Tree removal and pruning are highly specialized skills that should be handled by an insured, professional Arborist.  Here are some questions that you as a homeowner may use to help determine the company best qualified for your needs, whether large or small.

About the company itself:

• How long has the company been serving the community?
• What type of equipment does the company use?  A large dump truck and a chipper are the recognized tools of the trade.  They show a serious and higher level of commitment to industry standards.  A pick-up truck and trailer does the opposite.
• What safety precautions does the company practice?  i.e. hard hats, gloves, safety glasses, traffic cones, etc.
• Is the company a member of the Better Business Bureau?

Level of skill or education:

• Does the company have a vested interest in the industry and the changing levels of education?  Do they have an ISA Certification (International society of Agriculture), a degree in Horticulture, or related field?
• Ask about tree health and general plant care, and then compare their answers with your local agriculture service, university, or by visiting the International Society of Arboriculture website at http://www.isa-arbor.com/.

Insurance coverage:

• Does the company carry worker’s compensation?
  • Tree work is an inherently dangerous job from the chainsaw ground hand to the climbers in the tree. If the tree service does not carry worker’s compensation insurance to protect their workers, an injured worker has little recourse but to sue the home owner for medical expenses and loss of earnings. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY WORKERS COMPENSATION WAIVERS. Workers compensation waivers do not hold up in court.
• Does the company carry general liability for property damage?
  • Verbal verification from the insurance agent or insurance carrier over the telephone is the only acceptable means of verification.  An insurance certificate from the company itself is not always reliable.  Yellow page directories do not check the validity of their advertisements.
  • General liability insurance is to protect your property in the event that damage should occur while tree work is being carried out.

References:

• We recommend that you rely on references from your family, friends, or local realtor and not from the tree service itself.

These simple questions will save you time and money when choosing a professional and qualified tree service.

ATS Associates

P.O. BOX 5171 - Kingwood, TX 77325

Office: 281-360-9192 or 281-359-TREE (8733)

E-mail: info@kingwoodtreecare.com