Why do I need an arborist, why hire an ISA Certified Arborist? It is unfortunate, but true that here in Central Ontario that the tree service industry is a overflowing with all kinds of characters whose knowledge of industry ranges from hilarious to genuine to fanatical. The top tier of this group being the Registered Consulting Arborist (for consulting services) or the ISA Certified Arborist for a working arborist. Please read our article on “What is an Arborist” for further information on the title and various credentials. There are many tree workers who do not belong to the ISA or have any credentials or certifications, in fact the vast majority fall into this category. Some of these even do a fairly reasonable job most of the time. (But may not be insured or covered by workers compensation – see our article on Insurance) However, your odds of getting high quality tree care go up significantly when a Certified Arborist is employed. The certification shows a level of dedication to the industry that may be lacking otherwise, guarantees a minimum of 3 years in the business, the passing of a 4.5 hour written exam and dedication to constant ongoing education. In order to test to become a Certified Arborist you need three verifiable years in the tree care industry and a Certified Arborist who is willing to sign off as your sponsor. However, it is important to note that there are some Certified Arborists who are better than others. This is not because ISA is lacking in their job, but typically because the individual in their past work (or present work) does not have the ability to cover all the areas of aboriculture. This is similar to one medical doctor being more knowledgeable than another in some areas. Having said that it is very likely that almost any ISA Certified Arborist is more knowledgeable and a safer risk than a tree worker without the credentials. To make sure you use the right company, contact only those who advertise as being ISA Certified, and that information should also include their Certification number. If it does not, and you are interested then ask them for their certification number. (If they make up some story – then move on – as if they really are certified they will provide proof by passing along the certification number). Then, once you have a list of potential companies, check for TCIA membership or Better Business Bureau membership. There are a lot of other associations which claim to represent contractors, but TCIA is the premiere tree care association and the Better Business Bureau is hard to beat! Try to ensure that an ISA Certified Arborist is on the job when work is being completed. This may seem obvious but it is much more common for the Certified Arborist to be nothing more than a glorified
salesman who will never be seen once he convinces you to sign on the dotted line. The ideal would be a Certified Arborist who actually was planning to climb your trees and prune them. That is an exceedingly rare find. Many people are turned away from arborists who are certified because they think they might be expensive when compared with "Hank's Chop a Tree and Lawn Service" or “The Butcher Brothers Tree Service”. You may be pleasantly surprised. Hank likely is lacking in the expensive equipment that makes tree work run smoothly. Loading branches into the back of a pickup can be a nightmare. Often this kind of amateur outfit will bid higher because they know what they are in for, or they have no idea what they are getting into. Be aware that Hank likely has inadequate insurance for tree care, as it is more costly than that of a landscaper and Hank does not do enough tree work to justify it. Doing tree work without a chipper and dump truck is extremely arduous. If you want to compare bids between the certified and the noncertified, go ahead. If Hank is bidding significantly lower because he doesn't know what he is doing, don't be surprised if a more legitimate arborist who has paid his dues won't match his price. Let's compare apples to apples at least. As for Hack and Slash, the two Butcher brothers, they are likely lower cost only because they lack training, insurance and workers compensation. Hack and Slash are likely only bidding lower because they have eliminated overhead by not paying taxes, not paying insurance, workers compensation, etc. See our article on the “Underground Economy”. One of the easiest ways to recognize the "Hank" or “Hack and Slash” business model is to look for an ad that says, "We top trees." This is akin to a doctor saying, "We remove the wrong limb." Avoid the tree toppers like the plague, because topping a tree is the worst thing you can do. It really is a situation where lower cost is not always better value! On the whole, an ISA Certified Arborist will be much more prepared to help the consumer and, as a general rule, more dedicated to quality and ethical behavior. An ISA Certified Arborist has paid his dues, and if you find the right one who actually has time to spend on your project, hang on to that arborist. He's not as common as you might think. Call us if you need more. Simcoe Muskoka Tree Services Inc. www.simcoemuskokatreeservices.ca