Hiring a Contractor

When you are hiring a contractor to work on your property, it is a good idea to get bids from several reputable professionals. Ask for proof of insurance and a written estimate. The estimate should include details on the work you want done, a timeframe for the work to start and end, a price total that includes taxes and discounts, and a procedure and charge if additional work is required. Ask the business you are interested in for references, and check them.

Licensed Contractors

All contractors providing tree services in Maplewood must be city licensed. Download a Tree Contractor Application (PDF) See the list of current licensed Tree Contractors (PDF). Licenses are valid for the calendar year, from January through December of a given year.

Being licensed to work in Maplewood does not ensure that your contractor has the level of expertise you are seeking. We encourage you to ask your contractor if someone on their staff is certified by the International Society of Arborists (ISA). People with this certification will have met this professional society's education or training requirements and passed an arborist exam.

Questions to Ask

Before hiring a tree service company for a job, ask the following questions:

When would the job begin and end?
Do you do the brush clean-up?
Is stump grinding included in the cost of removal?
Who calls GOPHER ONE 651-454-0002 to have underground utilities marked?
Will you give me some references from recent customers?
Does your company have an ISA-certified arborist on staff?
Do you have commercial liability insurance for tree trimming? This covers personal and property damage. If you ask, a professional company will give you the name of their insurer and policy number for you to check.

Hiring a Contractor