Three weeks ago, I watched a “tree service” crew absolutely butcher a beautiful 60-year-old maple in my neighborhood. The homeowner? She’d hired them because they were $500 cheaper than everyone else.
That maple’s dead now. And she’s out $1,800 plus another $2,000 to have it removed.
Look, I get it. Tree work is expensive. When you’re staring at quotes for $2,500 to trim one oak tree, that guy offering to do it for $800 looks pretty tempting. But after 20 years of cleaning up after fly-by-night tree companies, I’m gonna share something with you.
The tree service industry is crawling with unqualified hacks who’ll destroy your property, ghost you when something goes wrong, and leave you holding the bag. And they’re really, really good at seeming legitimate.
Red Flag #1: They Knocked on Your Door
This one makes me crazy. Real tree companies? We’re booked out for WEEKS. We don’t have crews driving around knocking on doors looking for work.
You know who does? Chuck with a chainsaw and a pickup truck who spotted your overgrown oak from the street.
Last month, same thing happened to a client of mine. Guy knocks on her door, says he’s “in the neighborhood” and noticed her silver maple needs trimming. Offers to do it for $600 cash, today only.
She almost bit. Thank God she called me first. That “tree service”? No insurance, no license, no clue what they were doing. Just three guys with a ladder and some chainsaws they bought at Home Depot.
Here’s the thing – legitimate tree services advertise, sure. But we don’t go door-to-door like we’re selling vacuum cleaners. If someone shows up at your door offering tree work, especially with a “today only” deal? Send them packing.
Red Flag #2: Cash Only, No Contract
“We can knock 20% off if you pay cash.”
Sound familiar? Yeah, run. RUN.
Any legitimate tree service takes checks, cards, whatever. We provide written contracts. We give receipts. You know why? Because we’re running actual businesses, not under-the-table operations.
That cash discount? It means they’re not reporting income, probably don’t have insurance, and definitely won’t be around if that tree falls on your house next week.
True story: Homeowner in the east side hired a cash-only crew last spring. They dropped a 40-foot pine… right through his garage roof. When he tried to file an insurance claim? His homeowner’s insurance said sorry, you hired an uninsured contractor. That’s on you.
$15,000 in damage. All because he wanted to save a few hundred bucks.
Red Flag #3: No Proof of Insurance (Or Fake Insurance)
This is the BIG one, folks. Every legitimate tree service carries two types of insurance: liability and workers’ comp. And they should show you proof without you even asking.
But here’s where it gets tricky – some of these scammers have gotten smart. They’ll show you an insurance certificate. Looks all official. Problem is, they let the policy lapse right after getting the certificate printed.
Always, ALWAYS call the insurance company to verify coverage. Takes five minutes. I had a customer do this last year and guess what? The policy had been cancelled three months earlier.
You know what happens if an uninsured worker gets hurt on your property? YOU’RE liable. That’s right. Some guy falls out of your tree, breaks his back, and suddenly you’re getting sued for hundreds of thousands.
Still think that cheap quote looks good?
Red Flag #4: They Want to “Top” Your Trees
Oh man, this one really gets my blood boiling. If a tree service suggests “topping” your trees – cutting off the main leader to reduce height – you’re dealing with amateurs.
Topping is literally the worst thing you can do to a tree. It’s been condemned by every legitimate arborist organization for decades. It weakens the tree, causes decay, and creates hazardous growth patterns.
Yet last week, I saw a crew topping every tree on a property. The homeowner told me the company said it would “make the trees fuller.”
No. Just… no. What it actually does is create a bunch of weakly attached shoots that’ll come crashing down in the next storm. Plus, it often kills the tree entirely.
Any “tree service” that suggests topping doesn’t know the first thing about tree biology. They’re landscapers with chainsaws, not arborists.
Red Flag #5: Same-Day Service for Major Work
“We can take that tree down this afternoon!”
Really? Because every legitimate tree service I know is booked solid for at least two weeks. Three weeks during storm season.
Quality tree work requires planning. We need to assess the tree, figure out the safest way to bring it down, make sure we have the right equipment, check for utilities, sometimes get permits…
Companies that can do major work immediately? They’re either dangerously understaffed (meaning they’ll rush the job) or they’re desperately hunting for cash because no one will hire them twice.
Exception: Emergency storm damage. That’s different. But for regular trimming or removal? Same-day service is a massive red flag.
Red Flag #6: No Certified Arborist on Staff
Here’s something most people don’t know: In most states, any yahoo with a chainsaw can call themselves a “tree service.” No training required. No certification. Nothing.
That’s terrifying.
A certified arborist has years of training, passed a comprehensive exam, and maintains continuing education. They understand tree biology, proper pruning techniques, disease identification, and safety protocols.
Ask any tree service: “Do you have an ISA certified arborist on staff? What’s their certification number?”
Watch how many start stuttering.
Last summer, I followed behind a company that had trimmed a historic oak. They’d removed 60% of the canopy and made flush cuts everywhere. That tree’s dying now. All because the “tree experts” didn’t know the first thing about proper pruning.
Would a certified arborist have butchered that tree? Absolutely not.
Red Flag #7: Suspiciously Low Prices
I know, I know. Tree work is expensive. But there’s expensive, and then there’s “no way they can do quality work for that price.”
Quick reality check on costs:
- Workers’ comp insurance: 30-40% of payroll
- General liability insurance: $3,000-5,000/year minimum
- Commercial vehicle insurance: $2,000-4,000 per truck
- Equipment maintenance: Thousands annually
- Certified arborist salaries: $25-40/hour
A legitimate company has massive overhead. If someone’s quoting half what everyone else charges, they’re cutting corners somewhere. Usually, it’s insurance. Or safety equipment. Or proper training.
That $500 tree removal? The company’s either going to do a terrible job, damage your property, or disappear halfway through. Sometimes all three.
What Should You Do Instead?
Alright, so how do you find a legitimate tree service? Here’s your checklist:
Get Three Quotes: Real companies won’t pressure you to decide immediately. Get multiple quotes and compare. If one’s way lower, that’s your red flag.
Verify Everything: Insurance, licenses, certifications. Don’t take their word for it. Make the calls.
Check Reviews: But look for the detailed ones. “Great job!” means nothing. You want the reviews that mention specific work, how they handled problems, cleanup, etc.
Ask for References: Specifically, ask for jobs similar to yours done in the last year. Then actually call them.
Get Everything in Writing: Scope of work, total price, timeline, cleanup expectations. All of it.
And please – PLEASE – don’t hire based on price alone. The difference between a $1,500 quote and a $2,000 quote might seem like a lot. But the difference between proper tree care and butchery? That’s thousands in property damage and dead trees.
The Bottom Line
Your trees are a massive part of your property value. A mature oak can add $10,000 or more to your home’s worth. Do you really want to trust that to some guy with a chainsaw and a pickup?
The tree service industry has some amazing professionals who know their craft, carry proper insurance, and stand behind their work. But for every one of them, there’s five hacks looking to make a quick buck.
Now you know the red flags. Don’t ignore them because someone’s price looks good. Trust me – in tree work, like most things, you get exactly what you pay for.
Sometimes less.
P.S. – If you’ve already hired one of these companies and you’re reading this with a sinking feeling… it’s not too late. Stop the work, even if you lose a deposit. Better to lose a few hundred now than deal with thousands in damage later. And if they get aggressive? That’s what the police are for. Legitimate companies don’t threaten customers.
