Ask the arborist about their equipment & working practices
A professional arborist needs a lot of specialized equipment and it should be well maintained. Ask them about the equipment they have and their working practices, particularly their safety measures. Check that they have the right equipment for your particular job. This is something they should be able to talk about easily.
Care for the environment
Whilst a lot of an arborist’s work will involve removing trees, a sign of a good arborist is a concern for the long term health of the environment. A good arborist is passionate about the health of trees and the natural environment. As professional arborists are experts in tree removal, please make sure you seek guided, professional advice before the removal of any tree. Beware of anyone suggesting too harsh a tree pruning regime. Some trees can be permanently damaged if they are cut back too hard. As a rule of thumb, we don’t recommend pruning more than 25% to 30% of the tree as it can cause harm or irreversible shock.
Attitude to service
Does the arborist have a reputation for good service? Do they answer your inquiries respectfully, patiently and courteously? Your arborist will be working in your home environment and you want to make sure that they will treat it with respect.
Knowledge & Qualifications
Ask them about their qualifications and experience. Are they members of any professional associations? Check they have knowledge of your local area and the particular issues that affect trees in your community.
Check for professional insurance
Also check that any arborist you are planning to hire has the correct level of insurance in place. Make sure you see proper proof of insurance. Sarginson’s Tree Services is fully insured and has had all the required training to ensure the safety of all.
Personal recommendations & references
Does the arborist have testimonials or offer references from previous clients? If you have found an arborist on the internet or on a review site, check them out by following up with recent clients.