Checklist for Requesting a Bid
- Require a certificate of insurance to be mailed/faxed directly to you from their insurance agent. It should include property, liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
- Require contractor to abide by ANSI Z133.1 Safety Standards.
- Notify contractor of presence of any underground structures such as irrigation, septic tanks, wells, energized conductors, etc…
- Discuss level of acceptable damage, if any, to turf and landscaping, including other trees.
- Explain that your driveways, walkways, and turf should not be discolored or damaged by leaking oil or hydraulic fluid from contractor’s equipment.
- Discuss length of time it will take to complete job.
- Discuss hourly rate for additional work.
- Discuss removal of wood, brush, chips and yard rakings.
- Require a thorough cleanup or negotiate a reduced price.
- Require payment to be contingent upon your final inspection of the job. Explain that you will be looking for damage to the roof, gutters, nearby trees, hardscaping, driveways, walkways, fencing, etc…
- Obtain and keep written contract detailing work to be done.
- It it important to clearly and unambiguously mark or otherwise designate trees to be pruned or removed.
Checklist for Basic Tree Services
Tree Pruning
- Require contractor to abide by ANSI A300 Pruning Standards for Tree Care Operations.
- Require an ISA Certified Arborist to be present when work is actually performed.
- Items to look for on a contract:
- Type of pruning, i.e. crown cleaning, crown raising, crown reducing, crown thinning, or vista pruning.
- Size of material to be removed.
- Amount of material to be removed. (Every pruning cut injures your tree, it is generally better to remove the minimal amount of material to accomplish your objectives.)
- Pruning cost.
Tree Removal
- It is recommended that an ISA Certified Arborist be present when work is performed but not strictly necessary for tree removals.
- Discuss access of heavy equipment into your driveway or yard.
- Discuss timely removal of all debris, including logs. (Logs left for days for a third party contractor to pickup can kill your turf grass.)
- Items to look for on a contract:
- If stump will not be removed, discuss height stump will be cut.
- Will you want to keep any firewood? Discuss cut lengths, and where wood will be stacked.
- Crane usage/rental fees.
- Tree removal(s) cost.
Stump Removal
- Items to discuss
- Depth of stump removal.
- Removal of surface or other roots.
- Removal of remaining stump mulch.
- Backfilling of hole with topsoil.
- Seeding or sodding.
- Stump removal cost.
Final Inspection
- All tree work completed per agreement.
- All material removed per agreement.
- Fine raking has been completed.
- Driveways, walkways, steps, rooftops are clean.
- No damage to roof, guttering, siding, a/c units, etc…
- No unacceptable damage to surrounding ornamental trees or other landscaping.
- No cracks, oil leaks, hydraulic leaks on driveways or walkways.
- Yard furniture, bird baths, fencing, etc… returned to original placement.
- Yard condition as per agreement.
- Stump(s) removed as per agreement.
