If you ever need maintenance work for your trees, there’s no question who you should seek: an arborist. Like with any other service, however, not all arborists are the same. Some are definitely better than others, with more experience and better expertise. At the end of the day, the decision on who to hire for your tree maintenance needs ultimately rests on you.

But if this is your first time to choose a tree services specialist, then it can be quite a difficult decision. There are several arborists and many similar companies out there. How can you tell which one is the best for you?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear cut answer. What can help you, though, is knowing what to ask your prospective hire beforehand. This way you get a clearer picture of how well they can do the job for you.

At River City Trees, we have been providing tree services Brisbane wide and on the Sunshine Coast for over 20 years, establishing a trusted name in the industry. Here are seven questions that we think you should be asking your prospective hire – questions that any good tree services company should be able to easily answer:

Are you and your employees fully insured?

Tree maintenance is hazardous work, so you should make sure that the company you’re hiring is fully insured. This insurance should include all the workers that will do the job on your property as well as all the machinery and equipment that they’ll use.

Ask for evidence of insurance coverage to ensure that they’re fully covered just like they say. This is done not only for your own peace of mind, but also used to identify the level of insurance that the company employs. Any reliable arborist or tree services specialist should be able to readily provide this. Here At River City Trees, for example, we’ve made our insurance information readily available on our website, so you’ll be able to view it before hiring us.

Are you certified?

Like any other service, tree care and maintenance is a specialty that relies on level of skill, experience and practical knowledge. Certifications and memberships with official and authorised governing bodies are an excellent gauge for this level of specialty. More often than not, it’s better to hire arborists and tree services companies that are certified by relevant governing bodies. At the very least, this ensures that they provide a particular standard of service. And although certification or membership doesn’t automatically make a company the best one for you, it will certainly help make it stand out.

Can you provide a written quotation and work contract?

No matter how small or big a job may be, it’s always best to ask for a written contract before proceeding. This should reflect the quotation and the job order itself in as much detail as possible. Contracts make agreements official and binding, helping protect both sides in cases of unforeseen changes or other similar circumstances. It also makes the service transaction more professional and easier to account. Reliable arborists or tree services companies should be able to provide this. In fact, it should already be part of their service.

Do you work to Australian Standard (or your corresponding national standard)?

Before proceeding to hire a particular arborist, ask them if they comply with your local or national standard. Here in Brisbane, it’s the Australian Standard – the set of guidelines and best practices that protect the health and well-being of trees. Ensuring that your prospective hire follow such standards makes it more likely that the job will be done according to regulations.

Can you provide some references?

Just like in a job interview or any hiring process, it’s highly recommended that you ask your potential hire to provide references. This ensures that they’re as good as they say they are. Doing this will also allow you to get additional feedback about the company, which will give you a better idea if they’re the right fit for the job – because every job and circumstance is different and many companies are often stronger in some areas than others.

By getting some references and following up on them accordingly, you’ll be able to assess whether a company is right for you, no matter how ideal they may seem at first.

How will the job be done and what equipment will you use?

You may not be an expert on tree care and maintenance, but it’s still advisable for you to ask them to explain what needs to be done. Good arborists and tree services companies will tell you exactly what they’ll do, how they’ll do it, and what to expect.

Whether they’re installing a root barrier, remedial pruning, mulching, or providing any other specialised service, it’s always best to know beforehand. This not only allows you to assess their level of expertise and quality of service, but also lets you prepare for what’s about to happen. Knowing what they’re offering to do will also help compare it with other services or companies and enable you to get a second opinion if necessary.

Do I need to get a permit?

The answer to this question depends entirely on where you live and what your local and/or national guideline are regarding tree care and maintenance. Some places require getting a permit before doing any maintenance work on trees, while others allow you to work on them as much as you like.

Council trees, for example, often require a permit from the local government before commencing any work. Make sure to determine this with your prospective hire before proceeding. As always, any good arborist or tree services specialist should know local regulations and be able to tell you whether you (or they) need to get a permit or not.

Do you belong to a tree association?

Memberships with tree associations may not be absolutely necessary, but they definitely make an arborist or tree services company more credible. Like certifications, memberships with tree associations display a level of service and expertise that conforms to particular standards, whether local, national, or international.

If you’re in Queensland, for example, it’s highly recommended that your service be associated with groups like the QAA (Queensland Arboricultural Association Inc.), ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) and the TCIA (Tree Care Industry Association).

As you can see, finding the right tree services company can be a difficult decision, especially if it’s your first time to hire one for your property. But asking the right questions and knowing what qualities to look for will definitely make it easier.

Always remember that any good specialist will be able to answer these questions and readily provide the necessary documentation to support their claims. The more professional a company is, the less information they usually have to keep from you. That’s why it’s almost always better to choose a reputable and established company when it comes to tree care and maintenance.

The River City Tree staff know that the level of our service and the quality of our performance are what’s going to attract and keep you as a client. We strive to be as transparent and detailed as possible so that you’ll know what to expect from us and be guided accordingly when you make your decision.