There were pros and cons with this service, and if there were more reviews it would have helped my decision.
Pros: They gave a much lower estimate than one I had previously for a particular job.
The charge was hourly which allowed me to change where I wanted them to concentrate their time, and I added to the amount of work. The number of hours billed was accurate.
When I requested the oak limbs be trimmed properly (not hacked off 2 feet away from the main branch, which would cause a spray of suckers to grow over the area I was trying to clear), they generally improved technique.
The owner was pleasant to talk with and called when they were running late.
Cons: The owner showed up to do the estimate with an open beer in his truck drink holder. He appeared to be somewhat inebriated after their lunch break.
The workers running the chipper would slack off if I wasn't out there the entire time keeping them on task and watching.
They left my place a total mess. He said I wasn't paying them to pick up the small stuff, but I am completely overwhelmed at what a disaster everything is - I can't possibly clean up this mess myself, and now need to hire someone else. The workers grabbed the larger branches, but left smaller stuff all over the place, where I can't even drive down my driveway until it is cleared. I need to mow in all these areas and the first thing I asked was that they put the slash they didn't want to chip into piles (BTW, I've run a chipper myself, and know you can put the small stuff in, you just shove it into the shoot with a larger branch). They only made piles in the first 2 spots, and then I caught them standing around waiting for him to cut instead of doing the cleanup he said they would do. There are branches left that could have been chipped in places apparently they didn't feel like picking them up.
Overall, I got a lot of work done for an OK price, but I am overwhelmed with the amount of work they left me. I've had this work done many times in the past, and never had this situation. They were OK for cutting dead trees, but I would not use them again for live trees that needed to be done right. I also feel uncomfortable about the risk taken if there was in fact an issue with sobriety. read more
