An Arborist can help with a variety of tasks such as tree cutting, trimming, and arborist reports, all of which can be expensive.
This article is designed to give some great tricks to saving a ton of money when hiring an arborist near you.
Table of Contents
How much do arborist near me charge?
On average, an arborist near you will charge between $225 and $4,500 depending on the task. The reason for the large range in price for tree services is the large variety of different jobs an arborist can do. Hiring an arborist for trimming a Crepe Myrtle is very different from removing a large Oak tree.
Below are a few more details on price ranges for arborist works.
| Task | Low | High | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree Trimming | $120 | $1,190 | $438 |
| Tree Removal | $225 | $4,500 | $871 |
| Stump removal | $70 | $1,200 | $187 |
| Arborist report | $300 | $550 | $450 |
| Tree inspection | $40 | $420 | FREE* |
FREE: If you intend to have a tree trimmed, arborist tree services in your zip code are happy to come out and give free advice with their quote, so an inspection and verbal assessment are free. For written reports, it will cost more.
What do arborist near me do?
An Arborist near you is responsible for maintaining trees in an urban environment. Tasks include:
Their skills and training are extensive and they can also perform tasks like tree identification, eradication of pests and diseases, and cable bracing, though the most common tasks are listed above.
Arborist near me vs. tree doctors
Tree Services in your zip code are the same as local tree doctors, we just use different names to describe them. The correct term is arborist, but they also go by tree doctor, tree surgeon, or tree care services.
Most of the time if you are looking for an arborist near you, the best search to perform is tree services, which will bring up all the local companies. By definition, all tree services are tree arborists.
How do you find a good arborist?
The fastest way to get 3 Estimates from the most affordable tree services near you is using this FREE service.
A GoTreeQuotes arborist can match you with the three local tree arborists all voted as being quality acts.
- Enter your Zip code.
- Fill out the form and answer a few questions.
- Your tree details are forwarded on to the closest three tree services who will bid on your job at a great price.
Types of tree care by arborists near me
There are two types of tree arborists who both perform very different and specific tasks.
Level 3 Arborist
This is your regular tree arborist service. A level 3 arborist near you specializes in the removal and trimming of trees in confined spaces. These are very well-trained and knowledgeable professionals and are great for the physical side of the job.
Level 5 arborist
A level 5 arborist has continued studies in Arboriculture to reach the Diploma level. A level 5 arborist near you is also known as a consulting arborist tree service and specializes in arborist reports, risk assessments, and tree inspections.
Although level 3 tree arborists near you can do a very thorough risk and hazard assessment on your tree for the purpose of trimming or removal, it’s the level 5 arborist near you who has the authority to write reports and recommend to the city that a need is to be removed or if it should stay.
How to Save Money on Local Arborist Tree Care
Depending on what you need an arborist near you, there are a couple of things you can do to save yourself some money. Hiring tree services in winter is going to automatically save you 20% + straight off the bat.
The reason is tree arborists near you are fairly quiet in the winter months.
It’s basic supply and demand. With very little tree work in winter but an abundance of tree arborists near you, they will need to become more competitive and give cheaper prices to cut down a tree and tree trimming.
There are a lot more little tricks to save you money, so please read on.
Step 1: How to skip the expensive arborists
What you need to aim to do is avoid all the arborists in your area who are spending loads of money on marketing.
The reason is they tend to charge higher prices.
Why? Well because they spend between $2500 and $8000 per month on marketing their business. It works really well for them as they get lots of phone calls, but they need to charge higher prices to recoup that money.
You are essentially paying their marketing bill.
How to avoid them?
Go directly to pages 2 and 3 of Google search. Same for Yellow Pages and yelp. All the companies featured at the top have paid to be there, so going further down the list will net you a great company for a lot less.
Step 2: Grant good access to the tree
Time is money for tree services, so trees in backyards with no rear-driveway access will cost 50% – 100% more.
The closer the tree specialists can get their equipment, the cheaper the price will be.
If the tree service has to lug everything from your backyard to the front, it is going to take longer and cost you more to remove a tree.
Consider talking with your neighbor and removing a panel of fencing to grant better access. Anything you can do to speed up the removal process and the tree service will most likely charge you less.
Step 3: Short cut - Use this FREE service
GoTreeQuotes help to match you with the best-priced tree services.
The reason arborists near you like to hear from customers through us is, they don’t like to spend a lot on advertising. Plus they don’t have a lot of work on at the moment.
This is a win-win for you. Firstly they are going to be cheaper because they aren’t busy and need to win some work to keep their business ticking over, and secondly, they don’t have a lot of overheads with marketing.
They are likely to charge you 50% less than other local tree doctors.
Just go to the top of this page, enter your Zip code, and answer a few questions about your tree job.
Certified tree arborists near you then reach out to arrange a time to quote your job.
Hiring a tree expert near me
Once you have a shortlist, you’ll need to dig a little deeper.
Even though they are all qualified and insured, there are still going to be some who are better than others.
Here are a few things to look out for when trying to snag a local gem.
1. Tree Experts Past Experience
Arborist tree care requires highly trained and skilled professionals, so you don’t want to hire a “greenhorn”. A bit of experience goes a long way, so getting an arborist near you with a minimum of 3 years of experience is going to net you a better result.
Tree work being as dangerous as it is, it’s always a good idea to choose someone with experience.
2. Itemized quotation from the local tree specialist
If you ask for an estimate and they just hand you a price written on the back of a card or just tell you, they probably aren’t that professional. If you are getting tree trimming work done, you can run into trouble if the number of branches being removed is not itemized on the quotation.
In some cases, 3 or 4 weeks might pass between them giving you the quote and you book them in. It is easy to forget what their quote includes.
So you don’t get any nasty surprises, make sure the quote is detailed.
What is a ISA certified arborist in your aera?
ISA stands for the International Society of Arboriculture. This is probably the most well-known training institute, but probably also the most expensive. ISA arborist certification does not make the better arborist near you better than another arborist with the same certification.
List of arborist tree care associations by state
FAQ's
What does an ISA certified arborist?
ISA stands for The International Society of Arboriculture and is one of the largest training facilities for arboriculture in the world. They have a great reputation in the industry. This however does not mean the training is any better than any other institution, just they are one of the older and well-known societies.
Do you tip an arborist?
Most often, a professional arborist does not expect tips. Their job may be labor-intensive, but most of them enjoy doing their work. An arborist is usually paid hourly or by the job. Thus, prices will depend on the type of job you need him to execute. So, it will be upon the homeowner to find if it is necessary to tip an arborist after the service.
