What Exactly is a Free Estimate from a Certified Arborist?

When a Certified Arborist arrives at your property to quote any kind of tree work like Tree Treatments, Tree Trimming, Tree Removal, and Tree Planting; that visit would be completely free of charge because here at Eric Putnam BCMA we understand the cost of business. If we want to perform any work on your property we are less likely to be called to look at your trees if we are charging just to quote work. So, if you’re looking to talk to a Certified Arborist or a Board Certified Master Arborist it's typically the most cost-effective to have work that needs to be performed that way you can get a free estimate!

With that in mind, if you only need professional guidance, general information, pre-construction advice, or if you’re not quite sure what you need we also offer Arborist Consultations which can provide you with the expertise of 50+ years of experience that will change the way you look at the trees on your property.

While this isn’t free, it provides a vast amount of information that can help you as a property owner in the long run. If there is any work to be performed after the consultation and it's agreed upon; the price of the consultation is deducted from the total cost making it a free estimate. Remember that returning customers at Eric Putnam BCMA never have to pay for Arborist Consultations. They receive free information for life.

Why do you need to hire a Certified Arborist?

Choosing a Certified Arborist or Board Certified Master Arborist for any tree work is always important because trees may seem simple to most people and many think anyone can take on the task of tree care. It turns out that trees are incredibly complex and intricate, and every little thing you change matters. So, you should always hire someone who has dedicated their life to understanding the inner workings of trees and plants. Getting your trees started with or transitioned to care from an Arborist is of the utmost importance when you want your trees to look their best and grow to their full potential especially because most people won’t know if a tree is slightly sick and can quickly be fixed before becoming a detrimental problem. Watching out for bottom-of-the-barrel tree companies or even some good companies is dire as well because it's incredibly easy to destroy your trees with one small move. Even companies with good reviews can wreak havoc and destroy your trees because most customers don’t know exactly what their trees should look like. Unfortunately, the tree industry isn’t regulated by any Texas laws that could prevent unqualified individuals from working on your trees. So, without an organization like the ISA to vet your chosen Tree Service and Arborist how would you know they are knowledgeable and skilled in the industry.

How much does an Arborist Cost?

While the national average cost for a Certified Arborist is only $800 that leaves a lot of major information out of the picture. The industry's pricing is dependent on what kind of service is being performed and to what level of quality because while “Harry the Hack” may only charge $100 for your tree to be trimmed, our price could be $500, and while you may actually “see” more work performed by “Harry the Hack” the quality of work will be nowhere near the same. The biggest factor to keep in mind is that Expertise and Experience aren’t cheap, and with those major distinguishing aspects also comes the insurances that not only protect the company and its employees, but more importantly you. For example, on a $2,500 tree removal service you could expect $1,600 of that to go to labor between the office staff, quoting arborist, and removal crew, another $375 to go to worker's compensation, $180 in dump fees, and another $180 in general overhead and good liability insurance. These numbers can change dramatically from one company to another depending on the safety culture, professionalism, company structure, and the company's financial solvency. It’s important to remember that every dollar has to be spent somewhere and on something.

What about getting multiple bids?

Getting multiple bids is a great way to get a more affordable price for the work you need done and we at Eric Putnam BCMA encourage you to always work within your budget, but we do have to warn you about the dangers of choosing the wrong company because this can be the quickest way to destroy your trees and possibly get held up in court for millions.

Why is one company's bid more than the other?

So, the first bid is coming from a reputable company with the proper equipment and training for $2,500, and the second coming from a half-decent company that doesn’t seem set up quite right for only $2,250. What a great deal right? Why the price difference? Once broken down it's quite easy to see that the cheaper price might be making more money from you, meaning you’re getting overcharged. This is usually because even if they say they have insurance, it's typically the most basic liability insurance plan available that anyone can get, and on top of that they don’t have the most important insurance which is Worker's Compensation. So while “Competitor A” is not only looking out for themselves with good insurance but also looking out for you by paying over $400 in insurance, “Competitor B” may only be paying $100 and can’t protect you or your property from damage and lawsuits. So you should be saving $300 but you’re only saving $250! “Competitor B” takes home more money at the end of the day and leaves you completely unprotected from the liability if any issues arise. Don’t think that the incremental price increases stopped there because once you start looking you’ll quickly learn that their labor cost is typically cheaper. After all, they are using unqualified workers who can cause serious harm to your property while removing the tree because they don’t have the knowledge to remove it properly or can cause injuries to themselves. Since the company didn’t have worker's compensation and the attorney is looking for a payday, you and your property are the only resources. Now you will be held liable as the default employer and would be held liable for the pain and suffering, medical bills, prescription drug costs, and this will be hundreds of thousands and maybe even millions. This isn’t a rare occurrence, it happens to someone every day. The tree care industry has more deaths and injuries than any other industry in the USA. So, was that $250 savings worth it to be left unprotected, with unqualified workers, and likely property damage only for the company to be making 33% more for every dollar you spend. Even if you did sign a liability waiver those never really hold up in court, don’t be the person who overpays for a company with fewer qualifications and can’t protect themselves or you all because you wanted to save a few extra bucks.

While you may not experience this with all lower-priced tree service companies or tree care competitors in general, it's always good to be extra careful with any company you pick and even we aren’t left out of needing to be double-checked. Always make sure the companies have a liability insurance policy that fits your requirements, they have worker's compensation insurance, and they have skilled and qualified workers with ISA training or ISA certifications. Always do your due diligence and vet every tree service company whether you’re getting a simple tree trimming or a full-blown complicated tree removal.