Have you found the need to remove a tree due to a heavy wind storm? Maybe you have a tree that has grown far too big for your property. Maybe the neighbors are complaining about the excessive shade or leave you’re providing them due to the large tree in your yard.
Whatever the reason you have for removing a tree, you should know the task is not something that should be taken lightly. In fact, it can be quite a dangerous undertaking if you’re not careful. If done incorrectly, removing a tree can cause damage to your property or, even worse, to your loved ones.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, tree removal workers have a fatality rate that is three times higher than the average worker in the United States.
What are the concerns you need to consider before removing a tree from your property?
1. Seek professional guidance
Tree removal is a serious operation and should be left to an arborist that has professional experience with tree removal. Ideally, the company you are considering should have at least be licensed and bonded and has been in the tree removal business for several years.
2. Check that your tree service provider has a certified arborist
The first thing you’re going to want to address with the tree service is if they have any certified arborists on their team. Verifying if the company has a certified arborist is a relatively simple task to perform and it can save you and your yard a lot of unnecessary trouble in the future.
3. Valid contractor’s license for the area you are in
You’ll also want to ask the tree service provider if they have a valid contractor’s license for the area you are in. The requirements for the license vary from state to state and country to country. You can look up the contractor licensing agencies in your state if you would like to do further research on what this means where you are located.
4. Workers’ compensation and liability insurance coverage
Having compensation and liability coverage ensures that you and your property are protected in the event of unforeseen complications arising during the tree removal process.
Insurance policies for landscapers typically only cover work at eight or ten-foot height. This is why the tree service provider you’re looking at needs specific liability insurance. If the landscaper is working eleven feet up, coverage is void.
Asking about workers’ compensation is also extremely important. If the company’s employee is injured while working in your yard, you may be liable for medical expenses if the company cannot pay. Checking for this ensures you and the workers in your yard are protected.
5. Bonded Tree Company
Check if the tree service company is bonded. If the company is bonded, you will be able to file a claim if you are unhappy with the service provided. You don’t want to be stuck paying for a partially removed tree. You can ask for the bond number and the company used for bonding services. That information will allow you to check that the tree service provider is properly bonded.
6. Price range
Of course, the cost of tree removal is also a valid concern. In the United States, typically it is going to cost $1500 and up the removal of a large tree. The average cost for the removal of smaller trees ranges from $150 to $1300. The removal of a stump typically costs between $60 and $300. Stump grinding usually comes in somewhere between $70 and $900. Of course, these are average estimates and the pricing of your particular needs will vary depending on your location.
Any business you interact with should be happy and willing to present certification, licensing, bond information, workers’ compensation, and insurance coverage information. If they are not, that is a big red flag.
Removing a tree can be a dangerous undertaking. There’s not only the risk of falling but the danger of working at a height with a chainsaw and the risk of electrocution by power lines tangled with the brush. Cars and buildings nearby are also in danger should branches fall unfavorably. This is definitely a job to leave to the professionals.
With the above six tips, you are well on your way to making a good choice of tree removal service provider. A tree removal service that will ensure you, your property, and your loved ones are safe.