What is the checklist for hiring a tree service?
Verify ISA certification, confirm insurance with the insurer, compare written quotes, get a written contract, settle who pulls the permit, ask how the crew will work near power lines, check references and pay only when the work is done. The eight checks below follow that order, each with its source.
- Ask for proof of ISA certification, and look it up yourself.
- Ask for certificates of insurance (general liability and workers’ compensation), then call the insurer.
- Get written quotes and compare what each one includes, not only the total.
- Get a written contract with the scope of work, cleanup and final price.
- Ask who files the permit, if your town needs one, and who pays the fee.
- Ask how the crew will work near power lines, your house and the rest of the yard.
- Ask for local references and check recent reviews, as the Attorney General advises.
- Pay in full only after the work is done and you are satisfied.
Should you hire an ISA Certified Arborist?
Ask for one, and verify the credential yourself. The South Carolina Attorney General tells homeowners to demand proof of ISA certification, and the BBB notes that the words “arborist” and “tree surgeon” require no special certificates or training.
You can search the ISA Find an Arborist directory, which says it helps you “find and verify ISA-credentialed tree care professionals.” Listings are voluntary, so a credential holder can be missing from it. If a name does not appear, ask the company for the certificate number and ask ISA.
A second check is TCIA accreditation. The Tree Care Industry Association says its yearly check-ups confirm that a company is properly insured and has the required number of arborists and a good safety and consumer satisfaction rating. Both are voluntary. A company that holds neither can still do good work, but you then have less to check.
How do you check a tree service’s insurance?
Ask for a certificate of insurance for both general liability and workers’ compensation, then call the insurer to confirm the policy is active. That is the South Carolina Attorney General’s advice (January 23, 2026). The BBB adds that your homeowner’s policy is not enough if someone is hurt doing tree work on your property, and says to ask whether subcontractors on site are covered (BBB tree service tips).
South Carolina law on workers’ compensation and on owners who hire subcontractors is summarized in our permit guide. Check the expiration date on the certificate, then make the call: a photo of a certificate does not prove the policy is active.
What should a written quote and contract say?
Everything the crew will do, what it will leave behind and the final cost, in writing before work starts. The Attorney General asks for “detailed written contracts” covering scope of work, cleanup procedures and final cost. The BBB says a contract should also list start and completion dates, how your property will be protected, and debris removal (BBB).
- Which trees or limbs, and the method (climbing, bucket truck or crane).
- Whether the wood and brush are hauled away or left, and whether the stump is ground. A stump grinding line is often separate.
- Who pulls the permit and who pays the fee.
- Start and finish dates, and what happens if weather delays the job.
- Proof of insurance attached or named in the contract.
The BBB recommends at least three written quotes. Compare what each one includes before you compare totals. Local averages and what moves the price are in our tree removal cost guide and tree trimming cost guide.
What are the red flags when hiring a tree service?
A crew that pushes you to act today, asks for money first or will not put anything in writing. These are the ones the official sources name.
| Red flag | Do this instead | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Crew knocks on your door after a storm | Be wary of crews that follow storms from out of state; prefer established local companies | SC Attorney General |
| “Free inspection” after a storm | Do not let it pressure you into unnecessary, expensive work; get your own written quote | SC Attorney General |
| Full payment before the work is done | Never pay in full until the work is finished and you are satisfied | SC Attorney General |
| Large deposit up front | Stagger payments by stage of work, and pay by check or credit card | BBB |
| Asks you to sign over insurance benefits | Do not sign documents that assign your insurance benefits to the contractor | SC Attorney General |
| Topping, lion’s-tailing or climbing spikes to prune | Choose a crew that prunes to industry standards; the BBB says these practices can injure or kill the tree | BBB |
| Work starts with no signed contract | Wait for a written contract with scope, dates and price | BBB |
Who pulls the tree removal permit?
It depends on the town, so ask before you sign. In North Charleston the contractor you hire applies, and in Summerville the company needs a Town business license and signs an affidavit; the BBB says most removal companies handle permits but you should verify it, because fines for unpermitted work are expensive.
Ask the crew which jurisdiction your address is in, what size trees are protected there and whether your tree needs a permit. If the answer is a guess, check it yourself in the Charleston tree removal permit guide, which lists the rules, fees and official links for each town.
What should you ask about power lines and property protection?
Ask how the crew will handle any line near the tree and what it will do to protect the house, fence, lawn and irrigation. Do not trim near a power line yourself, even on your own property; Santee Cooper says never to.
Ask too who calls 811 before any stump grinding. The details, and what to ask of the crew, are in our permit guide.
How do you hire a tree service after a storm?
Use the same checklist, but slow down at the door. The Attorney General warns about crews that travel in after storms and about “free inspections” used to rush homeowners into work, so photograph the damage, call your insurer and get a written quote before you agree to anything.
If a tree is on the house or blocking the driveway, see emergency tree removal. To avoid the rush, see the hurricane tree preparation checklist and book before the season.
Do you need a tree service at all?
Not always. A tree that looks bad is not always a tree that has to come out, and a trim can solve problems a removal would solve at a higher price. Our trimming vs. removal guide walks through how to decide, and the service pages cover tree removal, tree trimming and stump grinding.
How do we fit in?
We are a referral service, not a tree company. We connect you with independent, insured local crews (how it works), and the quote is free with no obligation. You should still run every company through this checklist, including ours: ask for the certificate of insurance and the ISA proof, and get the scope in writing. Ready? Request a free quote.
Where does this checklist come from?
Every point links to the page it came from: the South Carolina Attorney General’s office (January 23, 2026), the BBB, the International Society of Arboriculture and the Tree Care Industry Association, all read October 26, 2026. This guide has no first-hand case studies and no arborist review; we do not claim either. For the rest of our method, see how we research.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a reliable tree removal company in Charleston, SC?
Verify ISA certification, confirm general liability and workers’ compensation insurance with the insurer, compare written quotes and get a written contract. The South Carolina Attorney General also advises preferring established local companies over crews that follow storms.
Is ISA certification required to remove trees in South Carolina?
We did not find a state requirement. The BBB says the titles “arborist” and “tree surgeon” need no special certificate, which is why the Attorney General tells homeowners to ask for proof of ISA certification and check it. Local permits and business licenses are separate; see the permit guide.
Should I pay a deposit to a tree service?
Avoid a large deposit. The BBB says to stagger payments by stage of work, and the South Carolina Attorney General says never to pay in full before the work is finished and you are satisfied. Pay by check or credit card, not cash.
Does my homeowner’s insurance cover a tree crew’s injuries?
Not reliably. The BBB says homeowner’s insurance is not enough if someone is hurt doing tree work on your property, so ask the crew for liability and workers’ compensation certificates and call the insurer to confirm.
How many quotes should I get?
The BBB recommends at least three written quotes, compared on price and on what each includes: cleanup, hauling, the stump and the permit. A cheaper quote that leaves out cleanup is not the same job.
What should I do if a crew knocks on my door after a storm?
Do not sign anything on the spot. The Attorney General warns about out-of-state crews that follow storms and about “free inspections” used to rush homeowners. Photograph the damage, call your insurer and get a written quote from a company you can verify.