The Cost of Tree Service

​One of the biggest concerns we hear from our customers is the price tag on the tree work they want done. Many people are surprised by how expensive it can be to cut down even just one little old tree, let alone something more complicated like raising a canopy or getting a downed trunk off a roof. 

​So why is tree service so expensive? 

Tree Work is Dangerous

​Most of our work is performed on compromised trees. What we do requires us to get up close and personal with failing and at-risk trees, which puts us at a heightened risk for injury.

​Our employees know what they’re getting into, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to take care of them. We’re a family-owned business, and consider our employees a part of that family. To ensure everyone who works for us is protected, we maintain Worker’s Comp insurance. Should the unthinkable happen, we want our employees to know that we will take care of them. 

​In addition to insurance, we also want our workers to be able to maintain a healthy work-life balance. We strive to provide fair compensation for the intense work this job requires, and offer paid time off and paid holidays. 

Training and Certification

​With such dangerous work, it’s important for everyone on the job to know what they’re doing. That means plenty of training and preparation for our employees. Scott Rushing, co-owner and Certified Arborist, maintains his certification through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) with continuing education courses throughout the year to ensure he’s up-to-date on all the latest tree care policies and procedures.

To learn more about what it means to be a Certified Arborist, check out our article on ISA Certification.

We’re Licensed and Insured

​In addition to Worker’s Comp, we also hold liability insurance to protect you, the customer. While accidents aren’t common, we want our customers to know that their property and livelihood is protected at all times when we’re on the job. 

​To get liability insurance (and also legally be allowed to do business) we have the proper business licenses for Oconee County, Athens-Clarke County, the State of Georgia, and the United States. 

Click here to learn more about why being a licensed and insured tree company is important.

Tree Work is Complex

​All the factors we’ve discussed so far are the basics of why tree work is so expensive. But in addition to those things, what impacts how we price out any individual job is how complicated that job is. 

​It might not seem like such a big deal if you just want one little tree cut down, but there are a lot of logistics we have to consider: 

• What equipment do we need to cut down the tree? 
• How do we get our equipment to the tree? 
• How many workers are needed to operate that equipment? 
• Where can we let the tree fall? 
• Are there structures (houses, cars, fences, sheds) we need to watch out for? 
• Can we leave the tree on the ground, or do we need to haul away the debris? 
• Once the tree is down, how do we get our equipment back to our truck? 
• How long will this job take from start to finish? 

​These factors only get more complicated as the job itself gets more complex. If you just want a few limbs pruned, we have to figure out how to get to those specific limbs without damaging the other ones. If you want a tree dropped that’s surrounded by other trees, we have to work around those trees. If the tree you want us to work on is in your back yard, we have to get our equipment back there without tearing up your property. If you want a lot of different things, we may have to pay our workers overtime to get everything done in a timely manner.

​All of these considerations go into how we price tree work. At Classic City Arborists, we strive to be as transparent and open with our customers as possible. If you have any questions about the prices associated with work we’ve quoted for you, please don’t hesitate to ask us! Scott will be more than happy to discuss with you why things are priced the way they are, and what factors he’s focusing on for any given line item. 

If you’re interested in working with us, fill out our contact form for a free estimate! 

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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.