Authored & Published by Certified Arborist Dan Riggs
Hiring a tree service or tree crew to trim or remove your trees might look straightforward, unless something goes wrong. A large branch could drop on your home’s roof. Or a worker could break an ankle while working on your property. And if the company has no Liability Insurance (or especially no Worker’s Compensation insurance), suddenly you’re getting calls from an attorney that you’ve never heard of. But don’t think that this is a far-fetched scenario; these situation happen far more often than most homeowners expect. Tree service work exists in a category where the barrier to entry is sometimes as low as just owning a chainsaw and a truck.
Tree removal and tree trimming are consistently ranked among the most dangerous professions in the U.S., and the industry has no shortage of uninsured (or underinsured) operators scattered all over town. But the stakes are real: property damage, personal liability, and work that can permanently damage the structure of your trees rather than help them.
Valley Tree Masters sets a useful benchmark for what a qualified tree service should look like: $2 Million in Liability Insurance, plus Workers’ Compensation insurance, ISA Certified Arborists on staff, and over 150 combined five-star Google reviews serving Gilbert, Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix metro area. This article uses that standard as its reference point, and by the end, you’ll know exactly what credentials are required, what services you should expect, and what to look for before signing anything. Also, we’ll discuss which warning signs to look for, and obvious red flags that mean you should walk away.
What a legitimate tree service actually looks like
There’s a meaningful gap between a professional tree care company and someone who just owns equipment. And the gap usually shows up in two places: credentials and insurance. Just know that both of these exist to protect you, your home (and your family) before any tree service work begins on your property.
ISA Certified Arborist: what it means and why it matters
An ISA Certified Arborist earns that designation through formal classroom training, 5 years of verifiable field experience, a proctored exam administered by the International Society of Arboriculture, and ongoing continuing education to maintain that credentialed status. And it’s not just a marketing title, it signals that someone on the crew understands tree biology, structural risk, disease identification, and proper pruning techniques, not just how to run the equipment.
A general landscaper and a Certified Arborist are not interchangeable job titles. Landscapers manage appearance, while Arborists understand tree physiology, which means they can assess whether a tree is structurally compromised. An Arborist can also identify disease before it spreads to other parts of your tree, and recommend proper pruning cuts that promote health, rather than risk causing long-term damage. Valley Tree Masters has Certified Arborists on-staff, which is a benchmark for any professional tree service company. Also, you can verify any Arborist’s credential through ISA’s Find an Arborist directory using that person’s name or Arborist certification ID.
The insurance minimums that a homeowner should require
Two policies are a non-negotiable for tree service work: general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. General liability insurance covers the risk of property damage if the crew damages your roof, fence, driveway, or neighbor’s house, or any other property while performing your project. Workers’ compensation insurance is different, and it covers any potential crew injuries while working on your property. If a worker gets hurt and the company carries no workers’ comp coverage, you can personally be held liable for the worker’s medical bills and injuries. And unfortunately, most homeowners never consider that financial exposure until it’s already too late.
In the U.S., industry guidance commonly cites $1 million per occurrence as a liability insurance minimum. And Valley Tree Masters carries $2 million in coverage, which is a stronger benchmark worth considering when comparing tree care companies. Also, ask every contractor for a current Certificate of Insurance when you meet that company’s representative. A verbal assurance is not documentation, and it may be covering up the fact that your low-ball quote is from a fly-by-night operation, and not a legitimate company. If the company rep hesitates, delays or offers excuses, that tells you everything you need to know.
The full range of services that a qualified tree service should offer
A complete tree care company handles the full scope of what your property needs, from routine tree trimming maintenance, tree removal, emergency service, Deep Root Fertilization, cable bracing & staking, disease diagnosis, and stump grinding service. By knowing which services exist, it can help you ask the right questions, and avoid paying two different contractors for work that one qualified company should easily be able to handle.
Tree trimming, pruning, and removal: knowing the difference
Trimming and pruning are not always the same type of tree service. Trimming is primarily aesthetic, by managing crown size, shape, and property clearance. On the other hand, tree pruning is generally more targeted: removing dead, diseased, or structurally compromised wood to protect the tree’s long-term health, and to reduce the risk of hazards in your trees. And both of these require knowledge of how trees respond to pruning cuts, because incorrect tree trimming or pruning can cause years of damage to the structure of your trees.
Tree removal is the right decision when a tree is dead, severely diseased, structurally beyond repair, or is creating a hazard to structures or people. And a reputable tree service company can make that assessment properly, and honestly. A qualified company will tell you when tree trimming is sufficient, rather than trying to sell you the higher-cost option of permanent removal. And if a tree care representative recommends full removal for every tree they inspect, make sure to get a second opinion.
Stump grinding service & what homeowners usually get wrong
Stump grinding and stump removal are different services. Grinding a stump mechanically grinds and shreds the stump below grade, leaving the root ball below ground in the soil. On the other hand, complete root ball removal extracts the root ball entirely, which is much more disruptive to your landscaping, and almost always costs significantly more money. For most residential properties, stump grinding is the sensible (and affordable) choice. Make sure to ask whether stump grinding service is bundled into your tree removal quote, or if it is priced separately. Most tree care companies price it separately by default, and assuming otherwise could cause you to pay far more money to have the job finished properly. Also, confirm what type of cleanup is included with your project: some companies grind the stump and leave the wood chips on site, while others haul all of the debris away and cleanup your landscaping prior to leaving. Just make sure to get it in writing before the work begins, not after the job is completed.
Same-day service and other factors worth asking about
Some companies offer same-day availability for trimming and removal, which can be very important after a storm, or when a hazard appears suddenly in your tree. And this is definitely worth asking about directly, rather than assuming that you know the answer. Free estimates that are delivered in person give you a much more reliable scope and pricing, rather than accepting a low-ball bid after emailing photos to a voice over the phone that you’ve never met in person.
