How to Choose a Tree Service in North Idaho & Eastern Washington

A Homeowner’s Checklist to Hire the Right Crew (and Avoid the “Chainsaw & Confidence” Guy)

How to choose a tree service isn’t like hiring someone to paint a bedroom. Trees are heavy, unpredictable, and have zero respect for your roofline. The right company keeps your property safe, cleans up like they were never there, and gives you a clear plan before the first cut.

This checklist will help you confidently compare bids and choose a crew you can trust—whether you need tree removal, hazardous tree work, stump grinding, land clearing, or storm cleanup in North Idaho or Eastern Washington.

Quick tip: If you’re comparing multiple quotes, print this page (or save it) and score each company as you go.

Storm Cleanup Help

How to Choose a Tree Service Start here: what’s actually at stake?

Before the checklist, it helps to name the real risks:

• Property damage: fences, roofs, landscaping, driveways, vehicles.

• Personal liability: if someone gets hurt and the company isn’t properly insured, it can get messy fast.

• Hidden costs: “cheap” bids that don’t include haul-off, stump options, or cleanup standards.

• Safety hazards: trees near structures, power lines, steep slopes, and compromised trunks aren’t DIY territory.

If any part of your tree situation involves a lean, rot, dead limbs, storm damage, or power lines, take the “professional” route.

The 12-Question Tree Service Hiring Checklist

Use these questions word-for-word when you call or meet with a contractor. Good companies won’t flinch.

1) Are you licensed, insured, and able to provide proof?

Ask for:

• Proof of liability insurance

• Workers’ comp coverage

• A Certificate of Insurance (COI) if needed

Why it matters: If a worker is injured or property is damaged and coverage is missing, you may be pulled into the problem.

2) Are you bonded (and what does that mean for me)?

Bonding can provide added protection depending on the situation (and it’s commonly misunderstood).

Ask: “Are you bonded, and what does your bond cover?”

Internal link suggestion: Link to your “Bonded vs Non-Bonded Tree Services” article.

3) Who will actually be doing the work—employees or subcontractors?

There’s no universal “right” answer, but you want clarity.

Ask:

• “Will your crew do the work, or will it be subcontracted?”

• “Who is responsible for safety and cleanup if subs are involved?”

4) What’s your plan to protect my property?

A pro should talk about:

• Drop zones

• Rigging / controlled lowering

• Protection for roofs, decks, fences, landscaping

• Access routes (to avoid rutting lawns and cracking edges)

If the plan is “we’ll be careful,” that’s not really a plan.

5) How do you handle trees near power lines?

The correct answer is usually some version of:

• “We keep safe clearance and coordinate with the utility if required.”

Red flag: Anyone who treats power lines like “just another obstacle.”

6) Is the estimate written and does it include a clear scope?

Your estimate should specify:

• Exactly which tree(s)

• What’s being removed vs trimmed

• How limbs and wood will be handled

• Whether stump grinding is included or optional

• Cleanup expectations

Pro move: Ask what’s excluded from the bid too.

7) Does your quote include haul-off and cleanup—and what does “cleanup” mean?

“Cleanup included” can mean anything from “we raked a little” to “we left it better than we found it.”

Ask:

• “Do you haul all debris?”

• “Do you rake and blow the work area?”

• “Do you leave logs, chips, or firewood piles—or remove everything?”

8) Do you have the right equipment for difficult access?

For tight backyards, steep slopes, or large hazardous trees, equipment matters.

Ask:

• “What equipment do you expect to use for this job?”

• “How will you handle limited access?”

A good company will talk realistically about what’s required.

9) Can you explain the safety plan in plain English?

You don’t need a textbook—just clarity.

Listen for:

• Crew roles and communication

• Controlled lowering vs free-falling sections

• How they handle unexpected conditions (rot, wind, shifting weight)

Red flag: “It’ll be fine.”

10) Do you provide references or examples of recent local work?

A reputable company should be able to point to:

• Recent jobs in your region

• Before/after photos

• Reviews that match the service you need (removal vs storm cleanup vs land clearing)

11) What’s the schedule and how long will the job take?

Ask:

• “When can you start?”

• “How many hours/days should this take?”

• “What weather conditions would cause a reschedule?”

This helps you compare bids beyond price.

12) What happens if the scope changes mid-job?

Sometimes the tree looks worse once work begins. Professionals explain how they handle that.

Ask:

• “If you find rot or structural issues, how do you communicate changes?”

• “Do you stop and confirm before extra work is performed?”

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Get a Hazard Assessment

Red flags that should make you pause

If you spot one, it doesn’t automatically mean “no,” but it should trigger more questions.

• No proof of insurance

• Vague estimate (no scope, no cleanup details)

• “Cash discount” paired with no paperwork

• Pushy “today only” pricing

• Willingness to work near power lines without utility coordination

• No discussion of access, rigging, or drop zones

What a professional tree estimate should include

When you compare quotes, look for these elements:

• Scope of work (remove/trim, which trees, what height/sections)

• Debris plan (chip/haul/logs)

• Stump option (included or priced separately)

• Timeline (start window + duration)

• Cleanup standard (rake/blow/haul)

• Access plan (protect surfaces, avoid damage)

• Any permit/utility coordination notes (if applicable)

This isn’t about being picky—it’s about preventing surprises.

Want an easy way to compare bids? Use a scorecard

Give each company 1–5 points for:

• Proof of insurance + workers’ comp

• Clear written scope

• Safety plan quality

• Property protection plan

• Cleanup clarity

• Professional communication (fast, clear, respectful)

The highest score often wins—even if they’re not the cheapest.

The easiest next step (and it’s free)

If you’re not sure whether a tree is hazardous, or whether you need trimming vs removal:

Send 2 photos:

1. A full photo of the tree (include nearby structures if possible)

2. A close-up of the base/trunk area

Get A Free Quote

Include your city and what you’re concerned about (leaning, dead limbs, storm damage, etc.). We’ll tell you what we’d look for next and what options usually make sense.