
4. How Long Will the Project Take?
Though different projects have varying complexities, a tree service should not take too long to complete. A team with modern equipment may take a shorter time than a team that mainly relies on manual methods.
However, the timeline should include all services, including cleaning and removal of all debris after the job.
5. How Many Years Have You Been in Business?
This question helps paint a picture of the tree service provider's experience level. A tree expert who has been in business for a long time has completed numerous tree service jobs and worked on different types of trees. This experience helps these professionals solve tree problems fast and give better tree care advice to their clients.
Since tree service requires some special skills, avoid hiring a tree service provider without having a conversation with them. While you can check online reviews or ask for recommendations, a conversation can help you check an expert's suitability for a job based on their ability to give satisfactory answers. The questions above can help you assess your tree expert's ability to meet your tree service needs.
At Baumann Tree, we have the skills, experience, and equipment required to offer unmatched tree services to our clients. Contact us today for a free tree service estimate.
