Tree removal quote

14 years ago

I have a tall poplar in my backyard that has died. It is discolored and fungus is around the area where beavers originally chewed a part of it off, which may be what killed it or it was already dead, so the beavers went to work on it.

I prevented more beavers by 'painting' the area with chili oil; this was about a year ago I'm guessing. At that time I didn't notice it was dead, but frankly I didn't really pay attention.

It is perhaps 80' tall and I can get my arms around it, just enough (I am 5'8" and proportionately built). It is situated such that if it fell towards the house it could cause damage. However, we are on a lake lot and it looks like it should go in that direction... and if the beavers worked on it that would be likely, yes?

Anyway, we may be selling the house. Of course I would disclose it, but I got a service out to give me a quote and it was $600, including haulaway. They would have to haul it uphill for the depth of the entire lot, about 150'.

Does this sound appropriate for the Atlanta area? He is a reputed service with good reviews, says he is fully insured, etc. I know insurance can make a difference to the costing (and I would check it before hiring him), but just asking if this rate sounds right, etc. He says he would not climb the dead tree due to the risk and would suspend it from a neighboring tree, cutting it down bit by bit from the bottom up.

He also seems to think it would fall toward the lake but couldn't say for sure (unless he was just keeping that from me so as to get the business).

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Comments (12)

Embothrium
14 years ago
Your best bet is to get other proposals from other tree services, until a pattern of similar totals appears. That will be the fair price for your market.
iforgotitsonevermind
14 years ago
I'm in the same area and just got a quote of $1100 for dead tree half that size.

Who's your guy!?!
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thisismelissa
14 years ago
I am not in Atlanta, but I can tell you that here, in MN, that's a great quote.

Will you be having them ground the stump for you too?
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
14 years ago
He is a reputed service with good reviews, says he is fully insured, etc

$600 sounds like Billy Ray with a pickup, dragging the rounds across your lawn and landscaping to the old truck. You'll want to shop around. And get the stump ground. Pay the money.

Dan
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
14 years ago
The money sounds right for a tree with limited risk of damaging property and a small company cutting it down assuming that small company is looking hard for work. If his quote ends up being the best and u feel uneasy call his insurance company then assuming they really insure him send the fella to work.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
14 years ago
There isn't any way for us to estimate the cost of taking down your tree without actually visiting your site. Cost depends upon ease of access, need (or no need) for extra ground crew, bucket truck, and many other factors.

I'd call around for more estimates, absolutely.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
14 years ago
Another thing to consider -- besides the price -- is how much damage are they going to do to your lawn when they down that tree and move all the huge logs to the road? Are they bringing in a bobcat? You will probably need to invest in new sod, or seed and new soil to fill all the ruts.

We spent $$$ to have a large tree removed, but this time had them use a crane to avoid damaging the lawn. It was money well spent in our case.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
do get at least 3 more quotes...

and do insist on insurance ... and insist they provide you a copy of the policy at the quote.. and make sure it is current .. call the insurance company to verify coverage PRIOR to accepting the bid ... some of these jokers have old expired policies to fool you into thinking it is current ....

consider the cost as part of selling the house ... if the drain field was not working.. you would fix it first ... as you should remove a dead tree ...

if it were me.. i would make an offer contingent on removal of said risk ... ergo .. if you do not remove it .. you may NOT get an offer on the house .. and in this market .. that might be counter-productive ....

good luck

ken

ps: beaver eh ...
dsieber
14 years ago
Nice to know that they have Beavers down in Atlanta. I always thought they were in Minnasota/Wisconsin/ Upstate NY.
whaas_5a
14 years ago
As others suggested get at least 2, put preferrably 3.

I had a 50' dead elm. Located 250' away from the street.

All listed, certfied arborists
1st Guy = $700
2nd Guy = $900
3rd Guy = $350

You can guess who I went with and he did a great job, even cut the stump within 2" of the ground.

I now have a 30' native multi-stem Hawthorn (also 250' from the street) with nasty long thorns that I want removed.

The premimer group in SE WI (didn't use them for any of the above quotes) was $260.

All prices included haul away and clean up.

Should be noted that each of these tree didn't have any structures or other trees in the way.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
14 years ago
I always recommend do the middle quote unless you are convinced the lowest is competent. Usu way too low means they forgot something or are incompetent. Not always, but good rule of thumb.

Dan
iforgotitsonevermind
14 years ago
If you quit painting it with chili oil, maybe you can get the beavers to finish it off for free.

Tree removal quote

Comments (12)

Embothrium

iforgotitsonevermind

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