Tree Service Blog, Winston-Salem NC

How to Avoid Tree Service Scams

10/3/2018

In the capital of North Carolina, Raleigh, the temperature is projected to fall, and snow and ice is right around the corner. Attorney General Roy Cooper warned that this is the time in which homeowners will seek help with tree, but can easily be taken advantage.

Tree service scammers try to rip property owners off. Shady companies will go knocking on doors offering help, but most of these should not be trusted. If trees has fallen or is damaged and help is needed, hiring a licensed, insured, and professional tree company should be called.

If you come across such scammers, report them to the local law enforcement and to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division to save others from this potential risk.People residing in North Carolina can report directly to Cooper’s office by calling toll-free 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or by filing a consumer complaint.

How to Protect Yourself from Being Scammed by Tree Companies:

Avoid paying any deposit or advance fees before the work has been done and inspected by you. Only pay after you have checked the work and feel it is high quality.
Avoid selecting companies that are from another state or town. Select a local tree service company in Winston-Salem with good reputation. If a problem should arise, you will have ample resources given they are a locally owned and operated business.
Before asking any company to work for you, research it online and through personal references. Scrutinize out their credentials and qualifications. Contact the Consumer Protection Division or the Better Business Bureau and ask if they have any registered complaints against them. Assess online reviews or ask for references.
Verify every company you consider has insurance, and do not believe them without written proof of their policy. Ideally this information should be provided directly by the carrier as there have been fraudulent policies produced and passed off the unsuspecting customers. Further, verify the company has workers compensation coverage for their employees.
Do not accept any price that seems unusually high, or even extraordinarily low, to you. Check the market price by obtaining estimates from multiple companies.
Do not be rushed and unless it is a tree emergency. If pressed to accept the work, or even pay-up front, this is a sign there may be scam at hand.
Another reason never to pay upfront, even just a deposit, is because it is not uncommon for unreputable companies to fall a tree but leave it for the property owner to clean-up – something impossible for many homeowners.

You can contact North Carolina’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM, file a consumer complaint or report possible price gouging online at www.ncdoj.gov if you have any problems. Learn more here.

How to Remove a Small Dead Tree (without a chainsaw)

9/19/2018

Trees are vital to life. They produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, provide food shade and shelter to all life forms. Warren Buffett said “someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago”. They are a gift of nature. However, there are unfortunate situations where we need to remove the trees for the larger good.

For the most part, a dead or decaying tree can be revived through expert tree trimming or pruning the badly affected parts. However, if trimming does not work, then removal can be resorted to as the last option. Different strategies can be opted for the removal of dead trees. You can do it on “DO IT YOURSELF” basis if the tree is small and removal is manageable.

For larger trees or risky tree locations (close to houses or structures), the best way is to contact an expert at dead tree removal service (like us). We are the best service providers in the area. You can either call us at 334-310-4556 or you can fill the contact form in order to contact us.

How to remove dead trees on DIY basis?
You will need following tools essentially:

Spade
Containers and potting soil (optional)
String Trimmer
Work gloves
Axe
Steel-toed boots
Safety goggles

After having assembled your tool kit for tree removal, follow undermentioned steps:

Remove the extra dead branches. This will help you to manage the weight of the tree and make the removal easier.
Clear out grass or any weeds from the area surrounding the tree.
Remove the roots (if they are very long and far reaching).
Water the area surrounding the tree.
Dig circular stretch of soil around the tree.
Continue digging until you remove the top soil.
Once you have removed the top soil, start removing the roots Note: If you plan to plant another tree in the same spot, you can let the roots stay there. They will help in growth of the newly planted tree.
Now pull out the root ball around the tree trunk base with the help of a shovel. Ask a family member or friend to help you in pulling out the tree.

Word of Caution
While removing a dead tree, it is very important to follow safety precautions. Wear gloves, steel-toed boots and safety goggles to avoid injury from swinging tools or flying wood chips.

Winston-Salem Tree Service offers professional yet affordable tree removals. Call us today for a free, often same day, estimate.

Winston-Salem Tree Service Blog

How to Avoid Tree Service Scams

How to Remove a Small Dead Tree (without a chainsaw)

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