Thoughts on this estimate to cut down some trees

[unfun75]

I got an estimate to cut down two fairly large pine trees in my front yard (stump grinding, removal, haul away), cut down one small Sweet Gum tree (leave stump), and trim approx. 12 other pine trees. Total of estimate was $2,000. Sounds pretty good to me, what do you guys think?

[bubs_42]

I had an estimate for 2 tree's at $1600. so um yours looks pretty good. Mine were not even close to the house.

[cmatthes]

It all depends where you live.

When I first moved into my house 15 years ago, I got several estimates to take out 2 HUGE, ancient oaks (both over 50 ft tall) and a 25 ft tall pine in the back. Even back then, the quotes were in the $3k - $4k range from all the local (read, Montgomery Co. MD) tree companies. Our neighbor put us in touch with two guys from West Virginia that drove all the way up here, cut the trees down, and split the oak into 10 years worth of firewood, all for $1,700. They said that would have maybe been an $800 job where they lived.

Oh - unlike the experiences some of my friends and neighbors have had using local companies, these guys also cleaned everything up afterwards.

[hamerhead]

ALWAYS get more than one estimate. And check references.

[Turdus]

regardless of price, make sure they have insurance. There were some guys up in Md that cut a tree down for a woman, and it landed on her house. The guys took off.

[django49]

And make sure the insurance includes workers comp. If they get hurt, they could sue you......Liability may vary due to state and local laws.

[Steve Haynie]

A friend hired some regular tree service employees to do a job on the side. They left half cut trees standing and two foot section of large tree trunks everywhere. The guys never came back.

See if you can sell the trees to a lumber yard or even have them cut into lumber for your own project.

[kenjones]

That sounds like a good price, but it is ALWAYS a good idea to get more than one estimate. I have had lots of tree trimming done over the last 15 years and the prices vary a lot. Insurance is a must for this kind of work. Ask if they will give you a discount if you pay in cash instead of paying with a credit card or check. I can almost always get at least 10% off if I do this.

[Lockbody]

It all depends where you live.

When I first moved into my house 15 years ago, I got several estimates to take out 2 HUGE, ancient oaks (both over 50 ft tall) and a 25 ft tall pine in the back. Even back then, the quotes were in the $3k - $4k range from all the local (read, Montgomery Co. MD) tree companies. Our neighbor put us in touch with two guys from West Virginia that drove all the way up here, cut the trees down, and split the oak into 10 years worth of firewood, all for $1,700. They said that would have maybe been an $800 job where they lived.

Oh - unlike the experiences some of my friends and neighbors have had using local companies, these guys also cleaned everything up afterwards.

I sure would love to have those guys in AL. We've got a MASSIVE red oak that our deck in the back of the house is built around, and this year we noticed that it wasn't budding out like the other oaks in our yard were. It finally got full looking, but a bunch of branches are dead on the ends, and we're afraid the old fella's time has finally come.

Two estimates - both $3000 just to fell it as there's no backyard access to the tree, and they'll have to come at it from the front of the house with bucket trucks and a crane to lift the trunk out and over the house. One of those quoted $1200 just to trim and shape it saying it "may" be able to be saved.

[kizanski]

It all depends where you live.

True.

Here in northern NJ, I would expect to pay twice that with the stump grinding.

[svl]

Wow. I had a 20 foot Sandcherry tree cut down in my front yard last fall- $150 (plus they hauled it out). Then $75 to grind the stump plus 3 other Sandcherry large bush stumps i had in the backyard.

Both companies were legit, licensed and bonded.

[murkat]

I have two Stihl chain saws....