What to ask when hiring a tree removal service?
Ask an emergency tree removal crew for proof of insurance. It should include liability for damage to your house and workers compensation. Call the insurer to check it. Ask for local references. Ask what the price covers, like cleanup and the stump. Get it in a written contract. Be careful of door-knockers after a storm. Do not pay in advance.
On this page
Emergency tree removal after a storm moves fast, but the questions to ask a crew stay the same. Extension experts in Ohio and Arizona list these.
Ask for proof of insurance
Ohio State University Extension says: "You should request certificates of insurance, including proof of liability for personal and property damage (such as your house and your neighbor's house) and worker's compensation. Phone the insurance company to verify current policy information."
Ask for references
Ohio State says: "Request local references for jobs the company or individual has done." University of Arizona Extension says: "When hiring an arborist, look for certifications, licenses, education, experience, and references."
Ask what the price covers
Ohio State lists these questions: "Who will be responsible for clean-up? Does this include stump removal? Is this the total price? What are the terms of payment?"
Get a written contract
Arizona Extension says: "A contract is the key to preventing misunderstandings and assuring the work is performed to the standards you expect."
Red flags after a storm
Ohio State says: "Beware of door-knocking salespeople who are especially common after storms or when invasive tree species enter the area." It also says: "Never pay in advance."
Before anyone cuts
If a tree is on a wire, a crew waits. A tree is on a power line. What do I do? comes first. How to judge a tree crew has the full checklist, and what to do when a tree falls on the house has the order. City pages: a tree is down in Pensacola and a tree is down in Tallahassee.
Sources
Where our facts come from
- Ohio State University Extension: How and Why to Hire an Arboristcfaes.osu.edu
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: How to Hire a Tree Expertextension.arizona.edu
How this page was checked
- Licensed professional
- None. No licensed arborist or tree contractor has checked this page.
Ask local crews about the tree
Local tree crews may call about the tree on the house. Asking is free, and the call does not hire them. If the tree is on a power line, call 911 or the utility before you ask a crew to come.