Original research
Questions to ask a tree removal company, in the order you need them
Phone screen, site visit, written estimate and the day of work.
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Written by HyreYard Research Desk Research and fact checking
The short answer
Ask a tree removal company four things before anything else: can your insurer send me proof of liability and workers’ compensation coverage, who on the crew is an ISA Certified Arborist, does this tree need a permit and who gets it, and exactly what does the price include. Insurance comes first because tree work is hazardous, and an uninsured crew can leave the homeowner exposed if someone is hurt or a limb lands on a neighbor’s roof.
ISA’s consumer brochure, reproduced by the City of Seattle, tells homeowners to ask for both certificates.
The rest of the questions turn a verbal price into a written scope: whether the stump is ground, whether wood and debris are hauled, how equipment reaches the tree, and what happens to the lawn on the way in.
On the phone
Ask for them from the insurer, naming your address. Some companies claim coverage they do not hold.
ISA certifies people, not companies. The ISA lookup may not list every holder, per Purdue’s Landscape Report, so ask for the certificate if needed.
Most give free estimates; some charge for an inspection visit. Know before they come.
Useful to know before you need it.
At the site visit
A crew that only removes may not ask. If you are unsure, see arborist vs tree service.
Many cities protect large or heritage trees. See our tree removal permit rules.
Felled whole, sectioned by a climber, or lifted out by crane. The method changes the risk to the house and the lawn.
Ask about ground mats and which gate or fence section will be used.
Lines touching or near the tree are the utility’s responsibility; the utility must be called first.
Stump grinding goes below grade. The 811 call is free.
What the written estimate must list
| Line | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which tree(s), identified | Prevents the wrong tree coming down |
| Removal method | Crane or climber jobs are priced differently |
| Stump: ground, to what depth, or left | Often excluded unless stated |
| Grindings: removed or left in the hole | Leaves a mound or a hole if not addressed |
| Wood: hauled, cut to length, or left | Haul-away is often extra |
| Debris and cleanup | Branches, leaves, sawdust |
| Permit fees and who files | Avoids a stop-work surprise |
| Damage policy and repair of lawn, fence, driveway | Sets expectations before heavy equipment arrives |
| Payment terms | Pay on completion, not before the work |
GoTreeQuotes and Elite Tree Care both advise getting what the fee includes in writing. For money, use our tree removal cost tool.
Answers that should end the conversation
ISA-based guidance, including Seattle’s brochure, advises avoiding companies that advertise topping.
Spikes wound living trees.
The FTC lists large up-front cash payments as a contractor warning sign.
Walk away.
On the day of the work
Photograph the yard, fence, driveway and nearby roof before the crew starts, so any damage claim has a reference. Confirm the tree marked on the estimate is the tree being cut.
Keep children and pets indoors and cars out of the drop zone. Before the final payment, walk the site against the estimate lines: stump height or grind depth, grindings, wood, debris and any lawn repair.
After the work, our tree service page explains replanting and stump options, and lawn renovation covers repairing ruts.
Your inquiry
Tell us about the work
Nothing goes to a landscaping company unless you agree.
Free, with no obligation: a person at HyreYard reads your request and replies by email. Matching is not live yet, so this is not a quote, and nothing goes to a landscaping company unless you agree. If a tree or limb is on a power line, stay away and call the utility.
Find a Landscaping Company
One short form: your address and how to reach you. A person at HyreYard reads it and replies.
Questions
Should a tree removal company have insurance?
Is stump grinding included in tree removal?
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my property?
Should I pay a deposit for tree removal?
What credentials should a tree removal company have?
Written and audited by
HyreYard Research Desk
Primary-source research, data analysis and fact checking
We are a research desk, not a landscaping company. We read the statute, the municipal code, the water-district rule or the federal soil file ourselves, and we publish the figure with the document it came from and the date we retrieved it.
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