It isn’t entirely uncommon to experience a little sticker shock when it comes to tree work. We readily admit that it can be painful on the pocketbook sometimes. (If it seems cheap, we’d recommend a second opinion. Cheap isn’t always the best option, especially in this industry!) Fortunately, there are ways to save money on tree work. And we’d like to share those ways with you!
Hire a Certified Arborist
Tree work is one of those situations where DIY is often a bad idea. It can be complicated, tricky, and incredibly dangerous! And in the end, it could cost you much more if you attempt it on your own.
Hiring a certified arborist is an excellent idea because:
- They know trees and how to care for them properly. This means you won’t be paying for unnecessary work. It also means you won’t land in the hospital attempting to do their work.
- They will do the job right the first time. You get what you pay for and nothing less.
- They can give you knowledgeable advice and point out potential future problems. You’ll avoid costly mistakes or emergencies. (see “Right Tree, Right Place)
Do the Rest Yourself
There are opportunities to DIY that will potentially save you money on tree work. You’ll just have to be willing to get your hands dirty.
When you call in an arborist for a quote, they will often quote the job in such a way that there’s no evidence of them having been there in the end. While that sounds nice, you could pay yourself instead (or the neighbor kid at a seriously reduced rate) for some of the grunt work.
Here’s what we recommend cutting out of the quoted work to save a bundle:
- Raking. This is potentially a labor intensive job that arborists will charge a premium for. Hand your kids a couple of rakes instead or make it a family affair. If there’s any way to knock the raking off the quote, the cost savings will be worth it.
- Hauling wood. It’s not hard to find someone, especially in our area in Northern Indiana, who would be happy to take the wood off your hands. Meanwhile, an arborist has more wood than he knows what to do with. Ask your friends and say something on social media. Or you could split the wood yourself and sell it, not only saving money on your tree work but earning some back!
- Being a stickler. Arborists put a great deal of effort into protecting your yard and landscape while doing their work. But this means added man hours, physical labor, and often complicated configuring of equipment. While we don’t think there is anything wrong with being a stickler about your yard, if saving money is key, you could see the quoted price drop if you allow them a little more freedom. Fixing ruts yourself and throwing down some extra grass seed will be significantly cheaper than the cost of the arborist laying mats and finagling equipment to protect your yard.
The bottom line is, the quicker the arborists can get in and get out, the cheaper it is for everyone.
Tree work isn’t cheap, but it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg (figuratively or otherwise!). Simply hire a certified arborist and do some of the grunt work yourself.
The certified arborists at Higher Ground Tree Care are experts in tree care and removal. We are passionate about trees and about serving you, our clients, and hope to save you a little money on tree work along the way. Contact us today!