I am a Certified Arborist, and I take a lot of pride in that. Unfortunately, "Certified Arborist" means little if it is only a codeword for "salesman." The lion's share of tree work is accomplished by someone who is not a Certified Arborist and with no Certified Arborist on sight. One could argue that the man with the clipboard, "the Arborist," has had some training with "non-arborists" and therefore has 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 matter if a company has Certified Arborists, if they aren't available to the customer.
A key point is whether the salesman/arborist speaks the same language as the non-arborists. The language barrier between English and Spanish speakers is a pretty high wall in some cases. I can speak Spanish, but I struggle to communicate technical details that are essential for safe tree work. I am in favor of the Spanish-speaking worker because they can be hurt if there is not enough training. Make sure there will be someone on your job who speaks English in addition to any Spanish speaking workers.
It is a risky business to pick up the phone and call the tree service with a large, colorful ad. Many companies with strong ethics and customer satisfaction hardly advertise at all. You don't need to rule out the big ads, but make sure there are other criteria that go into choosing a tree service. The Better Business Bureau has always been a great resource for consumers. However, I know of one tree service member that has received 39 complaints over the past 36 months. Wow, that's service. Arboreal has had 0 complaints over the past six years.
There are a lot of other companies with the same good track record. Angieslist.com is the best place to find a tree service to hire as of this writing. It is currently free to join, and provides a wealth information on local service providers, from roofers to tree services to computer repairs. 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 of clients and angieslist.com keeps track of how well. Angieslist.com's only problem is that she may eventually 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. Take your time in choosing an arborist and hang on to him if he takes 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 that the Certified Arborist is able to communicate with his workers.
4. Spend some time looking through angieslist.com and arizonabbb.org.
You shouldn't have to do this research 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 very important to note that not all companies who offer a tree service operate identically so make sure that you are hiring a tree service company that is able to take care of the needs for the trees you are concerned about. All companies must be insured and bonded. For example, if you have an unsightly or dead tree that you need moved make sure that when the job is finished that the company will take away every piece of the tree, or trees and that the removal has been done efficiently and safe.
You want to make sure the company can care for your trees. They should be able to safely remove dead branches without damaging the tree. They should also be able to perform selective topping and pruning. The owner and employees should also be an arborist, who is a professional that knowledge to care for a variety of trees. If you hire an individual or company is not an arborist you could inadvertently hire someone that will botch your trees and cause them to possibly become diseased, die, or grown unshapely.
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. Before making a final decision, you should get at least two estimates. The homeowner should ensure that the estimate includes a complete clean-up and the removal of all debris. 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. If the tree service company has looked your trees over and spots any diseases they will tell you about them so you can have them treated so the trees will not die. Most will use a tree service when trees are starting to bud or become Tree Service Westfield dormant.