Questions to ask
1. Are you licensed for tree work in my city or state, and will you show proof of liability insurance and workers’ compensation before you start?
Why it matters: Tree work is high-risk: falling limbs, chippers, chainsaws, and climbers on your property. Ask for a current certificate of insurance naming liability coverage high enough for home and vehicle damage, plus workers’ comp so an injured crew member does not become your claim. A cash “we’ll take it down today” outfit with no paperwork leaves you owning the accident.
2. Will an ISA Certified Arborist assess the tree when the job involves disease, risk, or complex pruning — not just a removal crew?
Why it matters: Not every tree job needs an arborist, but pruning for health, cabling, or “is this tree dying?” decisions do. Ask whether an ISA Certified Arborist (or your region’s equivalent) will inspect, and whether recommendations are written. A ground crew that only quotes “take the whole tree” may remove a salvageable specimen — or miss a hazard that needs a different approach.
3. What exactly is in the written scope — removal, pruning, stump grinding, haul-away, and which trees — with diameters or locations listed?
Why it matters: Vague quotes like “clean up the backyard” hide stump grinding, wood disposal, and which trunks count. Ask for a line-item scope: cut and drop vs crane, stump grind depth, chip haul vs leave mulch, and a map or tagged trees. Change orders for “we found a second trunk” should be priced before the saw starts, not after the stump is gone.
4. Do I need a permit, HOA approval, or a protected-tree review — and who files it?
Why it matters: Many cities regulate heritage oaks, street trees, or removals over a certain diameter; HOAs often require written approval. Ask who pulls the permit, whose name is on it, and whether permit fees are in the quote. “We’ll skip the paperwork to save you money” can mean stop-work orders, fines, or a forced replant that costs more than the original job.
5. Will you call 811 (or the local utility-locate service) before digging for stump grinding or root work near underground lines?
Why it matters: Stump grinders and root rakes hit gas, electric, and fiber. Ask whether locates are scheduled before grinding, how long they wait for marks, and what happens if a line is unmarked. A crew that starts grinding the same afternoon you signed without a locate is gambling with your yard and the utility’s emergency crew.
6. How will equipment get in — crane, bucket truck, chipper — and who pays if lawn, driveway, fence, or irrigation is damaged?
Why it matters: Access often decides method and price. Ask what equipment they plan to use, whether plywood or mats protect turf and pavers, and whether property-damage repair is in writing. “We’ll be careful” is not a plan; a crane over the neighbor’s fence without permission is how a simple removal becomes a dispute.
7. What happens to the wood, chips, and brush — haul-away, left as firewood, or blown as mulch — and is disposal in the price?
Why it matters: Disposal is a common add-on. Ask whether logs are cut to firewood length, chips left or hauled, and dump fees included. A low removal bid that leaves a mountain of brush or charges separately for the chipper truck is not the bargain it looked like on the postcard.
8. What are storm or emergency rates, and when does “emergency” pricing start after a wind event?
Why it matters: After a storm, door-knockers quote urgency premiums that can double a normal weekday rate. Ask for the standard removal/pruning rate vs after-hours or storm surcharge, and whether a hazard can be made safe (drop the leaner off the roof) at one price while full cleanup waits for a written daytime bid. Clear numbers before they climb beat a panic invoice.
9. Who actually climbs and cuts — your employees or subcontractors — and who owns the warranty if something fails?
Why it matters: Lead-gen sites and brokers often dispatch whoever is free; when a limb punches a roof week later, call center and crew can blame each other. Ask who shows up, whether climbers are employees on their workers’ comp policy, and get the warranting company’s name on the invoice. If the person who quotes never touches a rope, treat the quote as a middleman markup until you meet the crew lead.
10. What warranty or callback covers unfinished cleanup, missed hangers, or lawn damage — and how are payments staged?
Why it matters: Hangars left in the canopy, grindings not raked, or a cracked walkway often show up after the truck leaves. Ask what they re-check, how soon they return, and whether final payment waits until the punch list is done. Large cash deposits before any work — or full payment before cleanup — hand them your leverage for free callbacks.
11. For pruning, will you follow ANSI A300 (or stated industry) practices — and what cuts are out of scope?
Why it matters: Topping, flush cuts, and lion-tailing weaken trees and can void any health claim. Ask how much canopy they plan to remove (percentage), whether cuts are at proper branch collars, and whether “shape it up” means structural pruning or a hat-rack. A cheap prune that leaves stubs and sunburned bark is an expensive removal deferred a few seasons.
Red flags
- Door-knock storm chasers with out-of-state plates, no local address, and pressure to “pay cash today before the next crew takes the job.”
- Cash-only with no license, insurance certificate, or written scope.
- Climbers without helmets, ropes, or saddles — or a crew that won’t show workers’ comp.
- Vague “take the whole tree” quotes with no stump, disposal, or access details.
- Starts stump grinding without an 811/utility locate.
- Suggests skipping permits or HOA approval to “save money.”
- Demands a large deposit before any assessment, or full payment before wood and chips are cleaned up.
Next-step checklist
- Photo the tree(s), note lean, proximity to roof/power lines, and whether the job is prune, remove, stump, or storm cleanup.
- Get at least two written quotes with the same assumed scope (trees listed, stump depth, haul-away, equipment access).
- Verify licensing where required, plus liability insurance and workers’ compensation certificates.
- Confirm permits/HOA and that 811 will be called before any grinding or digging.
- Agree in writing who pays for lawn, driveway, fence, or irrigation damage.
- Hold final payment until hangers, brush, and agreed stump work are done — keep the invoice and insurance certs.