There’s a lot that goes into a tree cutting cost estimate. Among the many things to consider are the complexity of the job, the amount of time required to complete the work, the skills, resources, and equipment needed, and numerous safety issues to address.
When seeking tree felling quotes from different providers, it can be tempting to take the easy route and simply go with the cheapest option. I mean, hey, the ultimate outcome will probably be the same, right?
In all likelihood, probably not.
There’s an old saying: You get what you pay for. Despite the occasional bargain you may come across, this principle is pretty universally true, and is definitely applicable when it comes to choosing a tree services provider.
Let’s take a look at some points to consider before accepting that oh-so-cheap quote:
- Qualifications and certifications: Does the quoting company have all the necessary certificates to perform their work competently and to the appropriate standard? Are their staff as qualified as those of their “more expensive” competitors?
- Insurance and compliance: Is the quoting company fully insured, and compliant with all relevant safety standards?
- Past work: What are some of the company’s past projects? Did they complete them on time, on budget, and to their client’s full satisfaction?
- Quote scope: Does the quote identify a clear scope for the work to be performed, in very specific terms? Do you know exactly what you will be paying for?
- Reviews: Does the quoting company have reviews online that you can research? If so, how do they stack up against the competition? (Or if not, does that mean they are inexperienced in the marketplace?)
- Added value: Does the company offer anything that gives added value to their service? (For example, green waste removal?)
- Gut feeling: How do you feel about the company? Do you have any doubts as to the quality of their service? Do you feel like you are taking a big risk in accepting their quote?
What’s missing?
If the quoting company doesn’t perform so well against the above criteria, the reason for their estimate being low may be due to unacceptable compromises on one or more of the following:
- Labour costs, through hiring lesser skilled or inexperienced employees.
- Clarity of scope, meaning they may end up charging you more as hidden costs are “discovered” along the way.
- Safety procedures and compliance standards (e.g. ISO environmental, quality and safety accreditation), leading to potentially disastrous consequences.
Tree trimming companies that compromise on professional basics like these should be avoided. Full stop.
Hallmarks of professionalism
Here are some more clues as to whether you’ve picked a winner or not:
- Guarantees: Does the company offer any service guarantees? Do they take proper responsibility for and pride in their work? (This is indicative of the kind of work culture the company has.)
- Project time frame: Can they complete the project within a reasonable time? (This can illustrate how efficient their work systems are.)
- Quote turnaround time & general communications: How quickly did the provider get back to you after your quote request? And how quickly and thoroughly do they respond to your other questions? (This shows how good their customer service and administration systems are. And maybe just how much they actually care about you, the client!)
In short, you have to ask yourself if a cheap quote is really worth the additional risk of botched work, hidden expenses, or even catastrophic safety failures. If you take on that cheap quote, you could end up needing to bring another company in regardless to fix what the first failed to do.
Even beyond that, fully professional tree trimming companies tend to offer added value that more than compensates for any additional cost of their tree cutting estimate. Paying just a little bit more can mean that you receive much more in return.
So, always do your homework, and take a closer look at your tree felling services provider before committing to that low quote. You might find that the cheapest quote is actually not so cheap after all.
If you need a cost estimate for tree trimming, lopping, or removals, take a look at our tree services. We have the skills, experience, and accreditations necessary to deliver quality services on time, on budget, and to your complete satisfaction.
