Questions to ask an arborist before hiring them
Hiring an unqualified Tree Arborist in Perth can become detrimental to your home, safety and wallet! That’s why is super important to double check the qualifications of your chosen Arborist. Failure to do so can result in tricky situations such as;
- Poor quality cutting techniques like “topping” which can cause your trees to die, get sick or become unsafe
- Being stuck with an unexpected and overpriced bill
- Damage to your home or property due to poor work safety practices
- Insufficient job plan resulting in personal injury e.g. branch falling
Keep on reading to discover some Dickies Tree’s recommended questions to ask an Arborist before hiring them to ensure your chosen Arborist, like Dickies Trees, are a trusted and reputable company who will do the job safely and professionally.
- Is the company reputable?
This can be checked by visiting their website, checking their Google rating or calling up and speaking to someone from the company on the phone. Do they sound friendly and reliable? Have your friends, family or colleagues used them before? Were they happy with the job?
- Are they insured?
This goes without saying and is a must! Proof of insurance can put your mind at ease that you wont be held accountable for any injury, harm, destruction or accidents.
- Are the staff qualified? What are their credentials?
If you are unsure about your chosen Arborist’s credentials and if its not listed on their website, it should be fine if you give them a call to ask. Things to look for is a Certificate 3 in Arboriculture, whether they have qualified Western Power Contractors in the team or if any of their team members are International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified.
- Will they provide a detailed quote?
- How long will it take to complete the job?
If you ask this question you can save yourself time and money. Some Arborists will say they’ll take 2 days to complete a job while others will say 4 hours. But it works both ways! Some jobs need time to complete safely and property – that’s why a detailed quote is a must before agreeing to any work.
- Do they follow safe work practices?
This is a very important one! Failure to follow safe work practices can result in injury and a damaged home or property. Do they wear hard hats? Are they using good quality equipment? Do they adhere to Personal protective equipment (PPE)? Are they using the correct machinery and equipment to climb tall trees?
- Do they formulate a job plan?
This is essential – you deserve to know what approach they are taking with your garden. It also shows that they are happy to be upfront and honest, and are willing to prove to you their job plan is safe and skilled.
- Will they provide a list of references/testimonials
- Are they passionate about the industry?
This may seem like a petty questions and you probably shouldn’t ask them this one directly haha – although it’s a helpful question to ask yourself. Were they friendly on the phone? Did they sound sure of themselves when answering your questions or providing a quote?
- Do they ask you questions?
This is more important than it sounds. For example, if they are needing to use heavy machinery they should be asking you were your sprinklers are placed. Or if they are removing a stump and are needing to rip up lawn/pavers etc. have they asked you where the pipes are? These types of questions should be asked to prevent damage and injury.
And there you have it – 10 special Dickies recommended questions to ask your Arborist!
Dickies Trees are qualified arborists and tree surgeons with 30 years of experience. We specialise in all professional tree services, including tree removal, tree stump grinding, tree lopping and power line clearance. We can even deliver mulch!
We offer seven days a week service and after hours/emergency call-outs. As a major government, shire and business contractor, we are extremely professional and fully insured. We offer you exceptional, reliable service.
Give our friendly team a call on 9249 4077 to discuss your tree and garden requirements.
