Finding a good tree service seems like it should be an easy enough task. After all, there are plenty to choose from here in the Seacoast region. But just like any service, there can be a real range of quality when it comes to tree care services in Southern NH, Northeastern MA, and Southern ME.
One of the most important factors is finding a trustworthy tree service that isn’t going to rip you off or fail to provide you the quality and expertise you deserve.
In this article, we’ll provide some tree service tips on how to find a company you can trust.
Jump To:
Common Tree Service Scams
How to Verify a Trustworthy Tree Service
Local Considerations for New England Homeowners
FAQs on Finding a Trusted Tree Service
Choosing Tree Care Services in Southern NH, Northeastern MA, and Southern ME
Common Tree Service Scams
When talking about tree service scams, there’s obviously big-deal scams like getting cheated out of your money. Every once in a while there are those situations where a “guy and a truck” promises to do certain tree services for you, takes an upfront payment and then…never shows up.
While those situations are unfortunate, there are also everyday rip-offs that happen when you go for the lowballer price and don’t get the quality you desire or maybe you end up with a company that isn’t fully insured - which you didn’t realize until a branch fell onto your neighbor’s car.
These are reasons why it’s so important to do your due diligence and research any company that you’re thinking about hiring.
Here are a few tree service scams that should sound the alarm bells.
-
Door-to-door storm chasers: Any time that there is a big storm and subsequent storm damage (like hanging limbs and leaning trees), you see an influx of “tree care providers” going door-to-door offering their services. But you have to be wary about what you’re getting. Are they licensed and insured? Do they have good tree removal reviews? Or are they just out to make a quick buck at your expense. You could end up with shoddy or unfinished work as they look to move from home to home as quickly as possible, trying to capitalize on as much business as they can. Avoid companies that have no physical business address or that you can’t find information about. They might be “here today, gone tomorrow.”
-
“Too good to be true” pricing: Like most things in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That definitely goes for tree service pricing. We have competed against lowballers before and we know that they commonly leave homeowners disappointed. When you choose the lowest price without researching what you’re getting, you risk choosing a company that is inexperienced, skips safety procedures, doesn’t have the equipment or manpower needed to complete the job, or is possibly not fully insured. There are usually good reasons why one company might cost more than another for seemingly similar services. When comparing tree service pricing, do not be afraid to directly ask why one company might charge more.
-
Lack of insurance or credentials: Lack of proper insurance or licensure can put you at direct risk. If an accident occurs on your property and the company is not properly insured, this can become your problem. Falls, chainsaw injuries, property damage, or power line damage are all big deal accidents. If a worker gets injured on your property and the company lacks worker’s compensation insurance, the injured individual may try to recoup costs from you!
-
High-pressure, quick turnaround sales tactics: High-pressure sales tactics for tree services should always raise a red flag. Are they desperate for work? Companies might also try to push their services by offering “today only pricing.” Again, this should sound alarm bells.
How to Verify a Trustworthy Tree Service
When on the hunt for a trusted tree service, you must know what to look for. Here are some things to keep in mind.
Choosing a company that is qualified
One of the big factors to consider is whether or not the company is qualified for the work. As we’ve talked about, you don’t want to end up with a company that does a poor job.
But how can you know ahead of time?
For one, we recommend looking for companies that employ Certified Arborists. These are individuals who are trained and certified in the field, committed to providing proper care to your trees. When you choose a company that has professionals like this on staff, you know they’ll offer high-quality work and implementation of best practices.
You can also gain a sense of a company’s level of experience simply by going to their website and reading about their history and checking online reviews.
Choosing a company that is properly insured
Another really important factor when finding a good tree service is whether they are properly insured for this type of work. Tree care activities are complex and sometimes outright dangerous. Accidents happen, even with professionals.
If something unfortunate does happen, you do not want to be responsible for the liability and costs because you chose a tree care service that did not have the proper insurance.
When you choose a tree care service, be sure to ask them if they have a license and insurance. It should be a huge red flag if they can’t provide this information.
Choosing a company that has good tree care reviews
Finally, you can also get a sense of whether a company is qualified by looking at customer reviews. Reviews can tell you a great deal about a company you’re considering.
You’ll get a good sense of whether or not customers are generally happy with their services.
If there are a lot of questionable online reviews, this is another red flag. While every company is going to have a bad review from time to time (sometimes they’re not even justified or real), if a company has a lot of them, that could be concerning.
Local Considerations for New England Homeowners
New England, and the Seacoast region in particular, have some very unique situations when it comes to tree care. For that reason, it’s also critical that your tree care provider is highly familiar with the region.
Finding a locally owned and operated company as opposed to a door-to-door storm chaser is a big deal.
Of course, it’s not just about tree removal. Keeping trees healthy requires local expert service as well. That means finding a tree care service that understands regional considerations like the specific diseases and pests we face.
Every property is also different and what you have going on at your home might be different from what your neighbor is dealing with.
Ultimately, you want to find a company that has your best interest at heart and that you can build a long-term relationship with. Your property requires ongoing care and it’d be great to partner with a company that you truly trust.
FAQs on Finding a Trusted Tree Service
Hopefully these tree service tips have helped you in your search for a good tree service. Knowing what to look for is half the battle.
Here are a few more frequently asked questions before we wrap up.
What should homeowners always ask before hiring a tree service company?
Homeowners should always ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' comp, and verify their license status with the state. Never pay everything upfront. It should be considered a huge red flag if a company asks for full payment before the work even begins.
What insurance and licenses should I be looking for in a tree company?
Look for current liability insurance, worker's comp coverage, and a valid state license number. Don’t just assume a tree service has these. You do not want to be liable for any accidents.
What are the risks of working with an unqualified tree removal service?
The biggest risk of uninsured work is the liability falling on you should there be an accident. But you also risk shoddy work and unfinished jobs when you hire a company that simply isn’t reputable.
How does Seacoast Tree Care ensure trust and transparency with customers?
Every company should have a Certified Arborist who is an expert in tree care putting their quotes together. This is how Seacoast Tree Care ensures trust, transparency, and quality with customers.
Choosing Tree Care Services in Southern NH, Northeastern MA, and Southern ME
Hopefully this article has given you some advice on how to find a good tree service. We recommend starting the process with a list and then spending some time doing a little research and narrowing it down.
With the Internet at your disposal, this is easier than ever. Even just spending time on tree care companies’ websites will give you a much better sense of what they’re all about.
Even so, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to any company that you’re considering and ask them questions. Sometimes even the speed of their response can be a signal of how they operate.
At Seacoast Tree Care, serving Northeastern Massachusetts, Southern NH, and Southern Maine, we’d love to be considered as you do your research. We offer a comprehensive range of tree care services including tree pruning, tree removal, and general tree care. We even have a sister company, Seacoast Turf Care, that offers lawn care services. This allows us to truly take over your property’s key needs.
In the end, that should mean less worries and more enjoyment for you.
Ready for safer and healthier trees at your Southern NH, ME, or MA home? Request your consultation and get a quote for tree pruning services. We service properties in and around Stratham, NH, Kittery, ME, and Haverhill, MA. By making a wise choice, you’ll know your trees are in good hands.
