Protect Yourself!

How to protect yourself when hiring a tree care company.
Hiring a company that says it does tree work has never been a problem for homeowners. Simply look
through the yellow pages, make a few calls, and you have a company who says they can do the job at a low price. For the time being, you are happy. They send a crew to do the job and while removing a limb from the tree, they drop it on your car. Who should pay for the damage? Ideally, the tree care company. But they do not carry insurance, nor can they be reached by phone. You are upset and do not know what to do. You call your auto insurance agent. They instruct you to pay your deductible and the car will be fixed. Then you go to the small claims court to get your deductible back, and if you are very lucky, you succeed.

The scene would be different if you had just asked for proof of insurance from the company you hired.
Beware of the fly-by-night ''individuals'' who call themselves arborists. ''With hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars at stake, not to mention the integrity and appearance of your property and your personal safety, make sure your that you take your time in deciding which company you should hire,'' warns Peter Gerstenberger, director of safety- and education for the Tree Care Industry Association. ''Disreputable companies are renowned for ripping gutters off, breaking fences and bird baths, and even dropping trees on houses. Then they typically fold up and leave, never to be seen again,'' adds Gerstenberger.

Disreputable companies tend to:

Solicit work door-to-door
Demand payment in advance
Advertise topping
Sell jobs without producing a written estimate or work order

Check for the following before you hire a company, advises Gerstenberger:

Ask to see current certificates of liability and workers' compensation insurance
Ask for local references, and check on the quality of their work and level of service
Verify professional affiliations, such as membership in the Tree Care Industry Association toll free at (800) 733-2622, or by visiting their website at http://www.treecareindustry.org
Don't be lured by a bargain and don't pay in advance
Insist on a signed contract as to cost, dates, and exactly what is to be done
Insist that climbing spikes are used only if the tree is to be cut down; they damage the tree
Get a second opinion if it will add to your comfort level.

If you are unsure about your tree's health, call Nelson's Tree Service at (919) 266-9741 for a free consultation and estimate. Or, please e-mail us at 04nelson@bellsouth.net