You know you've called the wrong tree service when...

Of course, I would prefer there were no bad tree services and customers had complete confidence in our industry. On the other hand, bad tree services make me money. Its true. We've been hired to clean up fallen trees left by companies who never returned to finish the job because the wood was bigger than they could handle and the customer paid them in advance of completion. It's not uncommon for non-arborist, unlicensed "tree guys" to butcher a tree on a commercial property and get the owner in trouble with the local municipality. I mean, seriously, there's work to be had due to incompetence and deceit. Unfortunately, there's also a lot of danger and civil liability to customers who hire the wrong tree company. So, you know you've called the wrong tree service when...

1. They have no California State Contractor License number and cannot be located on the state's web site.

2. Their large commercial trucks have no commercial registration number on the doors.

3. They cannot present proof of workers compensation insurance (somebody's insurance is going to pay).

4. No written estimate with letterhead is available.

5. Routine written estimates are not completely free of charge if you decline the work.

6. No International Society of Arboriculture certified arborists are employed with the company.

7. They are willing to "top" trees without extraordinary circumstances, "carrot top" palms, or remove major roots or branches without specific arborist supervision.

8. Workers don't have safety equipment.

9. They can't take checks or credit cards.

10. The climber who is to perform the work cannot explain to you the reasoning behind his methods.

11. They don't routinely answer or return phone calls.

12. They require some payment prior to the completion of all work.

13. Nobody has ever heard of them in a city known for its trees.

Bud's has been a Sacramento neighbor since 1968 and we've never refused to answer a question or give free advice. There's no reason to be uninformed and put yourself at risk. Trees are a joy but they can, in some limited circumstances be a genuine hazard. I'd like to have your business but there's nearly a dozen good tree companies in the tri-county area. Please investigate before you engage a company. Bad tree work is not like bad lawn care; once its done, its done.