Tree service has the highest proportion of unqualified, uninsured operators of any residential trade — and the highest physical stakes when things go wrong. A chainsaw accident, a tree section falling through a roof, or a worker striking a power line are not recoverable situations. The warning signs that predict these outcomes are present before any work begins.
“There are three things that every qualified tree service provides without being asked: a certificate of insurance with at least $2 million in liability, a workers’ compensation coverage Clearance Certificate, and an ISA Certified Arborist credential for the person supervising the job. If any of those three things requires a fight to get, walk away. The companies that operate properly produce those documents as a matter of routine.”
— Tomasz Kwiatkowski, ISA Certified Arborist and tree risk assessment qualified practitioner with 20 years of experience in residential and municipal tree management in the local area
Red Flags Before You Hire
No certificate of insurance provided immediately. A professional tree service provides a certificate of insurance without being asked. One that hedges, says “we’re insured” without documentation, or provides expired documentation is likely uninsured. Do not allow any work to begin without a current, verified certificate.
No workers’ compensation coverage Clearance Certificate. A tree worker injured on your property without workers’ compensation coverage may pursue you personally for medical costs and income replacement. Verify the certificate at your workers’ compensation board’s website before work begins.
No ISA Certified Arborist on the crew. Tree work done by workers without arboricultural training is guesswork dressed as expertise. Ask specifically for the ISA Certified Arborist’s name and credential number — and verify it at isahq.Org.
Door-to-door solicitation after a storm. “Storm chasers” — tree companies that appear in affected neighborhoods immediately after major weather events — are one of the most well-documented post-disaster fraud patterns. They frequently lack insurance, use inadequate equipment, and charge premium prices for substandard work. Decline all door-to-door tree service approaches.
Recommending “topping” a tree. Topping — cutting back large branches to stubs — is condemned by every professional arborist organization as harmful to tree health and structure. It creates decay entry points, removes the tree’s energy-producing foliage, and stimulates weakly attached regrowth. Any company that recommends topping is not practicing arboriculture; they’re selling a service that harms the tree. Never allow topping.
Working near power lines without utility coordination. Working within the safe approach distance of energized lines requires utility notification and in some cases de-energization. A crew that proposes to work next to power lines without any mention of utility coordination is either untrained or planning to ignore the requirement. Either way, the risk is yours.
Significantly lower price with no documentation. A dramatic price difference almost always reflects no insurance, no certified personnel, and inadequate equipment. The gap between a $400 quote and a $1,500 quote for the same job is almost never about efficiency — it’s about the absence of the overhead that professional operation requires.
Cash only, no written contract. A professional tree service provides a written contract specifying scope, insurance coverage, and price. Cash-only operators leave you with no documentation and no recourse.
Red Flags During the Job
Climber using spike gaffs on a tree being pruned. Gaffs are appropriate only for trees being removed — they create wounds every few inches up the trunk. If a climber is spiking a tree that will remain in your yard, stop the job immediately.
Crew working in the drop zone. Ground crew should not be directly beneath an area where sections are being cut. Workers in the drop zone of falling sections are at serious risk.
No ground crew member watching the climber. During climbing operations, at least one ground crew member should be positioned to watch the climber and respond immediately if there’s an incident.
Flush cuts at branch removal points. Proper pruning cuts are made just outside the branch collar — the slightly raised ring of tissue where the branch meets the trunk. A flush cut (cutting flat with the trunk) removes this protective tissue, creates a much larger wound, and dramatically increases decay entry. Visible flush cuts during a pruning job indicate the crew is not trained in proper pruning technique.
Sections being dropped rather than rigged and lowered. Near structures, sections should be rigged and lowered in a controlled manner — not simply pushed or dropped. Uncontrolled drops are a hazard to structures, fences, and underground infrastructure.
Related Questions
- Questions to Ask a Tree Service or Arborist Before You Hire One
- Questions to Ask a Tree Service About Safety and Insurance
- What to Do If a Tree Service Does Bad Work or Damages Your Property
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