Published by Anderson Tree Service ·
Tree work can put people, buildings, vehicles, and neighboring property inside the work zone. A polished estimate is not enough: homeowners should understand who will perform the work, what coverage the company represents it carries, and exactly what the written scope includes.
This is a practical hiring checklist, not legal or insurance advice. Requirements and coverage can vary, so verify current information with the appropriate California agency and your own insurance professional when needed.
Check the Contractor License
Ask for the contractor license number and verify it through the California Contractors State License Board website. Review the record itself rather than relying only on a number printed on a truck or proposal.
Anderson Tree Service lists California contractor license #851661. Our licensed and insured page explains the business information we provide customers before work.
Ask About Workers' Compensation
Ask whether employees who will be on your property are covered and request current documentation when appropriate. Do not assume general liability, a contractor license, or a verbal assurance answers this separate question.
Ask About General Liability
Ask for the company’s current general liability information and discuss the proposed work accurately with your own insurance professional if you have coverage questions. The name on the document should match the company you are hiring.
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance
A current certificate can help you review named insured, policy types, and effective dates. A certificate is a summary, not a substitute for understanding the policy. If something matters to your decision, ask the agent or carrier to clarify it.
Understand Vehicle Insurance vs. Job-Site Coverage
Commercial auto coverage and job-site liability coverage address different kinds of risk. Seeing an insured truck does not, by itself, answer questions about tree work performed on the property. Ask specifically about the work—not only the vehicles arriving to do it.
Ask Who Will Actually Perform the Work
Find out whether the company’s own crew will perform the job and whether any portion may be subcontracted. Ask who will supervise the site and who you should speak with if the scope needs clarification.
Look at Real Completed Work
Look for real project photography, equipment appropriate to the work, and examples that resemble your situation. Reviews can add context, but they should not replace license, insurance, and scope checks.
Anderson’s tree-service gallery shows the crews and equipment used on actual work rather than stock photography.
Ask What Cleanup Includes
Clarify whether brush and logs will be hauled, whether chips or wood will remain, and whether stump grinding is included. Also ask what the owner must move before arrival. “Tree removal” can describe very different finished conditions.
Get the Scope in Writing
The proposal should identify the tree or work area, describe pruning or removal, state the cleanup plan, address stump work, and note any owner responsibilities. If the verbal explanation matters, ask for it to be reflected in the written scope.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- What is your contractor license number, and where can I verify it?
- Who will perform and supervise the work?
- What current insurance documentation can you provide?
- Exactly which trees and branches are included?
- How will wood, brush, chips, and the stump be handled?
- How will nearby roofs, fences, landscaping, and access surfaces be protected?
- What is excluded from the estimate?