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If you manage a property, you must ensure it is well-kept and safe for everyone visiting or living there. One of the crucial elements of this is properly maintaining the trees on the property. Trees can be a valuable addition to your property, adding visual appeal and shade and contributing to the property's overall value. However, if they're not properly taken care of, they can become a hazard, with falling branches, property damage, and even personal injury being just a few of the potential risks. That's why working with a trusted and reliable tree maintenance contractor, like the best tree service company, is essential to keep your trees in good health.
Establishing a solid relationship with a tree maintenance contractor starts with clear and effective communication. By clearly articulating your needs, you can find a contractor with the necessary skills and expertise to meet them. This guide will assist you in selecting the right tree maintenance contractor, defining your expectations, and maintaining a positive relationship to ensure that your trees receive proper care and enhance the overall beauty and value of your property.
Identifying Your Needs
Taking an inventory of the trees on your property is the best first step to identifying your needs. Set out a map showing tree locations and species. Also, look for signs of potential issues such as:
- Disease
- Pests
- Dangerous branches
- Infringement on buildings on your property
Your inspection provides valuable insights for the professional assessment. It also prepares you to share your knowledge, voice concerns, and ask questions. If you feel out of your element finding issues, there are a few red flags to look for:
- Dangerously large, overgrown, or broken branches
- Prominent trunks or root damage, such as cracks, missing bark, or discoloration
- Areas of branches without leaves or blossoms when the tree should have growth coverage
- Fungus, moss, or other signs of possibly invasive growth
When you understand your needs, you can start conversations with the contractors you interview. The key is to gather information and list your concerns to help set expectations from the start.
Finding the Right Contractor
It is imperative to find the best tree service for your property. Unfortunately, many services lack the qualifications required to protect the trees on your property. To help narrow down your choices, look for the following:
Designations
The best tree contractors are licensed tree companies with ISA-certified arborists on board to ensure your trees are treated with respect. A commitment to preserving trees, understanding tree species and local threats, and the laws regulating tree removal in your area are all key.
Ask for Recommendations
Reach out to other buildings in the area for referrals. Nothing is more reassuring than having a recommendation from someone you trust if you don't have someone to ask, read Google reviews and ensure you base prospects on companies with at least a four-star rating.
Set Up Consultations
Contractors offering free consultations and quotes make it far easier to understand costs and the company's level of service and knowledge. You can share your needs and walk the grounds with them, so they understand what is involved so they can provide an itemized list of costs.
This is also the time to ask questions and get a feel for their knowledge and passion. You don't want a company that lacks passion, as they won't provide the level of care your trees deserve. Also, watch out for lowball pricing, as chances are there is something amiss. Certified arborists are professionals who charge for their expertise. Low pricing is a red flag. They may need more experience and don't have insurance or a valid business license.
Satisfaction Guarantee
A good contractor stands behind their work. Ensure you only invite tree contractors with a 100% satisfaction guarantee to quote on the work. Safety:
Discuss safety and the crew's steps to avoid accidents, protect your property, and avoid damaging other trees and landscaping. Also, ensure they have proper insurance.
Ask for Referrals
Ask the contractor to provide referrals so you can get a first-hand recommendation from their customers. Prepare a list of questions and use the same list when interviewing each prospect. This ensures you compare apples to apples to better gauge knowledge, services offered, certifications, etc. You want a company that is mindful of property care with the expertise to provide the best quality tree service.
Setting Expectations
Setting expectations with your contractor ensures your needs are met. It also establishes accountability by providing clear instructions with noted deliverables the crew must meet. Some common expectations include the following:
- Bracing and cabling: This is a crucial step to ensure weaker trees have the stability to avoid damage and improve their survival chances.
- Preventive maintenance cleaning: Maintenance reduces the risk and spread of disease, pests, and general problems that negatively impact your trees and property.
- Cleaning: Although there is always an expectation the company will remove all branches and debris, it should never be assumed. Make sure you understand how debris will be removed from your property.
- Emergency calls: Emergency service following severe tree damage is essential to keep your property safe and reduce the risk of further damage from falling trees or branches. Make sure your contractor is available for emergency service and set a reasonable timeline they can be expected to arrive. Also, ask about emergency pricing.
Managing the Project
Once you hire a contractor, you should be able to depend on your crew to complete essential maintenance and care without supervision. However, special projects such as tree plantings or requesting the best tree removal services should have project management. Defining roles ensures you and the contractor understand accountability. Whether you plan to be 100% hands-off or want to oversee the project, clear communication and transparency before the project begins are vital to project success.
Maintaining a Positive Relationship
Ongoing communication will help maintain a positive relationship with your contractor. This includes providing honest feedback if something is not completed as expected. It would be best to share complaints from residents, such as messes, hazards spotted while the crew works, or noise or crew behavior issues. It would help if you remained open to recommendations and feedback from your contractor to identify and resolve challenges that keep them from performing their job to their standards and yours.
Building Strong Relationships
Establishing a solid relationship with your tree maintenance contractor is crucial for the proper care and upkeep of your property's trees. By selecting the best tree service company and fostering clear communication, you can minimize the stress of managing your trees and create a partnership that effectively meets the needs of your property.
Learn More
If you're ready to learn more about how the right tree service can make managing your properties easier, take the next step and learn about the comprehensive tree care services offered by Arbor Vision or read our property manager's guide to tree services.
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