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Boley Tree Care - Newsletter
02/08/2001, 11:38 am How to Protect Yourself When Hiring a Tree Care Company Hiring a company that says it does tree work has never been a problem for homeowners. Simply look through the yellow pages, make a few calls, and you have a company who says they can do the job at a low price. For the time being, you are happy. They send a crew to do the job and while removing a limb from the tree, they drop it on your car. Who should pay for the damage? Ideally, the tree care company. But they do not carry insurance, nor can they be reached by phone. You are upset and do not know what to do. You call your auto insurance agent. They instruct you to pay your deductible and the car will be fixed. Then you go to the small claims court to get your deductible back, and if you are very lucky, you succeed. The scene would be different if you had just asked for proof of insurance from the company you hired. Beware of the fly-by-night "individuals" who call themselves arborists. "With hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars at stake, not to mention the integrity and appearance of your property and your personal safety, make sure that you take your time in deciding which company you should hire," warns Peter Gerstenberger, director of safety and education for the National Arborist Association. "Disreputable companies are renowned for ripping gutters off, breaking fences and bird baths, and even dropping trees on houses. Then they typically fold up and leave, never to be seen again," adds Gerstenberger. Disreputable companies tend to: - Solicit work door-to-door. - Demand payment in advance. - Advertise topping and low prices in yellow pages. - Sell jobs without producing a written estimate or work order. Check for the following before you hire a company, advises Gerstenberger: - Ask for copies of current, valid certificates of insurance. - Local references allow you to measure the company’s abilities and professionalism. - Get a detailed written estimate of the work needed and the cost. - Verify professional affiliations the company might have, such as membership in the National Arborist Association (800-733-2622) or International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). - Get a second opinion if it will add to your comfort level. Make sure that a complete diagnosis of the potential for tree failure is performed before a tree is removed. If you are unsure about your tree’s health, consult a professional arborist who will identify the causes of tree health problems and make recommendations for treatment. You can find an NAA-member arborist close to you by calling the National Arborist Association, 1-800-733-2622, or by a zip code search on the NAA’s Web Site: http://www.natlarb.com
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