Want to save money on tree removal?
As a client, we know it’s important that you try to save money on tree removal, and we’ll be the first to admit that having your trees serviced can get expensive. One of the first questions we always ask a new customer is “have you had tree work done before”? This is not to be facetious, but to gauge what your expectations are, and whether or not you’re going to be sticker-shocked during our free estimate.
Though our tree climbers and ground crew make difficult work look easy, what you don’t see is the extensive experience, training, specialty equipment, and safety protocols in place to ensure that your property goes undamaged, and all people on-site (clients and crew) get to go home uninjured. In one of the most dangerous industries in the world (a 2014 report from WorkSafeBC, ranked tree work as a profession with the 4th highest work-related death rate, and the highest death to injury rate – 92%), the cost to provide a safe working environment can be immense. While hiring cousin Joe with his ladder and chainsaw may seem like the cheaper alternative, the risk is immeasurable. Tree work is best left to the professionals. That being said, here are a few ways that you can save money when it’s time to have some tree work done.
1. Get friendly with your neighbours
One of the biggest factors when thinking about how to save money on your tree removal cost is simply mobilizing the crew to your property. To organize all the people, gear, machinery and safety equipment necessary remove or prune a tree is a major operation. If a tree care crew can perform work on many trees in the same area without having to pack up and transport people and equipment to a new location, tremendous per tree cost savings can be passed down to you, the customer. Even if it’s just to remove a few overhanging branches, or to quickly deadwood an old oak, the savings can quickly add up.
2. Wait until you have a sufficient amount of work
If your neighbours can’t be convinced to add their trees to your work order, perhaps you have other trees or tree work on your property that you’ve been putting off. Questionable dead branches, stumps to grind, a tree with a large lean towards your house, precarious hangers etc. Similar to tip #1 above, if you can increase the quantity of work a crew can complete without having to relocate, it can have a significant impact on cost and help you save money on your tree removal. Yes, this may increase your total job cost, but by bulking the work you can save money overall, have peace of mind that nothing is going to fall down unexpectedly, and not have to call a tree company back for a while.
3. Does your insurance cover the work?
Is the tree removal you require the result of storm damage? Did the fallen tree hit, or is it still leaning on your house? What many property owners might not be aware of is that tree removal is often covered by your homeowners’ insurance. While certain conditions usually apply (it is insurance after all), you can be reimbursed for fallen, storm damaged, or emergency tree removal services.
Some things you should know about fallen or storm tree removal insurance coverage:
- Service coverage is limited (often to $1000)
- The maximum amount for per tree is usually $500
- You may have policy enhancements that can increase these maximums
- Reimbursements are subject to your deductible
- Your policy will pay if the tree is blocking use of your driveway even if no damage has occurred to your home
- Damage to your home is covered
- Damage caused by a neighbour’s tree is typically paid by your policy
It is important that you read your homeowners’ insurance policy carefully to understand the kind of coverage you have for tree removal. It is also important to choose a professional tree service with the right credentials and insurance to prevent any safety risks or further damage.
4. Process and clean-up the tree yourself
For an experienced tree service crew, taking the tree or limb down is usually the easiest part of the job. The work really starts when the wood hits the ground. Conversely to the theme of tips #1 and #2, the less time a crew has to spend on your property, the cheaper the cost to you. The labour required to buck logs into manageable pieces, clean up slash, branches and leaves, and remove the wood from the job site represents a significant portion of the cost of a work order. If you have access to, and know how to safely operate a chainsaw (or know someone who does), processing the tree once it’s been safely taken down can drastically reduce your tree removal costs.
We intentionally left tip #4 until the end to emphasize a point: Tree work is dangerous! Always hire an insured, professional tree service company to prevent damage to your property and injury to people.
At Axe & Wedge Co. we only employ trained technicians to ensure the job is done safely and correctly.
