Every tree service company in Austin has been swamped with calls since the unusual freeze in February 2021. As a result, property owners lost mature trees ranging from live oaks to palm trees, and thousands of additional trees were damaged.
Unfortunately, untrained crews often show up offering to repair your hail damage or ‘trim your trees’ for a discount price when there’s a severe storm. Hiring a tree service that’s going door-to-door can be risky. They may damage your trees by making irreversible cuts, and you’re also taking the chance that they do not have liability or worker’s compensation insurance.
What should you look for when hiring an Austin tree service company?
Texas does not require licensing of arborists. To ensure an expert is doing your work, the arborist should be a member of a professional organization.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), and the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) are all reputable organizations. An ISA Certified Arborist® has met the requirements of three or more years of full-time, eligible, practical work experience in arboriculture. They have also passed an exam verifying their knowledge of modern scientific tree care and best safety practices.
Heritage Tree Care is proud of our highly trained staff, including multiple ISA Certified Arborists, an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, and arborists with additional ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (ISA TRAQ) and Texas Oak Wilt Qualified (TOWQ).ISA Texas provides a handy database where you can check the membership and certification of arborists before you choose the best tree service.
Ask whether the company has both liability and worker’s compensation insurance. Most companies have liability insurance that covers property damage. However, if a worker is injured and there is no worker’s compensation insurance, you may be liable for the medical bills.
It is acceptable to ask for a copy of the company’s insurance certificate to verify coverage. If an accident happens, you want to know the proper insurance is in place.
The company should be happy to give you references you can verify. Remember, these are your trees, and poor tree service can affect them for years. Ask for referrals for jobs similar to the work you are having done. For example, did the crew safely complete the work? Was the cleanup satisfactory?
Does the company appear professional? Clean, uniformed workers in identifiable vehicles sign the company values their reputation and the work they perform. Heritage Tree Care uses the most up-to-date methods of arboriculture and modern safety equipment.
Last, insist on a written estimate before you allow any work to begin. Remember, cheaper isn’t always the better.
Knowledgeable, experienced tree service is your best choice. Don’t take a chance with the care of your valuable trees.
Call the company that cares for the most valuable trees in Austin.
Heritage Tree Care is the Austin tree service chosen for many of the most scenic areas in central Texas. They have restored the trees in Austin’s Zilker Park, cared for the trees at Lady Bird Lake, and carefully shaped the trees at the University of Texas, along with many other heritage trees in the area.
Get an estimate or book a consultation today with the premier tree service company in Austin, Texas.
