Philip Goguen
The cost of tree removal is certainly something to consider before you attempt to remove your tree yourself, but that’s not the only thing you should be taking into account when deciding whether or not to do it yourself. Here are some other factors you may want to keep in mind when thinking about which way to go with your tree removal – hiring professionals or doing it yourself.
If you’re in need of expert tree removal, trust the pros at Cape Cod Tree Services. We’ll take care of your tree removal project in no time.
Why Remove a Tree?
First, you’ll need to find out whether tree removal is even necessary. Trees don’t always need to be cut down, but most will at some point. Sometimes trees can simply be trimmed or re-positioned so they cause less damage to other areas in your yard or garden. If your tree is dead or dying and poses a risk to people or property, you should definitely consider removing it altogether.
When you hire professionals to remove trees, they can often give you a better idea of whether or not your tree will be more trouble than it’s worth. Sometimes, there’s no need to cut down an entire tree if only certain limbs are damaged or dead. Professional tree removal services offer certified and insured options, so there’s less risk involved when you have experts working on your property.
Dangers of Leaving a Bad Tree
When you see a dead tree in your yard, you might be tempted to leave it standing. It’s ugly, but it hasn’t fallen over yet so why bother removing it? Well, there are some hidden dangers associated with dead trees that may entice you to cut them down now. They attract bugs and diseases: Insects love sitting on dead trees as well as woodpeckers which love to make holes for their nests.
Dead trees can attract some pretty unpleasant insects. If they were ever alive, they’re now dead, and these stumps are a great place for other pests to set up shop and breed. These diseases and parasites spread quickly, so you may be endangering your family by leaving them standing around. Dead trees can fall over at any time: Even if your tree hasn’t fallen yet, there’s no guarantee that it won’t do so in the future.
When dead trees stay standing, they’re at risk of being toppled by strong winds. During storms or high winds, these unstable trees are liable to fall over and can cause damage to your home or injure someone walking past. Homeowner insurance policies don’t always cover damages caused by fallen trees, so if yours does you’ll have to pay out of pocket.
Pros and Cons of DIY
If you don’t have much money to spend, DIY tree removal is an affordable way to remove trees. You can even hire someone with chainsaw experience to help you do all of the work. The downside is that you will be at risk for being injured and/or damaging property with an improperly used chainsaw. If you choose not to use proper safety equipment, such as eye protection, ear protection and heavy clothing (to protect against scratches), then your risks are even higher. The best course of action is to hire a professional that has experience in tree removal if you cannot afford one.
Most tree removal professionals have years of experience, and they’re able to do everything from cutting down small trees to felling massive ones. They have access to specialized equipment, tools and safety gear that are necessary when handling dangerous trees.
Last thing you’d want to do is cut down a tree that lands on your house. You may also be worried about damaging your property while removing large trees. Trees can cause damage to foundations and buildings in some cases, especially if they’re diseased or very old. In those instances, hiring a professional is wise because they know how much weight each type of structure can handle safely without causing serious damage.
Professional Costs
If you’re only looking to remove one or two trees, hiring a professional might be cheaper than you think. Home Advisor states that the average cost to remove a tree is between $400 and $1,200. This cost is just an estimate because there are tons of factors that affect how much it’ll cost. Factors like where you live and what kind of equipment is needed can make your price vary greatly. A small job will usually take a couple hours, while larger jobs can take days.
When you factor in fuel, business overhead and time spent away from your day job, tree removal can cost thousands of dollars to perform on your own. You’ll also need to buy an expensive chainsaw or even rent one if you don’t have access to one already. After all is said and done, doing tree removal yourself will likely end up costing more than hiring a professional.
Pros of Professional Work
There are many benefits to hiring someone to do your tree removal work for you. First and foremost, as mentioned above, is that you won’t be sacrificing your safety when you hire someone. Additionally, you’ll know exactly what your project will cost. You won’t have any hidden fees or charges once everything is said and done; that way, if your budget is $1000, you’ll know that anything more than that is an added charge.
Another pro to hiring a professional is that they’ll know exactly what kind of tree removal work will be needed. They can look at your trees and tell you right away if they need to be removed, pruned, or have diseased or dead branches removed. They also have all of their equipment on hand so they won’t need to waste time purchasing additional supplies before starting work.
The benefits to hiring a professional are numerous. They’ll remove trees safely and efficiently, they have their own equipment on hand, they can give you an estimate of costs up front, and they can plan their own workflow so your project will be completed on time. Hiring a tree removal professional is also beneficial in that they’ll know exactly what kind of work will need to be done and what safety precautions need to be taken.
