Should I Hire A Tree Service Before Selling My Home?

Written by Bobby Matthews Posted On Friday, 03 July 2020 20:05

Selling a home is stressful at best.  You are dealing with real estate agents, prospective buyers, and trying to move to your new residence.  The last thing you want to worry about is removing or pruning trees.  The answer to this question is a definitive yes.

Should I hire a tree service before selling my home? Yes!  Finding and employing a qualified and experienced tree service can increase the value in your home in several ways.

• Properly cared-for trees increase the curb appeal of your home
• Healthy trees give the impression of a well-kept home.
• Healthy well-maintained trees are the only parts of the landscape that add value to your home.

The trees in your landscape are a valuable part of your home. Don’t neglect them when you are staging your home for sale.  Find a qualified and experienced tree service to evaluate and recommend how best to care for your trees.  It will save you stress as you are trying to sell your home and it is good for the trees. Read on for tips about finding and employing a qualified arborist.

How do I find a Tree Service?

There are several ways to find a qualified arborist.  Many states license arborists, making finding a qualified individual or company much easier.  States such as Rhode Island have strict licensing rules and regulations.  The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Forest Environment manages the licensing of an arborist.

There are several things to consider when choosing an arborist, whether your state requires licensing or not.

• Does the tree service have the required licenses and certifications?
• Is the company insured?
• Will the company provide referrals?
• Before any work starts, does the company provide a written estimate of work and costs?
• Get more than one estimate.
• How does the company look?

Licensing and Certifications

Laws and regulations vary from state to state, but almost every state and community has some licensing requirements for contractors doing any work   In Rhode Island before any work starts on trees in certain locations, a licensed arborist must supervise the job.  Also, the company must provide insurance and performance bonds. 

Insurance

Pruning and maintaining mature trees is not a job for an amateur.  The need for professionals is especially true if you are removing large dead or diseased limbs or even entire trees near your house or neighboring houses.   An errant cut can lead to disaster if a heavy limb or even an entire tree falls onto the house.  Accidents happen and reputable companies will have insurance to cover such situations.

Referrals

Established companies know the value of referrals from satisfied customers and will be happy to provide those referrals to you.  In many cases, the company will give you the contact information for some of these referrals so that you can visit with the satisfied customer and view the work the company performed.

Written Estimates

Knowing what work the company will perform and how much each part of the job will cost is an important step in hiring a tree service.  Good companies will provide a detailed written estimate of each part of the job and will be happy to discuss the estimate with you.  Look at the estimate itself.  Top-notch companies will have printed forms that look neat and professional.

More on Estimates

Unless you live in a very small town, there are probably more than one tree service companies in your area.  Get several estimates for the work you want done and compare the costs and the work the company recommends.  Don’t hesitate to point out differences and ask why one estimate is different from another.

What is Your First Impression?

Did the representative from the company show up in a company vehicle that is neat, clean, and well-marked?  Is the representative dressed professionally and does he or she have the proper equipment to inspect trees?   Does the company representative have identification and are they willing to provide information about their licensing?  These are all indications of a professional company that understands the importance of presenting themselves as professionals.

What Should Be Included

When contracting for tree services, there are some things you should be sure about in the estimate.

• Dates – The estimate should include the date that the proposed work will start and how long the work will take to complete.
• Scope of the work – Each part of the job should be detailed and include the cost of that piece of the job.  Don’t forget any other work beyond the actual trimming or removal of trees such as stump grinding, cleanup, and removal of limbs.
• Payment – Look for the expectation of payment in the estimate.  How much are you expected to pay before the work starts and when is the final payment due?  Will there be intermediate payments due?  If so, what are the milestones that will mark those payments?
• Terms for Additions – All too often after work starts, the arborists will discover damage or disease hidden from plain sight.  The estimate should make clear how you will handle the negotiations for additional work.

The Contract

Before any work starts, a reputable company will provide a contract stating the same information that was in the estimate as well as other legal requirements depending on the state where you live.  Some states have standard contracts that every tree service will use.  Tree services in Rhode Island have moderate regulations.  If you have any questions about the contract, get legal advice before signing. 

Before you Sell

Getting the outside of your home, ready for the real estate agent to put that sign in the front yard can be a big job.  Sometimes that first impression a prospective buyer gets as they pull up to your home is the key factor in the sale.  You want to create the best curb appeal possible.

Trees are perhaps the only part of a landscape that can add value to a home.  Properly maintained trees can be a huge selling point.  Getting professional care for your trees, especially when you are thinking of selling your home, is imperative. 

We hope that this guide to hiring a tree removal service before selling your home helps and has answered some of your questions. 


Bobby Matthews is a former real estate agent who now specializes in home staging and design. His advice has helped dozens of residential sellers prepare their homes for a quick sale and fetch top dollar from qualified buyers.

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