Questions to ask before you hire a tree company

We do not check licenses, insurance or reviews, for any company, including one that takes a job through us. These checks are yours to make. Get the answers in writing before you pay anything.

1. Can I see proof of liability and workers' comp insurance?

Tree work is dangerous, and this is the question to care about most. The FTC says to "ask the contractor for proof of insurance". The International Society of Arboriculture goes further: "Ask for proof of insurance and call the insurance company." Ask for both liability and workers' compensation. The Texas Department of Insurance says not all Texas employers provide workers' comp, so do not assume it. If a company has none, ask how an injury on your property would be handled.

2. What exactly is in the written quote?

The FTC says a written estimate should include "a description of the work to be done, materials, completion date, and the price". ISA says "Get it in writing" and to read the contract carefully. For this job, the quote should name each tree, how it comes down, what happens to the lawn, fence and driveway, and who pays for damage. Get more than one. ISA adds "Don't always accept the lowest bid."

3. Who hauls the debris?

Killeen says "Contractors are responsible for disposing of all brush they cut down", and you pay a charge if the city collects it. Ask whether chips, logs and sawdust all leave, or which of them stay.

4. Who grinds the stump, and how deep?

Stumps are usually billed separately, so ask if it is included. Ask how far below grade the grinding goes and who removes the grindings. Ask who contacts 811: Texas law requires notice at least 48 hours before excavating, not counting weekends and legal holidays.

5. Who on the crew holds an ISA credential?

ISA certification is voluntary and earned by exam, and holders must keep up their education. Ask for the person's name, then check it with ISA's Find an Arborist directory. Listings are voluntary, so a missing name is not proof either way. Ask whether the certified person will be on site or only signs the estimate.

6. Will you top this tree?

The right answer is no. ISA calls topping "perhaps the most harmful tree pruning practice known". If someone offers it as a cheaper option, get another estimate. The trim or remove page explains why.

7. If it is an oak, when will you cut, and will you paint?

The Texas A&M Forest Service says to avoid wounding oaks from February through June and to paint all cuts and fresh stumps immediately, in any season. A local crew should bring this up before you do. See the oak wilt page.

8. Who deals with the power company?

If limbs are near a line, ask who contacts the utility. Texas law sets a six-foot limit around high voltage overhead lines unless the danger is guarded against. If the answer is vague, get another estimate.

9. What local permits or licenses do you hold?

ISA says to "Check for local permits and licenses." We did not find a statewide license for tree cutting in Texas, so this one may have a short answer, and insurance proof matters more. Fungicide injection is different: applying pesticide to trees for hire needs a state license. Our Killeen rules page says what we could verify about city rules.

10. What is the payment schedule?

The FTC says "Don't pay the full amount for the project up front" and to "never make the final payment until the work is done and you're satisfied with it." After a storm, it says to pay by credit card or check, and "If they want cash up front, walk away." If you sign at home, the FTC says the contract should include your right to cancel in three business days.

Door-to-door after a storm

Be careful with anyone who shows up unasked. ISA says "Be wary of people who go door to door and offer bargains." The FTC lists scammers who knock because they are "in the area". The Texas Department of Insurance says it is illegal for a contractor to offer to waive your deductible, to be wary of a large down payment, and never to sign a contract with blank sections. It also says that in a declared disaster, contractors from outside your area cannot ask for payment before they start work.

If something goes wrong

Try the company first. Report a suspected scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, as the FTC suggests. For an insurance problem, the department's help line is 800-252-3439.