The cost of tree felling varies widely depending on what part of the country you live in. In larger cities the price goes up because the demand for the services is so great. For smaller towns or cities, tree removal can be less expensive because many people will be doing their own yard trimming rather than hiring a company to do it for them. But no matter where you live, if you are planning on removing a tree, there are some steps you should take beforehand to make sure you get the cheapest price possible.
First, do a preliminary check to see if the estimated reading time for removal is accurate. Some companies will give a price that is an estimate only based on the trimmings and equipment that will be used. Sometimes this is the best way to go because then you can be reasonably sure that your trees will not be removed that day. The average time for a tree removal in San Francisco is 8 hours; in New York it is closer to 4. Therefore, you can figure out your approximate timeframe by adding two and a half hours to your estimated reading time.
The next step is to do a search to see if trimming has already been done. If trimming has been done in the last four hours or so, the average cost is going to be much higher. If you search for trimming that was done four hours ago, the price is going to drop substantially, sometimes by as much as 50%.
The next step is to contact the tree service near you. If they cannot provide you with a preview, chances are the estimate was based on information you already have. Many people try to get an estimate before actually doing the removal themselves, but this is often a mistake. The reason for this is that people who work in the landscaping business will not be familiar with the particular techniques involved in the estimated reading time, and therefore cannot give you an accurate preview.
The best thing you can do when looking for tree services near you is to look at their website. There is usually a preview available on most sites, and most good companies will show detailed information about what will happen during the estimated time. This is especially important if you live in a stormy area, because the wind can move a lot during the night.
Finally, you need to contact the company in advance. Find out how long it will take to remove your tree. This will help you to decide if you want to go ahead with the removal yourself. Sometimes it's easier to leave things to the professionals. Just make sure that you let them know what kind of property you are removing, and you'll soon see the estimated reading time drop.