Questions to ask yourself

before hiring a tree service

Proof of insurance – Was a valid certificate of insurance promptly provided? Do not assume the company is insured just because a business card,
advertisement or proposal suggest that the business is insured.
Licensing – Does the tree service have a valid Arborist License? It is a Rhode Island law that all tree services must have a valid arborist license.
Arborist are educated to properly prune trees to prevent long term damage and promote healthier trees. You can verify licensing with RI’s DEM
Forestry Division and/or with International Society of Arborist (ISA) for individuals claiming to be ISA Certified.
Years of Service – Has the tree service been involved with forestry, tree removal and/or trimming for more than 5 years with a proven track record?
Tree work is a lot more than just pruning or removing a tree. In most cases, it requires highly specialized skills that can only be acquired with years
of experience.
Referrals/Reviews – Do on-line reviews demonstrate a proven track record? You can get your own referrals by researching any business on
Facebook, Yelp, Angie’s List, Google Review and the Better Business Bureau. You should also speak to friends or neighbors who have used the
potential tree service.
Equipment to be used – Is the equipment well maintained and suitable for the project? Older unmaintained equipment can make a mess of your
property. Especially if it leaks substantial amounts of oil. Don’t forget to ask what precautions will be taken to protect lawns and tender vegetation.
Proposals - Did the salesperson provide you with a WRITTEN quote and Terms and Conditions? This will eliminate any gray area in terms of
payments and work to be completed. Believe it or not, many of the companies that do not write estimates will claim they did extra work and will
attempt to collect more money at the time of completion.
Honest Proposals – Did the salesperson give you an honest estimate? A salesperson who can provide an estimate without probing about
competitors’ pricing is experienced and knows the costs associated with performing the task.
Payment & Terms – Did you ask what the terms are for payment and what forms of payment are accepted? Insist that payment will only be given
when the work is 100% complete.
Professionalism - Was the salesperson on-time, polite and informative? Did he/she trash-talk or under-cut other tree services? In many cases, it is
easy to determine a business’s qualifications by the way it presents itself during the quoting process.