A Marketplace Tip from Your BBB Denver/Boulder
The snow is clearing, and the clean-up begins. We’ve all heard the horror stories . . . so how do you find the right tree service after winter’s destructive snowstorm? The BBB offers the following tips for wise consumers.
Well, there’s certainly the wrong way(s) to choose a tree service:
DOOR TO DOOR
- It’s intimidating (possibly intended to be!)
- It’s inconvenient
- You’re put on the spot
- They will frequently say, “We just did some work for some of your neighbors” (but it’s not clear who or when)
- Not a setting conducive to talking about price, specifics, timing
- They want to “do a deal” then and there
- Never pay up front
- Not usually equipped with company info, price list, etc.
- You don’t know if it’s a reputable company
- How do you get in touch with them if there’s a problem?
- They could be scoping you out for burglary!
DOOR KNOCKERS (little flyers, scraps of paper)
- Not a lot of information provided
- Prices may be quoted, but afterward, they are higher (good old-fashioned bait-and-switch)
- Usually offers a gamut of services, from tree trimming, raking, exterior/interior painting, gutters/eaves, window washing
- Again, how do you know they are reputable?
- Again, how to get ahold of them later?
- Never pay up front; insist you will pay after the fact and
- by credit card only (this may get rid of them!)
And then there’s the RIGHT way to select a service provider . . .
(Which takes a little time and some savvy effort on your part)
- Ask your neighbors, friends, co-workers, dentist, etc. for their experiences.
- Be sure to check with the BBB 303-758-2100 or denverbbb.org for a report.
- Start with the internet or phone book . . which is better than door-to-door (at least you’d know they were a local company, not ‘travelers’).
- Get several bids in writing. Make sure you discuss the bid with the provider. Do not automatically choose the lowest bidder.
- For large projects, ask the tree service how many projects like yours he/she has completed in the last year. Ask for several local references—and follow through on checking them.
- Ask a customer whose project was similar to yours:
- -- Can I visit your home to see the completed job?
- -- Were you satisfied?
- -- Was the work completed on time?
- -- Did the contractor keep you informed along the way?
- -- Were there unexpected costs?
- -- Did workers show up on time?
- -- Did they clean up afterward?
- -- Would you recommend the contractor?
- -- Would you use the contractor again?
- Ask about workers compensation insurance and coverage for property damage and personal liability (i.e., is the contractor fully bonded?). In addition, ask to see the contractor's license, and make sure it is current. Rules on licensing and registration vary by area. Check with your municipal building office.
- Call the local police for any recent problems people have had with the company.
“Remember, almost anyone with a pickup truck and a ladder can set themselves up as a tree service,” says the Better Business Bureau . . .
BEWARE OF A “TREE SERVICE” WHO . . .
- Has no printed materials, letterhead, bid forms, etc.
- Is vague about his formal credentials as an arborist.
- Offers an unusually low price . . . at first.
- Only accepts cash payments, and/or asks for payment up front.
- Pressures you for an immediate decision.
- Offers you a discount to find other customers.
