Tree Surveys

Arranging for a tree survey is something that you want to take very seriously.  Arboriculture is a profession that requires a high degree of technical competence which can only be gotten from training and experience.  Hiring a volunteer that completes tree surveys or someone considered tree surveys a hobby can lead to problems in the future.   This can include incomplete or wrong information on the tree survey, as well as general misinformation in regards to the care of your trees that can cause them to die.  A tree survey if done improperly can cause damage to other trees, people, and buildings.

To arrange a proper tree survey you should first start by getting at least two written quotes from professional tree surveyors.  If you run across a tree surveyor that does not do written quotes then you need to disregard this tree surveyor immediately.  Any reputable arborist will be more than happy to do this for you.  During this time you need to ask a few questions of the arborist in general.  They may or may not include it on their quote, so it is extremely important that you get the information that you need to find a qualified arborist.

These questions should start with their qualifications.  Find out exactly what qualifications not only the tree surveyor has but the company itself.  They should hold NPTC certificates in arboriculture as well as certificates for other skills and machinery if necessary.  You should look for university diplomas and studies related to tree surveys.  Since the knowledge is so vast, you need someone who has a wide array of information that they can put to good use in your tree survey.  At this point, you should find out if they work to a British Standard, which is essential when arranging for a tree survey.  Qualifications also should include being a member of a professional organisation that shows commitment to their trade.

If you find a tree survey company or individual that you feel confident in you should go one step further and ask for sample reports for the type of tree survey you need.  This will give you a good idea of how thorough they are and what they will provide to you.  You can even ask for a reference of an individual or development that received a tree survey from them as well.  If they give you a reference it would be in your best interest to contact them and ask them directly whether they thought the individual or company was professional and did the job well.

Liability insurance is also extremely important to question them about.  All tree survey companies should have proof of liability insurance that they can show you.  The recommended minimum is £5,000,000.  Proof should also be shown regarding any certificates or qualifications to make sure they really are who they say that they are.  Finally, before arranging any tree survey, you should check for availability with your schedule.  Although a good tree surveyor may be booked up a few weeks or even months in advance, they should be able to arrange to come out immediately to give you a written quote.  At this point they should be able to give you an exact date when they can complete the tree survey.  If you do all of this, you can be assured of a reliable, honest and thorough tree survey that will give you the information you need.