Estimates are not the only way for tree services to generate business, but they are the most common. Even more common, is the free estimate. When a person from any trade comes to your house for a free site visit, the following tips will help you and your estimator stay on task and make your estimator love you.

1) Ask yourself before your call for service, do I want work done? or am I calling for advice, consultation or reassurance? If you are sure that you would like work done or are considering a project and would like to know pricing for budgeting purposes, set up a free estimate. If you are calling for advice, consultation or reassurance, schedule instead, a consultation. This will allow your chosen company to send the appropriate person to your house. If you pay for a consultation, you will get a more thorough explanation with written documentation.

2) Make a list of items that you would like to discuss before your estimator comes. Making a list will allow you to discuss the most important items and will ensure that nothing is forgotten. It will also help to keep you and your estimator on task.

3) Pick up dog poop in advance or warn your estimator if you were not able to get to it. If people will be walking around your house and in your grass, be sure to pick up any land mines before they explode on your estimator’s feet.

4) Be willing to think about your problems in a new or different way. You have made a service call to a professional company. Share your needs and vision and let the professional help you to make the best decisions. Don’t blindly follow an estimator’s advice but be willing to shift your view if the estimator suggests ideas that satisfy your needs that may be different from your original vision.

5) Don’t do too much shopping around. It is standard practice to get 2-3 quotes to make sure you are not getting a bad deal, but do your research before calling a company to determine if you think their philosophy is in line with yours. If it does not seem to be, don’t call them out. You likely will not buy from a company that rubs you the wrong way from the beginning. Why bother getting to know them?

6) Thank your estimator for their time. Estimators do a lot of driving and have hundreds of site visits/week or month scheduled. Be sure to thank them for coming to your property to give you free advice!