What factors increase the price, and what to ask
Tree height, trunk diameter, and tree species all have an effect on the cost that you will be paying. Also, proximity to structures or power lines, equipment access, debris hauling, and whether or not stump grinding is included all affect the final cost of your tree service project. Make sure to ask specifically what each line item covers, and whether debris removal, wood chip disposal, and site cleanup are included with your job. Any estimate that doesn’t detail exactly what is and isn’t included is not a complete or professional estimate, and that’s a red flag that could cost you far more after the tree crew is finished.
The right questions to ask during any estimate
This is where professional tree service companies separate themselves from landscapers and fly-by-night operators. The questions listed below are important, because vague answers to direct questions should disqualify the company that you’re speaking with.
Questions to ask before work begins
- Does the company carry Liability Insurance, Worker’s Compensation insurance, and can they provide current certificates of insurance on the spot?
- What exact service will be performed on each tree, and what does cleanup include after the job is finished?
- What happens to the price if conditions change once work begins, such as hidden rot, access problems, or discovering a bee hive or wasp nest in a tree?
What a written estimate must include before you sign anything
A complete written estimate should cover all of the following:
- Company contact information
- Each tree identified by location and type of service
- Itemized costs broken out by line item for each tree quoted
- Explicit cleanup terms covering debris & log haul away and disposal
- An estimated start window and job duration for your project
- Payment terms, including scheduling deposit amount and terms of a cancellation policy
If a company won’t provide a written estimate for your tree service, do not hire them. That’s the clearest possible sign of how the rest of the relationship will go for your project.
Warning signs that a tree service company is worth skipping
Most homeowners who get harmed by a bad tree care company didn’t miss obvious signs; the signs just weren’t obvious to someone who hadn’t seen them before. The following are a few specific behaviors worth walking away from, and calling a different company.
Behaviors that signal a sketchy company
Door-to-door solicitation immediately after a storm is the most reliable red flag for a fly-by-night or out of town operator. Storm-chaser crews target distracted and stressed homeowners, specifically because emotions override the careful decision-making process. Any company that shows up uninvited with a “today only” offer should be turned away at the door, rather than invited onto your property. Demands for full or large upfront cash payment before work begins is another huge warning sign. And verbal-only quotes with no written contract or delays in producing a certificate of insurance should tell you to refuse to work with that company.
Bad practices that reveal poor tree care knowledge
Recommending tree topping as a standard or typical tree trimming approach is a clear sign that the crew lacks proper training. Topping a tree without a specific reason can cause long term problems for your tree. Tree topping can remove too much of the crown, and limits the tree’s ability to produce food through the process of photosynthesis. And topping without necessity can leave large wounds that can’t heal properly, in addition to generating weakly attached sprouts that are more likely to fail in the future. ISA Certified Arborists consider it harmful, and any crew presenting it as routine tree trimming maintenance is telling you exactly what they know (or don’t know). Also, vague language like “clean up the trees” without specifying the type of service, which branches, or what to expect is another warning sign. Combine that with no verifiable local address or lack of an established review history, and you’re dealing with a tree service company with no accountability (and no reason to perform the work properly).
What to know when you need emergency tree removal
Storm damage and fallen branches don’t limit themselves to normal business hours. By knowing what to expect before an emergency happens, it can make it much easier to make clear, informed decisions when you are facing an emergency situation.
Response times and emergency fee structures
Reputable local tree service companies generally aim to respond to genuine emergencies within one to four hours under normal conditions, with some quoting 60 to 90 minutes for the most urgent situations. Storm surges stretch those windows considerably as crews work multiple calls simultaneously. Emergency and after-hours service typically costs 30 to 50 percent more than standard rates, with some companies adding call-out fees of $300 to $800 on top of regular work charges. Some providers, including companies offering same-day service, do not charge emergency premiums for non-immediate situations. It’s worth asking directly how the company distinguishes an emergency call from a same-day booking before you agree to anything.
What to do before the tree care crew arrives
Make sure to keep people and pets clear of the hazard area in all situations. If power lines are nearby, always call the utility provider first, and ask for a complimentary “line clearance”. Tree service companies cannot legally work within a certain distance of live electrical wires, and no reputable company would attempt this risk. Also, move vehicles and clear access so that heavy equipment can reach the tree work without causing extra delays. The more information that you can provide when you call (such as tree height, trunk diameter, species & location), the faster and more accurately the tree service crew can respond to your emergency.
The bottom line before you hire anyone
Before hiring a tree service, three things must happen: verify liability and workers’ compensation insurance with a current certificate, confirm the company has a Certified Arborist on-staff, and get everything in writing before any tree work begins. And these aren’t just formalities, they are the practical difference between a job that goes smoothly, and a situation where you’re paying extra costs that the professional tree service should be paying for themselves.
Also, the lowest bid is almost never the correct choice for tree work that involves heavy equipment, hazardous conditions, and the protection of your property. A significantly lower bid price almost always reflects that something is missing, whether that’s insurance, credentials, cleanup scope, or a lack of experienced labor. Just remember that the math doesn’t lie.
For homeowners in Gilbert, Scottsdale, Chandler, Paradise Valley and the greater Phoenix area, Valley Tree Masters checks every box that’s required: $2 Million in Liability insurance coverage, Worker’s Compensation insurance, ISA Certified Arborists on staff, and over 150 combined five-star Google reviews. Add in free estimates, same-day available service, and a 15% discount for new customers, your choice becomes much easier to make. You can reach Valley Tree Masters directly by calling (480) 200-3331 to get a free written estimate from a professional tree service and ask every question on this list. And any company worth hiring will answer your concerns, without hesitation.
