How a Free Tree Estimate Works With West Valley Tree Service

A free estimate sounds simple, but most people haven't had a tree quoted before and don't know what happens or what to have ready. Here's how it works with West Valley Tree Service, step by step.

Start with a call or text

The flyers say it plainly: call or text Carlos. A text works well for a first contact because you can attach photos. Send a couple of pictures, one of the whole tree and one up close of whatever is worrying you, along with your address or at least your town and a line about what you want done. The business serves Yakima, West Valley, Union Gap, Selah, Naches, Toppenish and Wapato, so mention where you are. You don't need to know the species or the right terms. Describe what you see and the rest gets sorted out at the tree.

What Carlos looks at

Photos get the conversation started, but a quote on a tree is a judgment made standing next to it. Carlos looks at the tree itself: its size and condition. He looks at what's under and around it, such as a roof, a fence, a garden or power lines, and at how a crew and a truck can reach it. Those things, more than the tree alone, decide how the job gets done: climbed, worked from a bucket truck, rigged down in sections, or something simpler.

The other half of the job is what happens after the cutting. How much wood and brush there is to haul, and whether a stump is staying or getting ground out, belongs in the same conversation.

What to have ready

• Which trees, shrubs or stumps you want dealt with, and what you want done to each.
• How a truck can reach them: gate widths, fences, a narrow driveway, soft lawn.
• Anything buried or overhead that you know about, such as sprinkler lines, drip lines and utility lines.
• Whether you want the wood, chips and brush left or hauled away.
• Any limb or section that worries you, and when you first noticed it.
• Whether a tree sits on or near a property line.
• Whether anyone on the account is a veteran. Veterans receive 10% off.

Reading the agreement

Before work starts, you should know in plain terms which trees, how much comes off, whether clean-up and haul-away are included, and what the price is. Ask about the details too: whether the stump is included, whether the wood is cut small or left in rounds, and who hauls the brush. The price depends on the size and condition of the tree, how hard it is to reach and how much there is to haul, which is why nobody can quote one responsibly without seeing it. Reed Ball's Google review describes what that looks like when it goes right: “He was on site the morning of the agreement and stayed on the job until it was done. And the invoice was exactly what was agreed upon with no surprise charges.”

West Valley Tree Service LLC holds Washington L&I contractor licence WESTVVT754OJ, listed under tree removal service, and you can look it up on the state's contractor lookup. The flyers say licensed, insured and reliable. Checking a licence and asking about insurance is a reasonable step with any tree company.

Clean-up is part of the job

A removal that leaves a field of branches and sawdust isn't finished. Brian Durr wrote in his review: “After they were finished and cleaned up, it was like they were never here.” Brush goes onto the dump trailer, the work area gets raked, and big wood is cut to pieces that can be moved. If you want firewood or chips left behind, say so at the estimate and it can be planned for.

Veterans and after hours

Veterans receive 10% off, so mention it when you call. Philip Edinger's review of the 100-foot-plus pine removal says: “Carlos and his guys totally cleaned up the work area upon finishing and the price was right along with a veteran discount!”

The website lists weekday hours of 9 to 5 and says the crew is always available after hours. If a limb comes down at night, call or text anyway.

When you're ready, call or text Carlos at (509) 961-5496. The estimate is free.