You have probably seen the flyers. “Same Day Affordable Desoto Tree Services!”, “$100 Off Tree Removal!”, “Lowest Rates in Desoto!”
It sounds tempting until they show up late or don’t show up at all. Or leave behind a mess that takes you two weekends to clean up.
Although, Desoto, TX does have some excellent tree service companies, there are always a few that will make you wish you had just left your tree alone. When you don’t know the difference, you risk wasting your money, damaging your property, and in rare cases, putting your family at risk. Cheap can get expensive fast when the crew you have hired is not even insured or doesn’t use any safety gear.
To avoid hiring glorified guys-with-trucks who disappear the moment something goes wrong, you need to do more than compare quotes. Continue reading to learn the five biggest mistakes property owners keep making when hiring an arborist, and exactly how to avoid them.
Not Asking About the Insurance the Right Way
A company saying, “Yeah, we are insured” is not enough. Unless you ask what kind of insurance, you could still be on the hook if someone is injured or your roof gets damaged.
There are two kinds of insurance you should care about:
• Liability insurance, which covers your home if it gets damaged
• Workers’ comp insurance, which covers the workers in case they get hurt on your property
Skipping workers’ comp to cut costs is much more common in this industry than you may realize. If someone in the tree service crew, for example, falls from a ladder in your yard, and they don’t have this coverage, you might get sued for their medical expenses. It’s rare, but it happens.
So before you hire anyone, ask for proof of both. Don’t take their word for it; ask them to show you the paperwork. If they get defensive about it, find someone else.
Not Checking the Credentials
Did you know Texas doesn’t have a state-issued license for arborists? Technically speaking, anyone can offer you tree services! There is absolutely no legal barrier. Anyone with a truck and a chainsaw can advertise as an “arborist.”
That said, reputable professionals in the industry choose to obtain certifications, most commonly the ISA Certified Arborist® credential from the International Society of Arboriculture. While Texas as a whole does not mandate licensing, some local municipalities might have their regulations or requirements for tree service providers. Check with your local city or county government to learn more.
If a company is not certified, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are bad. But if they do have ISA Certified Arborists® on their crew, it means they have gone above and beyond to master their skills in tree biology, pruning techniques, safety, and proper tree care practices.
Not Realizing that Not All Tree Trimming is the Same
There is a world of difference between pruning a tree as per the industry standards and chopping off limbs here and there to make a tree smaller.
For example, certified and experienced arborists will never top a tree. This practice refers to cutting off a lot of branches and leaves from the top to control its height. This is a strict no-no as it can inflict deadly wounds on the tree. A bad pruning or trimming job can leave your tree teeming with rot, pests, insects, and diseases.
If a company offers trimming services and can’t tell you the difference between “crown thinning” and “crown reduction,” don’t let them near your yard.
Not Asking for a Comprehensive Written Estimate
A lot of people go with the cheapest verbal quote because it sounds easy. But that’s exactly how misunderstandings happen. You thought they would remove the tree and haul away the debris. They thought they would leave it all in a pile by the street.
You want stump grinding; they charge extra. You expected cleanup; they bring a leaf blower and call it done.
Always get a written estimate to avoid this confusion, and make sure it lists:
• What work will be done
• Equipment being used
• Whether debris/stump removal is included
• Timeline for completion
• Total cost (with no hidden fees)
Not Understanding the Reason for “Low Price”
This is probably the most common mistake of all. People assume that certain service providers are cheaper because they have smaller operations with less overhead. They don’t have any fancy uniforms and maybe not as many trucks, and that’s why they are able to do work at such affordable rates.
This isn’t always the case. Sometimes, the low price is because they are skipping insurance, using dull chainsaws and broken-down lifts, or not paying experienced climbers so they bring in whoever they can get for cheap. That cheap quote might mean they have no rope system to guide falling limbs away from your house or no backup plan if they hit a water line or power cable.
And all of that risk falls on you. Real pros charge more because they do the job right, the first time.
Licensed and Insured Tree Care Services in Desoto, TX
Chippers Tree Service is a locally owned and operated business with a team of ISA Certified Arborists® on staff ready to give your trees and shrubs the care they need. With over 20 years of hands-on experience tackling a wide range of projects, there is nothing they can’t handle with utmost precision: tree trimming, pruning, crowning, cabling, removal, stump grinding/removal, and more.
If you are looking for reliable arborists who are not just “tree guys”, but incredible artists with foresight into how to keep your small, large, ornamental, fruit, coniferous, or evergreen trees as lush and healthy as possible, call Chippers Tree Service at (972) 743-9959 or contact them online today.
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