Free Estimates: What Does That Mean?

At Classic City Arborists, when we say 'free estimate,' we mean a completely free estimate. No time limit, no maximum number of trees we’ll look at, and no hidden costs.

To schedule an estimate, you can fill out the contact form on our website, shoot us an email, or give us a call. ​From there, you'll talk to Emily Casuccio (administrative assistant extraordinaire). She’ll get all the information we need, like the address of the property where you need work done, and then she’ll work with you to arrange a time for your estimate.

Appointment times are given in 2-hour windows, like between 2pm and 4pm, or from 10am to 12pm. This gives us some wiggle room in case an appointment before yours runs long, or there's a delay on a job site.  To make things easier for you, we offer to send out an email notification, text message, or even give you a call before we head your way, so you'll have 15 to 20 minutes' notice before we arrive.

​Inclement weather, job delays, and sometimes sick kids, can all impact our planned work load. We strive to keep our customers as up-to-date as possible, and we'll let you know as soon as we do if something happens to delay your appointment.

All our estimates are performed by Scott Rushing, our co-owner and ISA Certified Arborist (and the 'best daddy ever' according to his daughter!).

​​When Scott arrives, he'll look to you to show him what you're looking to have done. ​Some examples of work you might ask about includes things like “I need this tree removed so I can put a pool here,” or “this tree is too close to our house, and it drops nuts and twigs on our roof,” or “I think this tree is dead, and I don’t want it to fall on my fence.”  ​

​Scott will follow you from tree to tree on your property and listen to your thoughts, asking questions and taking notes as you go. He can give you rough estimates on how much what you're wanting will cost, and also offer his expert advice.

At Classic City Arborists, we pride ourselves on our honesty and integrity. ​Scott isn’t there to try and sell you extra work or scam you. We believe in explaining to our customers exactly how much a job will cost them, if that job is necessary, or if there’s other work that needs to be done for safety or to accomplish what the customer is looking for.

​​So, for example, say there's a tree you're concerned is dead, and you want it cut down, but Scott sees that it isn't dead at all. He'll give you an estimate for cutting it down, since that's what you asked for, but he'll also make sure you understand tree is fine, and doesn’t need to be removed unless you just want it to be.

If you show him a tree that you want thinned out so the grass beneath it will grow, Scott will give you an estimate for that, but he’ll also point out that the tree behind the one you asked about is the one stealing all the sunlight, and if you want the grass to grow, that’s the one you need removed or thinned.

​This is one of the reasons we believe it’s extremely important that Scott is ISA-certified; not only can he do the work you want done, but he can tell you if it’s necessary or if there’s other work that needs to be done for you, your home, and your family to be safe.

All throughout your appointment, Scott will be taking notes and creating your estimate as you go. By the time you’re done, he’ll have a rough cost for all the work you discussed.

​​After Scott leaves, he’ll compile all the information into an itemized list of everything you asked to be done, with its associated cost, and email it to you; this allows you to look through your finished estimate and pick and choose what you’d like done out of everything the two of you discussed. 

​Keeping in line with our policy of honesty and transparency, we always encourage customers to get more than one estimate on the work they want done. This helps you to get a real feel for the market cost of this kind of work, and allows you to meet other professionals in this field that might have different opinions, suggestions, and recommendations. We want you to get the work you need done, at the price you can afford – even if that’s not with us.

We do, however, recommend that no matter what company you choose to work with, you find someone that is licensed and insured, preferably with automobile insurance, general liability insurance, and worker’s compensation coverage. These things will add some cost to your work, but they protect you from liability in the event of an accident.

​Whatever your decision, we’re honored that you chose us for an estimate, and appreciate your business no matter its capacity. 

Schedule your  free estimate today!

Author

Emily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.