We inspect trees for health and risk, and for other reasons detailed below. We do not do tree work. If we suggest pruning or other services during our evaluation of your tree(s), we will recommend a tree service that meets all of our high standards for expertise, quality, and safety.
Here's Peter drilling our southern red oak tree. Fortunately, the tree is solid!
Our area of expertise is residential properties. Our customers include:
- Homeowners
- Condominium and Home Owners Associations
- Apartment complex managers
- Churches and non-profit organizations
- Real estate agents and/or home buyers or sellers
- Other arborists (for a second opinion or Resistograph® testing)
We consult with homeowners regarding some construction projects. We do not work for builders or developers on residential or commercial lots, and we do not write tree save "prescriptions."
When we schedule your appointment for a tree inspection, we will look for a time when you can be there (even occasionally on a weekend). We like to explain what we are seeing, answer your questions, and possibly teach you a little something about your trees and their care.
OUR TEAM
All TreeInspection.com arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the unifying organization and certifying body for tree professionals around the world. Our staff also hold the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) certification. The arborist who performs our tree appraisals has earned an additional certification in tree and plant appraisal.
OUR CHARGES
Please read this section carefully to avoid any confusion regarding our fees.
Visual Tree Assessment (VTA)
Our services are billed at $150 per hour, which is also our minimum charge for a site visit. This is a time charge, not a "per tree" charge. If your visit takes more than hour, we will prorate the additional time we are onsite. The amount of time it takes to complete a visual tree inspection depends on how many trees we are inspecting and the trees themselves — how big they are, what kind of condition they are in, and what is required to perform a thorough evaluation. At single-family homes, we can usually complete a standard VTA in an hour. We charge for reports when they are requested or required (see below).
Sometimes we get a call from a homeowner who is concerned about only one or two trees. This inspection may take less than an hour, so make use of us while we're there! -- don't hesitate to have us look at other trees on your property! Remember, you are paying by the hour, not "by the tree."
Resistograph Testing
Our arborists are trained to recognize problems that could compromise a tree's stability, such as a heavy lean, the presence of mushrooms, or other signs of rot or decay. If they see something of concern, they will probably recommend Resistograph® testing to determine the extent of the problem. This testing does not harm a tree. The cost for testing depends on how many drills are needed to make an accurate assessment. We charge $25 per drilling, and we may drill from one to even seven times depending upon the size and condition of the tree. We never drill just for the sake of making money.
Homeowner (or Buyer) Construction Consultation
Are you planning to replace your driveway or water lines? We can advise you about the best way to get the work done and preserve your trees in the process. Howewver, we do not write tree protection "prescriptions" where they are required for a construction permit.
Reports
TreeInspection.com can provide different types of reports depending on what's needed, by whom, and for what purpose. We charge our usual rate of $150 per hour for a report; our typical report charge is $50-$100. Many of our customers don't want or need a report; others like to have one for their records. To help you avoid the cost of a report, we often advise our customers to write down our arborist's recommendations after he/she has finished the inspection.
Tree Risk/Health Report — This is our standard report when we do a tree inspection. It includes a summary of the tree's risk level, current condition, and our observations, comments, and recommendations for each tree we inspect. If we have performed a Resistograph test on a tree, the results will be noted.
Resistograph Report — Some municipalities, including the cities of Atlanta, Decatur, Sandy Springs, and Marietta, require an inspection report by a Certified Arborist to justify the need for removing a tree. If our arborist has to recommend removal based on the results of Resistograph testing, the report must include visual graphs from the Resistograph machine. This report will be a little more expensive than our standard reports because diownloading and preparing these graphs is time-consuming.
Insurance "Letter" — Occasionally we get a call from a homeowner asking for help responding to their insurance company's concerns about tree(s) threatening the house or roof. This report is usually easy to produce. It will detail any potential problem(s) and our recommendations for the remedy, or it will state that no problems exist.
Appraisal — This is a summary report of the monetary value of all, some, or just one of the trees on a property.
Inventory — This is a list of all the trees on a property by species, size, and GPS location coordinates. These reports are much more lengthy and detailed than our standard reports.
Travel Time
Our service area is generally central and northern Atlanta, most of DeKalb County, and other areas inside or close to the perimeter. If you are calling for an inspection outside of our service area or that requires lengthy travel from our home base close to Decatur, we will discuss our travel fee with you when you make your appointment. For some areas we may be able to refer callers to a Certified Arborist who is closer to your home.
Expert Witness
Occasionally we are asked to act as an expert witness in a legal action. Our charge for these or any other services performed in a legal action is $150 per hour plus travel time and expenses.
PAYMENT
Unless a report is needed, we prefer payment by check (made out to TreeInspection.com) or cash at the time of service. We will include an invoice when we email the report. We accept credit card payment (via a Paypal button on our website homepage), but a small charge is added to cover credit card fees. Prompt payment is always appreciated!
DISCLAIMER: TreeInspection.com, LLC and the person(s) performing our evaluations cannot and do not guarantee the safety of inspected tree(s). All trees are subject to environmental conditions that can suddenly change a tree’s safety without notice.