1)
Why should I hire Four Seasons Tree Care to do the job? What makes
you different from other companies?
2) How do I know that your company is
all that you say it is?
3) Why should I hire a Certified Arborist?
4) Will your bid be lower than everyone
else’s bid?
5) Do my trees really need to be pruned?
6) If I decide to have you do my job,
when can you do the work?
1) Why should I hire Four Seasons Tree Care to do
the job? What makes you different from other companies?
Having been in business for over 23 years, Four Seasons Tree Care
brings you a legacy of expert tree care. We are passionate about
what we do and this gives us an edge over companies whose only focus
is in making an income. The fact that we are committed to proper
tree care and to earning your trust and confidence is reflected
in everything we do from initial contact to successful completion
of the job. We will do all we can to accommodate your schedule.
We’ll be on time when we come out to provide you with an estimate
and when we come out to do the job. If the work to be performed
involves trimming or removing a tree near your house or over delicate
plants, we’ll use ropes for lowering limbs and branches so
that the work we perform has little or no impact on your landscape.
When necessary, we take the time to place sheets of plywood to protect
siding, windows, lawns, fences, plants and other sensitive areas
of your property that could be impacted during the job. Our success
is built on a tradition of providing clients with the highest level
of workmanship combined with unmatched customer service.
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2) How do I know that
your company is all that you say it is?
We look forward to the opportunity to earn your trust. But, until
we do, we don’t ask you to take our word for anything. In
fact, no company should. We invite you to request references for
work performed. In addition, this site provides you with a link
to the Washington
State Department of Labor and Industries web site. Here you
will find the government’s current information on who is licensed
to act as a contractor in the state of Washington. A licensed contractor
is required to carry current insurance and bonding to conduct business
in the state. At this site you’ll find information on who
owns a business, whether the business has suits or complaints pending
against it, and other information helpful in making a decision about
who to hire. We want you to make informed decisions. We’re
confident that the more you find out about us, the more likely you
will be to give us the opportunity to serve your tree care needs.
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3) Why should I hire
a Certified Arborist?
A Certified
Arborist has passed the requirements established by the International
Society of Arboriculture to obtain certification. This certification
assures that you are choosing someone with an extensive knowledge
of trees and tree care issues. People who take the time and make
the effort to certify are people with a passion for trees. They
are people who have committed themselves to a career in arboriculture
or a related field. In short, they are the kind of people you want
caring for your valuable trees.
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4) Will your bid be
lower than everyone else’s bid?
Not always. I often tell people that if they want the cheapest work,
then they should choose the cheapest bid. Meaning--you get what
you pay for. This is perhaps more true with tree care than in many
other professions. There can be an enormous difference between what
one tree care company sells as proper tree pruning and what another
tree company views as butchery. Unfortunately for the customer the
difference is not always obvious until after the work is completed
and the damage is done. That is why communication is so important.
Ask some questions of your potential contractor such as:
- What percentage of the tree will be removed
during thinning?
- If the tree has to be reduced in size, will
it be pruned to lateral growth (drop-crotched) and will the reduction
be kept to approximately one third the size of the original tree?
- How many branches will be removed if the
canopy needs to be raised to clear a house or wires?
- Are you willing to speak with my neighbor
since the tree I would like trimmed is on common ground?
- When trimming my trees will the arborist
avoid using climbing spikes whenever possible to prevent damage
to the cambium layer?
- After the tree is pruned, how will it respond
and when will it need to be pruned again?
These are only a few of the many questions a potential
contractor should be prepared to answer. Don’t be afraid to
ask! It takes time, knowledge, experience, and commitment to perform
proper tree care. We have made the commitment to not “undersell”
our competition and perform sub-standard work just to get your business.
If we lose some business in the short-term, it is more than made
up for by the trust and confidence we build with our clients over
the long-term.
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5)
Do my trees really need to be pruned?
Things to look for to determine whether or not your trees are in
need of pruning include:
- The presence of diseased and decaying wood
- Overlapping and conflicting branches
- Co-dominant (multiple) stems that could split
under adverse conditions
Also, trees that have an unusually heavy canopy
can be selectively thinned to reduce limb weight and canopy “sail”
area—making them less likely to break during strong wind conditions.
Proper thinning also serves an aesthetic function by revealing more
of the trunk and branch structure. If your trees don’t need
pruning we will tell you that when we visit your home. Whether or
not we recommend pruning, the visit is free.
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6) If I decide to have you do my job, when can you
do the work?
We usually schedule our work one to three weeks ahead. But seldom
will you have to wait more than two weeks. In the event that you
need the work done before we have an available day—either
because of an emergency or because you would like to schedule to
be there when we do the job--we’ll do whatever we can to accommodate
you. Often we can re-schedule another job to get your work done
sooner.
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