Owning a property comes with its fair share of work and unplanned costs. While we often look for the best possible contractor pricing, sometimes it makes sense to invest in better quality and peace of mind.
This is especially true when it comes to tree care. Trees offer aesthetic and environmental benefits, which is why many people enjoy having them in their yard. However, trees also come with a cost. They require regular maintenance to stay healthy, and you may need to remove them eventually.
To save on tree-related costs, some homeowners are quick to turn to underqualified, uninsured, or ill-equipped companies to perform the work. Others choose low-cost subcontractors when emergencies strike and they’re in a state of panic. Sacrificing quality and safety for lower costs or quick resolutions can have major consequences. Here are some of the major pitfalls of turning to the wrong tree company:
1. Property Damage
Pruning branches, removing trees, and grinding stumps are jobs that have the potential to cause damage to nearby land and property. Branches and debris can fall on cars. If a tree is removed by an unskilled contractor, it can easily fall and cause significant damage to nearby homes. Additionally, when removing a tree, consideration must be given to the land impact. Soil erosion and other environmental problems can occur when trees aren’t removed carefully or environmental impacts aren’t considered.
Turning to an unskilled tree company can have devastating impacts on property. The good news is a certified arborist receives special training in how to perform tree work safely.
2. You Could Be Liable For Damage Or Injury
Tree work is one of the most dangerous outdoor services. If you’re working with an uninsured contractor, you’re putting yourself at risk financially. If a worker is injured on your property, and your contractor doesn’t have workers’ compensation insurance, you could be held responsible for medical expenses and lost wages. Considering that there are over 5,000 fatalities among tree workers every year, and countless more injuries, this is a risk you don’t want to take.
If tree care or removal results in damage to your property or a neighbor’s property, or injury to someone nearby, you may also be held financially responsible.
The bottom line, you’re rolling the dice when trusting an uninsured worker.
3. Poor Quality Work
Cutting costs often leads to subpar results. Certified arborists are extensively trained and educated on tree health, disease prevention, and working standards. Therefore, you can trust that you’ll receive high-quality work. Unqualified tree companies provide the opposite.
In some cases, you may end up with trees that are cut unevenly or improperly shaped, which not only looks bad but can also lead to tree health problems down the line. Removing the wrong branches can lead to structural problems or disease, both of which increase the risk of falling.
Additionally, an unqualified tree company could miss important signs of disease or infection, or they may not know the proper way to treat these problems. Both can result in the premature death of a tree.
The saying “you get what you pay for” couldn’t be more accurate when it comes to tree maintenance.
4. Extra Costs
You might think you’re saving by hiring an unlicensed tree company, but you run the risk of paying more to cover accidents, correct subpar work, or even cover fines assessed as a result of hiring an unskilled tree worker. Not to mention that unlicensed arborists may not be equipped to accurately quote a job, so it might take longer and cost more than what was reflected in the original quote. In some cases, hiring an unqualified contractor to save money could cost you more in the long run.
5. Unreliable Scheduling
Unlicensed, ill-equipped arborists often rent equipment from other companies to do the work. This means if the third-party company doesn’t have tools or machines available, your job will likely have to wait. Companies that own their equipment can commit to dates and deliver results on your schedule. If you don’t want to experience delays and scheduling problems, choose a properly equipped company.
6. Poor Advice
A large part of an arborist’s job is treating diseased trees. This involves pruning, watering, and adding nutrients. With proper care, many trees can recover from an infection. Therefore, removal should always be the last possible option. If your tree company doesn’t have experience treating trees, then you may end up removing a sick tree before it’s necessary which can result in an unnecessary expense.
How To Pick The Right Tree Company
Finding a high-quality tree company may require a few extra steps, but it’s well worth the effort. Here are some factors that you should consider:
- Licenses And Experience
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) has standardized tree care with an ISA arborist certification, which standardizes the quality of tree care. Not every companies has ISA-certified arborists on staff, but it’s important to find one that does. By choosing an ISA-certified arborist, you can be confident you’re working with the best in the business. These professionals are required to undergo extensive training and education, and adhere to a strict code of ethics. Verifying that your contractor is ISA-certified is an important first step. - Insurance
As mentioned, tree work is dangerous, and accidents happen.Choosing a fully-insured company helps you limit personal liability in the event of an accident or property damage. At an absolute minimum, your contractor should have workers’ compensation and general liability policies with between $500,000 and $1 million in coverage. - Online Reviews And Testimonials
Once you validate a company’s credentials, do a quick scan of online reviews to look for warning signs. You can also ask the company to provide references from customers who were satisfied in the past. - Pricing
While it’s important to prioritize quality, price is still an important factor. You should always seek multiple quotes to get a better sense of what these services cost. While it’s smart to avoid an overly expensive contractor, you should also be careful not to automatically choose the lowest price.
If you’d like to skip the research step and choose a highly-skilled company with three ISA-certified arborists on staff, all necessary licenses, full insurance coverage, and hundreds of satisfied customers, call the team at CFB Outdoors. We own all of our equipment and have been performing tree maintenance, removal, and stump grinding services in the Central Florida area for decades.
