Why is removing a tree worth it? Offers vary widely and depend on the size, risk and proximity to a home or vehicle. But arborists say they have seen a sharp increase in operating costs since the pandemic.
“There are people who will bid $15,000 for a tree, there are people who will bid $1,200,” said Brandon Dolan, certified arborist and owner of Gray Squirrel Tree Service in Napanoch, NY. “You can go from being an amateur who has no idea to being a top professional.”
One reason for the price increase is a labor shortage. Noel Boyer, owner of All About Trees in Springfield, Missouri, and board president of the Tree Care Industry Association, said that a decade ago he could hire an entry-level worker for about $11 an hour. The starting wage is now around $18, while in larger cities it is $26. The actual cost to employers is about $45 per hour. “It’s the payroll taxes and the insurance and everything else that you pay that employee,” Mr. Boyer said.
As cheap labor becomes increasingly difficult to come by, many arborists have invested in machines that can do the job and reduce the physical danger – and at a price to match.
“A lot of people used to have a climber in the tree making the cuts to remove a tree,” Mr. Boyer said. “Now they have these million-dollar grab saws. You literally put the thing down on the street, reach over the house, it grabs a branch, cuts it off and puts it on the street or in the dump truck.”
Prices for equipment, including chippers, cranes and trucks, have risen about 50 percent in the last five years, said John Smithmyer of Bartlett Tree Experts, which operates in 32 states. This is passed on to the customers. Overall, costs for homeowners have increased by more than 25 percent since the pandemic, Mr. Smithmyer said.
If the tree has to go, Mr. Boyer recommends checking the company's credentials before signing a contract. Check to see if you have a business license, professional certification, or proof of workers' compensation insurance, and read online reviews.