Tree service is one of those industries where a bad decision can cost you thousands — in damaged property, inflated bills, or just the headache of dealing with an unreliable crew. Here are the five most common mistakes we see homeowners make.
Hiring an Uninsured Company
Tree work is dangerous. If a crew member is injured on your property, or if they damage your home, fence, or vehicle — and they don't have insurance — you could be held liable. Homeowner's insurance doesn't always cover contractor-caused damage.
Ask for proof of liability insurance before anyone picks up a chainsaw on your property. Any legitimate tree service will have it and produce it immediately. If they hesitate, that's your answer.
Going With the Cheapest Quote Without Asking What's Included
A $400 quote might not include cleanup. Or stump grinding. Or it might be from a crew with no insurance. Getting the cheapest quote without understanding what's in it (and what isn't) leads to surprise charges and sometimes real damage.
Ask specifically: what does this price include? What's NOT included? Get it in writing. If the estimate is vague, the bill will be too.
Not Getting a Written Estimate
Verbal agreements leave you with no recourse if the price changes, the scope expands, or the cleanup doesn't happen. "We'll figure it out when we get there" is the setup for a bad experience.
Always get a written estimate with a clear scope of work and total price before work begins. Keep a copy.
Ignoring Online Reviews and References
Tree service quality varies dramatically. A company with no reviews, bad reviews, or reviews that all sound the same (a red flag for fake reviews) is a risk. Real customers leave specific, varied feedback.
Check Google reviews with a critical eye. Look for specific details — location, what was done, how they communicated. A company with 20 detailed reviews is more trustworthy than one with 3 generic ones.
Waiting Too Long on a Dangerous Tree
That dead or leaning tree isn't getting safer over time. Every storm, every strong wind is another roll of the dice. Most homeowners who deal with tree damage wish they'd acted earlier — before the storm hit, before the emergency fees, before the property damage.
If you know a tree is dead, diseased, or leaning toward your home — get an estimate. Even if you don't act on it immediately, you'll know what you're looking at and can make a plan.
The Common Thread
Most of these mistakes come down to the same thing: choosing speed or low price over doing your due diligence. Tree work is a significant investment, and the consequences of a bad hire can be expensive.
Take 15 minutes to check reviews, ask for insurance, and get a written estimate. That's it. It'll save you a lot of pain.