Choosing an Arborist

Choose an arborist with a fair market rate.

• Take your time to shop around. Get two or more estimates if possible.

• Beware of estimates that fall well below other quotes. Extremely low estimates can be an indicator of poor professionalism, lack of credentials, such as insurance, and may even have hidden costs. 

• Do not rush into a decision even though some contractors may offer a discount if you sign a contract immediately. 

• Be wary of door-knockers, flyers, or cold calls.  Most reputable companies have all the work they can handle without going door-to-door.

 

Consider the price an investment.

• Tree care can be expensive, but remember that trees can contribute about seven percent of your property value.  The expense of proper care is one of the best investments you can make. Tree care, like personal health care, is not the place to cut corners. Reputable arborists have made large investments in equipment and training. The price charged for a job includes all of these costs. And pruning is an art. The arborist’s skill and professionalism may be more important than a low bid. 

• Schedule your work well in advance, maybe as much as six months. Most arborists are busy, and many services must be done during a certain time of year. By allowing the company to schedule your work in advance and, if possible, when other work is at low ebb, you may be able to arrange a savings on price.

• If you can get together with several neighbors who also need work done, you may be able to interest a company in a group discount.

 

Check and get proof of insurance and license.

• Make sure the company has the proper license, contract, and insurance to save yourself from any legal trouble. A good tree care professional will carry several kinds of insurance as well as pay for specialized equipment. 

• Ask for certificates of insurance, including proof of liability for personal and property damage (such as your house and your neighbor’s) and workman’s compensation. Then call the insurance company to make certain the policy is current. Look for an arborist who has a membership with professional organizations, such as the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). This membership requires the arborists to demonstrate a commitment to quality and keep up with current best practices on trees and tree care. ISA-certified arborists have passed the ISA’s extensive examination on all aspects of tree care and maintenance. 

• State law requires contractor registration with the Oregon State Construction Contractors Board. Registration guarantees that the arborist is bonded and insured, protecting you in case the contractor you hire damages your property or fails to finish the job. Verify company registration by calling 503-378-4621.

 

Ask some questions.

• Are your methods environmentally friendly?  Ask about what is important to you. Do you want your arborist to be especially trained in wildlife habitat? Do you care that they are knowledgeable about soil science? That they will consider the health of the entire ecosystem?

• Will a Certified Arborist actually be working on my trees? Many companies use a certified arborist map out the work plan, but may employ workers who are not certified arborists to complete the actual job. 

• Do you have experience with this type of work? Once they tell you what kind of work needs to be done, whether it’s tree removal or simple trimming, ask them if they’ve done those things before. You want to make sure your arborist feels confident about the job they’re about to do. If they seem a bit unsure, it might be time to find someone else.

• Can you tell me how you will be handling this job? This question may help you know if you’re going to be receiving properly planned tree care.They should be able to tell you how long the job will take and all the necessary steps to complete the job. You can also ask them if they predict any major difficulties or any risks they might face in the job. Do keep in mind that there’s always the possibility of unplanned issues, and you should give them the time to properly handle those issues. 

• What equipment will you use? Does it matter to you if equipment is battery-powered or gas-powered? Don’t be afraid to ask them to clarify the purpose of the equipment they plan to use. Understanding why they’re using certain equipment can give you have a better understanding of all the work that’s about to take place.

• Are You Properly Licensed?  Every good tree care specialist will be happy to show you their license. Always make sure to ask and check to see if it’s up-to-date. If something seems off, do your own research to see if it’s legitimate.

 

Protect your tree.

• If you have a tree that has been recommended for removal, it may be a good idea to obtain a second opinion from another arborist.

• Avoid arborists who use spikes or spurs when tending to the tree. These can actually wound the trees and open a pathway for diseases and insects, which can lead to the weakening of trees or, worse, their death. Instead, insist that arborists climb the tree using ropes or ascend with an aerial lift.

• Never let anyone talk you into topping a tree. Expert and knowledgeable arborists won’t recommend topping a tree or other drastic pruning practices. These practices might actually injure the trees or make them hazardous. If they offer excessive pruning, it is best that you do not hire them. Reputable arborists usually recommend various options appropriate for your tree conditions and situations.

• Find out how they will address the potential to contract or spread tree diseases or insect pest problems.

 

Protect the workers.

• Reputable tree care professionals wear proper PPE and handle equipment correctly. Ask what safety equipment they will be using. They should be using proper gloves, safety goggles, hardhats, and much more. After your arborist tells you what safety equipment they’ll have, don’t be afraid to take a peek to make sure they’re using it.

