I am a Certified Arborist and I pride myself a little in that. Unfortunately, "Certified Arborist" means little if it is only a codeword for "salesman." A person who isn't a Certified Arborist or has no Certified Arborists on hand does the majority of tree work. One might argue that the guy with the clipboard, "the arborist," has been doing some training with the "non arborists," and therefore they have a better product. This is difficult to verify, and I have found that it is not often the case. They may not have had any training. Having a Certified Arborist available while the job is being done is very important to the end result. It doesn't really matter if a company has Certified Arborists if they are not available to the customer.
It is important to determine if the salesman/arborist speaks a similar language as non-arborists. The language barrier between English and Spanish speakers is a pretty high wall in some cases. I speak Spanish yet I have a hard time communicating technical details critical to safe tree work. I am in favor of the Spanish-speaking worker because they can be hurt if there is not enough training. You should ensure that there is someone who speaks English at your job, as well as any Spanish-speaking workers.
It is a risky business to pick up the phone and call the tree service with a large, colorful ad. Companies with strong ethics and customer satisfaction rarely advertise. You don't need to rule out the big ads, but make sure there are other criteria that go into choosing a tree service. Traditionally the Better Business Bureau has been a good resource for the consumer, however I am aware of one member tree service that currently has had 39 complaints in the last 36 months. Wow, that's service. Our company, Arboreal, has 0 complaints in the past 6 years.
There are many other companies that have the same track record. As of this writing the best resource available to any consumer looking to hire a tree service is angieslist.com. Right now I believe it is Tree Service Westfield temporarily free to join and it provides a wealth of information on local service providers from roofers to tree services to computer repair. You can't really outwit Angie's list if you are lacking in ethics. She will catch you and make sure you pay. Arboreal takes care clients and angieslist.com keeps track. The one and only drawback to Angieslist.com is that at some point she will also make the consumer pay. You could save thousands by paying the $50 annual she may soon demand.
The last point I would like to go over is that of the hard sell. You think used car salesmen can be pushy? If someone invites you to your home and tries to get you to sign or decide now, then you have a moral responsibility to send them away. Don't support businesses that aren't in your best interests. Choose a tree surgeon carefully and keep your hand on him if he takes good care of you.
Let me summarize this essay by listing these steps.
1. Get estimates from Arborists certified by the International Society of Arboriculture.
2. Make sure the Certified Arborist will be on the job while the work is being performed.
3. Make sure the Certified Arborist can communicate effectively with his workers.
4. Spend some time looking through angieslist.com and arizonabbb.org.
This research shouldn't be done too often. Keep looking for the company that interests you and keep them in your heart.
A professional who takes care of trees for individuals, businesses, and residential areas. Having to use a tree service can mean that you have dying or dead trees that need to be removed before they become a hazard, that there is a number of trees on the property that need to be pruned, etc. It is important to remember that not all tree service companies operate in the same way. Make sure you hire a company that can take care of your tree needs. All companies must be insured and bonded. If you have a dead or unsightly tree that you need to be moved, make sure that the company removes it all and that it is done safely and efficiently.
You want to make sure the company can care for your trees. They should also know how to safely remove any dead branches without damaging the live tree and they know how to do selective topping and pruning. An arborist is a professional who can care for many trees. You could accidentally hire an arborist if you don't know the person or company you are hiring. This could cause your trees to become diseased, dead, or grow unnaturally.
A tree service company that is knowledgeable will give potential clients a free estimate. This includes the cost of each service and other pertinent information. You should make sure that you get at least two estimates and compare them before making your final decision. One thing that the homeowner should make sure is in the estimate is that they will do a total clean up along with the removal of any debris from the job. Many reputable tree service companies will also take the time to discuss with the homeowner any landscape goals they have. They can show you which trees could be harmful to other grasses and plants in the area. After they have examined your trees and identified any diseases, they will inform you so that you can get them treated. A tree service will be called in when trees are beginning to bud or becoming dormant.