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Certified Arborist or “Guy with a Chainsaw”? How to Pick the Right Tree Company

  • Writer: Oliver Owens
    Oliver Owens
  • Nov 7, 2025
  • 4 min read

If you’ve ever posted “tree guy near me” and crossed your fingers, you’re not alone. But the difference between a Certified Arborist and a random crew with a saw isn’t just a nicer logo—it’s insurance coverage, jobsite safety, pruning standards, and whether your property ends the day safer than it started.

Man in an orange vest and hard hat stands beside a tree service truck on grass. Sunny day, trees in the background. Text: Longwood Truck Center Inc.

Use this plain-English checklist to choose a company you’ll feel good about—and to pass the sniff test with HOAs and insurers.

Need the easy button? Book a Tree Health Assessment or Certified Arborist Services . We’ll evaluate your trees, show our credentials, and give you a clear plan.

1) Start with credentials you can actually verify

  • ISA Certified Arborist

    Ask for the arborist’s name and credential number, then look them up in ISA’s public directory. You can verify credentials in seconds, and ISA holders follow a Code of Ethics and recognized best practices. treesaregood.org+1

  • TCIA Accreditation (company-level)

    This is a third-party audit of safety, training, insurance, and business practices. You can check the TCIA directory for accredited companies; the accreditation signals a higher bar for professionalism. Tree Care Industry Association, LLC.+1


What to do: screenshot or save links to the ISA profile and (if applicable) the TCIA accreditation page for your records. It’s a quick credibility filter that shady operators can’t fake.


2) Insurance that protects you (not just them)

Two documents matter most:

  • General Liability (ACORD certificate) — protects against damage to your property.

  • Workers’ Compensation — covers injuries to workers on your job, so a claim doesn’t land on your homeowner’s policy.


Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) issued to you (your name and address listed) with active dates that cover your job. A COI is standardized proof of coverage and lists limits, policy numbers, and effective dates; you can also ask for a separate Workers’ Comp certificate. business-money.com+2dli.mn.gov+2

Red flags: “We’re exempt,” “We’ll send it after,” or a certificate with expired dates.


3) Safety you can see from the driveway

Professional crews follow OSHA safety rules, especially when chainsaws are in play. Minimums you should notice:

  • Leg protection (saw chaps) that cover from upper thigh to boot top for anyone operating a saw, as required under OSHA 1910.266. GovInfo+1

  • Helmets, eye/ear protection, and stable work positioning (bucket, approved climbing systems).

  • No free-climbing a palm with gaffs/spurs unless it’s a removal.

If PPE looks optional or the crew is drop-starting saws next to fuel cans—hard pass. OSHA’s chainsaw rules prohibit dangerous “drop starts” and require specific PPE. OSHA


4) Pruning that follows the rulebook (and won’t get you flagged)

Ask what standard their estimate follows. The gold standard is ANSI A300—the U.S. benchmark for pruning, cabling, fertilization, etc. A300-aligned estimates spell out reduction cuts to suitable laterals, deadwood removal, and structural goals—and do not include topping or leaving stubs. Tree Care Industry Association, LLC.+1


Pro tip: A natural, slightly irregular crown line after pruning is good; a flat “hedge” across the top is a topping red flag that can create weak regrowth and future claims issues.


5) A written scope that reads like a plan (not a guess)

A professional estimate should include:

  • Objectives (e.g., reduce end-weight 8–10 ft over roof; restore 3-ft clearance at meter).

  • Methods (ANSI A300 pruning, no topping; palm care to the 9–3 rule; tool sanitation between palms).

  • Hazards & access (roof tie-in, bucket setup, street parking/permits if needed).

  • Cleanup standards (chip/haul vs. leave on site; turf protection).

  • Documentation (before/after photos on request).

If you need HOA or insurance re-inspection, ask them to mirror the letter’s bullets and provide a one-liner that says: “Work performed to ANSI A300 standards.”


6) Jobsite etiquette and cleanup (the part neighbors notice)

Great crews protect turf and hardscapes, chip debris neatly, blow off roof valleys/gutters if needed, and leave no sawdust mountains in the lawn. Trucks have spill kits. Gates are closed. Nails/screws from temporary fastening are collected. It’s obvious when a crew takes pride in leaving a site clean and safer than they found it.


7) Warranties, follow-ups, and documentation you can use later

  • Workmanship window: many reputable companies stand behind their work (e.g., return to correct a missed clearance or address a concern).

  • Documentation: keep invoices and photos—handy for HOA approvals, insurance, or disclosure when you sell.

  • Maintenance schedule: ask for a suggested 12–24 month structural pruning cycle and palm service cadence.


Quick “tree company” scorecard (save this)

  1. Credentials — ISA verified? TCIA accredited (nice-to-have)? treesaregood.org+1

  2. Insurance — COI with your name/address + active GL and Workers’ Comp dates? business-money.com+1

  3. Safety — PPE on every saw operator; no drop starts; stable access. OSHA

  4. Standards — Estimate references ANSI A300; no topping/stubs. Tree Care Industry Association, LLC.

  5. Scope — Clear objectives, methods, cleanup, and documentation.

  6. Reputation — Real local references; photos that look like your kind of job.

If a company misses more than one of these, keep looking.


FAQs


Do I really need a Certified Arborist for simple trimming?

When in doubt, yes—especially near roofs, pools, or utilities. A Certified Arborist plans cuts that improve structure instead of just making trees “shorter,” and that’s what reduces future breakage. Verify the credential online in seconds. treesaregood.org


Are estimates that say “top the tree” ever okay?

No. Topping is specifically discouraged in modern standards; it creates weak regrowth and future hazards that insurers and adjusters recognize. Ask for reduction and structural pruning to ANSI A300 instead. Tree Care Industry Association, LLC.


What about price shopping?

Compare apples to apples: credentials, insurance proof, safety, standards, and cleanup. The cheapest bid without coverage or standards can cost the most if something goes wrong.


Ready for the zero-stress option?


Free authoritative resources (great to link on the page)

 
 
 

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