• Make sure the company has workman’s compensation. Under some circumstances, you can be held financially responsible if an uninsured worker is hurt on your property or damage is done to a neighbor’s property.

 

Protect yourself.

• Get a contract in writing, laying out precisely what the job entails and for how much. Be sure they have a solid plan of how to approach your tree issues and that you clearly understand the work, total cost and terms. 

• The contract should:

• Include the dates that work will begin and end. 

• Spell out exactly what work will be done. For example, “prune all dead, dying, diseased, and weak branches 1.5 inches or greater in diameter.” If you receive an estimate that reads "Prune front Oak-$400.00" and you agree tothis, you have given that person the right to do anything to your tree, call it pruning and charge you $400.00 for it.A legitimate estimate will list the tree species, location on property, and go into specific details such as:
  *Sample Estimate- Front Yard/East Side-Large Red Oak-Pruning
  Remove 2" deadwood and larger, raise canopy to specified height, thin/clean canopy,selective removal of watersprouts,prune away from house, service lines and haul all wood, limbs debris,
  rake and clean work area. Make sure every detail is listed in your estimate.

• Specify what cleanup work will be done and when. How will branches, leaves and wood chips be disposed? Who gets any firewood, and if it is you, will it be cut into 16-inch lengths and stacked where you want it? If you must remove a tree, will they include grinding out the stump and surface roots to one foot below grade, filling with topsoil, and planting grass?

• Include the total dollar amount you will be charged. You don’t want a surprise such as, “Here is the $300 I owe you for working on my five trees.” “$300? Sorry, lady, that was $300 per tree!”Work is usually priced one of two ways: (a) as a single price for the job, or (b) on an hourly basis plus materials. When using the latter, be sure to include the wording, “... but not to exceed ...”

• Always make sure you understand their damage policy. Ask them about needed documentation, any paperwork, or how to get in contact with someone at the company that can help file any damage reports if needed. Make sure you have clear answers on all of this before they do anything in your yard. Before they start working on your lawn, go around and take pictures of things like your fencing and sprinklers. That way, if there’s damage from the equipment, you can alert the company.

• Make sure there is a plan in place to keep pedestrians and curious children safe. 

• Do not feel obligated to pay in full until the work is completed. 

 

Using arborists for preventative care:

• You may choose to hire an arborist to inspect your trees for a flat annual rate. This can diagnose insect, disease, or structural problems in time to take effective action. 

• Regular mulching, soil aeration, deep watering, and similar routine tasks will also help ensure that your trees remain healthy.

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When to hire a consulting arborist:​

• When you want an unbiased opinion from a professional who will not be doing the actual work and is not in competition with the arborists you hire. For example, a consulting arborist can help property owners decide what tree care is most appropriate. The cost of the consulting arborist’s opinion will increase the initial cost of the project, but their recommendations will not be biased by profits of completing the work. Most arborists (tree care workers above) provide good tree care recommendations, but a consulting arborist can help verify your tree is getting good care, industry standards are being met, and your goals are being accomplished. Ultimately, this can be a good investment given the expense of tree care that don’t meet your goals or industry standards.

• If a dispute arises, or you would like an expert to check the quality of work before you pay the bill. Consulting arborists often work to resolve neighbor conflicts or provide expert witness services during legal disputes. These are very specialized services that typically only consulting arborists offer. 

• Tree inventories and/or management plans can help property managers understand the trees on their property and next steps to manage it to meet their goals. These inventories can provide much of the information above or be a simple list of tree species and sizes.

• When construction is planned on the property. Many cities throughout Washington County require a consulting arborist assess trees and write Arborist Reports for planned construction. Remember that roots can extend beyond the canopy of the tree and erecting Tree Protection Fencing around trees so that construction crews don’t damage tree roots unnecessarily is the most important factor in having healthy trees at the end of a construction project.

• The International Society of Arboriculture has a formal system of evaluating tree risk. Many Certified Arborists (including tree care workers above) are Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) and can help you manage the risk of trees injuring people and damaging property. Consulting arborists often provide written assessments of tree risk and options for mitigation to clients who desire that level of detail. This can be particularly important when managing many trees where a systematic approach improves decision making.

• Appraising the value of individual trees or groups of trees. The Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers release guides on the different ways of estimating the value of trees. The most common method is probably estimating replacement cost (the cost to provide a similar tree) using a formula called the Trunk Formula Technique (or method). A new Tree and Plant Appraisers Qualification (TPAQ) was released a few years ago, but as of 2022 few arborists have this qualification.​

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