Before booking Davey Tree Service, make sure the estimate explains exactly what will happen to each tree, who will do the work, how the crew will protect your property, and what cleanup is included. A low quote can leave important tasks—such as stump work or hauling away logs—outside the agreed price. Ask for a written scope and clarify how extra work is approved before anyone starts. Because the contracting entity, available services, and local requirements can vary by location, confirm the details for the specific Davey Tree Service office or crew handling your job.
Start with the result you want, then ask the estimator to connect each proposed task to that goal. “Trim the tree” is too vague to compare or verify. The written estimate should identify the tree or trees, describe the work, and make clear whether the aim is to remove dead or damaged branches, improve clearance, reduce selected limbs, or remove a tree entirely.
Ask the person assessing the job to explain why the proposed work is appropriate. If you want to keep a tree, say so before the scope is written. Ask which branches or parts of the canopy would be affected and whether there is a less extensive option. If removal is proposed, ask what condition or site concern makes removal preferable to pruning or monitoring. A clear explanation helps you judge whether the recommendation addresses your concern rather than simply authorising a broad service.
Ask Davey Tree Service to record important boundaries in the quote. For example, specify which trees are included and whether work on shrubs, vines, or nearby plants is excluded. If the proposal uses terms such as “crown reduction,” “thinning,” or “clearance,” ask what those terms mean for your tree and the finished result. Don’t rely on a verbal description if a misunderstanding could change the appearance or function of the tree.
Request a written estimate and check that it describes the same work you discussed on site. If you are comparing Davey Tree Service with another contractor, give each provider the same list of trees and requested tasks. Otherwise, one quote may include hauling and stump grinding while another covers only cutting, making the totals misleading.
| Estimate detail | Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Trees and tasks | Which trees are included, and what work will be done to each? | Prevents confusion about the job’s scope. |
| Debris and wood | Will branches, logs, and chips be removed, left on site, or handled another way? | Disposal and wood handling can change the amount of work involved. |
| Stump work | Is stump removal or grinding included, excluded, or available as a separate task? | Tree removal does not necessarily mean the stump is included. |
| Site protection | What surfaces, plants, or structures will the crew protect, and how? | Clarifies how access and potential property impacts will be managed. |
| Additional costs | What could change the price, and will I approve extra work first? | Sets expectations if conditions differ from the estimate. |
| Payment and timing | When is payment due, and what schedule or weather conditions apply? | Helps you plan without assuming a particular start date. |
Ask whether the price is fixed for the stated scope or could change based on time, access, disposal, or conditions discovered during the job. Have the provider explain any exclusions, taxes, fees, or optional services that apply to your quote. If an unforeseen issue requires a change, agree that the crew will pause and explain the change and its cost before proceeding, except where an immediate response is necessary to address a safety risk.
Compare like with like. A more expensive estimate may include additional cleanup or protection, while a cheaper one may leave those tasks to you. The lowest price is useful only if the scope, responsibilities, and expected finish are acceptable.
Find out who will supervise the job and whether the people arriving are the provider’s crew or another contractor. Ask who you should contact if the work differs from the estimate or you have a concern while the crew is on site. The name “Davey Tree Service” on a conversation or estimate is not a substitute for knowing which business entity is responsible for the agreement; make sure the quote identifies the contracting party and provides a clear contact.
Tree work can involve falling limbs, equipment, and restricted access around the work area. Ask how the crew plans to control access, protect people who live nearby, and manage risks to buildings, fences, paving, vehicles, and garden beds. If the tree is near overhead electrical lines, tell the estimator before work is scheduled. Ask who is responsible for determining whether utility coordination is needed; don’t approach or attempt to handle lines yourself.
Before booking Davey Tree Service, ask what insurance coverage applies to the work and request current documentation where appropriate. Confirm that the coverage relates to the contractor named in your agreement, not simply a different business with a similar name. Insurance terms and local requirements vary, so ask the provider or your insurer if you are unsure what documentation is relevant.
You can also ask what qualifications or licences are relevant to the proposed work in your area and who on the crew holds them. If the estimate includes an assessment or recommendation from an arborist, ask who made it and what credentials they hold. A credential can help you understand a person’s training, but it doesn’t replace a clear explanation of the work or a written scope.
Discuss access before accepting the quote. Tell the estimator about locked gates, narrow paths, steep or soft ground, irrigation lines, garden structures, and areas where vehicles or equipment must not go. Ask whether the crew expects to work from your property, a neighbouring property, or a public access area, and what permissions you need to arrange. Don’t assume that a contractor’s access plan includes permission from neighbours or other property owners.
Ask how the crew plans to protect lawns, beds, paving, and nearby structures, especially if heavy equipment or large sections of wood will need to be moved. No plan can eliminate every risk, so ask what damage could reasonably occur and how you should report it. Take your own photos of the work area before the start if you want a simple record of its condition.
Confirm the expected work window and what might delay it, such as unsuitable weather, site access, or a change in conditions. Avoid treating an approximate schedule as a guaranteed arrival time unless the estimate says so. Ask when you will be notified about a postponement and whether you need to be present to provide access or approve decisions.
“Cleanup included” can mean different things. Ask Davey Tree Service what the crew will remove, what may remain, and how the work area will be left. Confirm whether the estimate includes branches, small debris, logs, wood chips, and any material created by stump work. If you want to keep firewood or use chips in the garden, specify where the crew should place them and ask whether that changes the scope.
Clarify whether the crew will rake or otherwise tidy the affected area, and whether cleanup includes only the immediate work zone or nearby paths and lawn as well. Ask what happens to damage or debris beyond the agreed area. If stump grinding is offered separately, confirm how deep the work goes, what happens to the resulting material, and whether filling or replanting is included. Don’t assume that removing a tree means removing its stump or restoring the ground.
Take more time before booking if the estimate is vague, the proposed work changes from what was discussed, or you feel pressured to approve additional tasks immediately. Ask for a revised written scope or a second assessment if you cannot understand why extensive work is being recommended. A second opinion is particularly useful when the decision is whether to remove a tree you hope to retain, provided the situation does not require urgent attention.
It can help when the job is substantial, the proposed work is unclear, or you want to compare different approaches. Give each provider the same information and compare the written scope, cleanup, protections, and exclusions as well as the price.
Not necessarily. Ask Davey Tree Service to state specifically whether stump grinding or removal is included, offered separately, or excluded. Confirm how the resulting material and any surface restoration will be handled.
Ask the supervisor to explain the issue, the proposed change, and any added cost before the work continues. Request written approval for the revised scope. If the issue presents an immediate safety concern, ask what action is needed to make the area safe and clarify any further work separately.
That depends on access, the agreement, and whether the crew needs decisions or entry to your property. Ask in advance whether you need to be present, how the crew will access the site, and who will contact you if a question arises.
Refer to the cleanup terms in the accepted estimate and contact the named job representative promptly. Describe what remains or what differs from the agreement, and provide photos if they help explain the concern.
Before confirming Davey Tree Service, make sure the written estimate matches the work you actually want and spells out safety arrangements, property access, cleanup, and possible extra costs. If those points are clear—and the provider answers your questions without pressure—you’ll be in a better position to decide whether the job fits your trees, property, and budget.
