Don’t Get Scammed After a Storm: How to Vet a Tree Service the Right Way (Houston Edition)
- Marsel Gareyev
- Sep 28
- 7 min read
A couple hurricane seasons ago, my neighbor down the block had a huge willow oak split during an overnight blow. By breakfast, a pickup with a magnet sign rolled up, two guys hopped out, and before she could finish her coffee they were quoting a “today-only” price to “take care of it right now.” No last name on the card. No insurance proof. When she hesitated, they dropped the price by half. That was all the red flag we needed.
Storms bring out the best in Texans—the “you need help?” kind of neighbors—but they also bring out opportunists. If you’ve got downed limbs, a leaning trunk, or a mess in the yard, it’s tempting to say yes to the first truck you see. Don’t. The wrong crew can injure themselves on your property, cause more damage than the storm did, and leave you with a bigger headache (and bill) later.
This guide is your calm checklist in a chaotic week. It’s written specifically for Houston homeowners and property managers—and it’s the vetting process we use for our own families. Use it to hire any tree company, including us.
Why Storm Scams Spike in Houston
High demand, fast decisions. In the 24–72 hours after a storm, you’re juggling insurance calls, roofers, and cleanup. Scammers bank on panic and urgency.
Hidden hazards. Powerlines, split leaders, and cracked limbs look simple until you’re under them. Inexperienced crews misjudge weight and rigging.
No paper trail. Door-to-door crews are hard to find after the fact. If something goes wrong, you may have no recourse.
Step 1: Slow Down and Assess Safely
Before you talk to anyone:
Photograph everything (wide shots and close-ups). This helps with insurance and keeps the story straight.
Stay away from anything near power lines. If a limb is on or near a line, treat it as live and call your utility first.
Look for fresh leans, lifted roots, and hanging (“widowmaker”) limbs. Make a short list of hazards you want addressed first.
When you call us for Storm & Branch Clearance, this is exactly how we triage your property—life-safety hazards first, then access (driveway/walkways), then the rest.
Step 2: Five Non-Negotiables Every Tree Service Must Show You
1) Current Proof of Insurance (Not Just “We’re Insured”)
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance that lists:
General liability (protects your home and structures)
Workers’ compensation (protects workers on your property)
Your name and address as the certificate holder (so the insurer knows where the work happens)
A reputable company can email this directly from their agent in minutes. If they stall, skip.
2) Licensing/Qualifications That Actually Apply
In Texas, you’ll see all kinds of titles. What matters is whether the company has trained arborists and follows recognized safety and pruning standards. Ask who will be on site and what credentials they carry. With Trees Over Houston, our crews include licensed professionals and we’re happy to explain what each credential means in plain English.
3) A Written, Itemized Estimate
A solid estimate makes apples-to-apples comparisons possible:
Exactly which trees (tag or describe them)
What cuts (removal vs. structural pruning vs. clearance)
Debris handling (haul-away, curbside stack, or chip on site)
Stump grinding (included or not)
Equipment (crane, bucket truck, skid steer) and any traffic control
Potential extras if hidden damage appears once we get inside the canopy
You’ll notice our estimates for Tree Removal and Tree Trimming are written this way by default.
4) Clear Safety Plan
Ask how they’ll protect people, property, and utilities:
Rigging method (lowering vs. free-fall)
Drop zones and spotters
Distance from powerlines and who coordinates with the utility
Roof/driveway protection and how they enter/exit the yard
If you get a blank stare—or “we’ll just knock it down”—walk away.
5) Real References (Recent, Local)
Google reviews are great; recent, local references are better. Ask for jobs done in your part of Houston (Spring, Kingwood, Bellaire, Humble, The Woodlands). We keep a running list because neighbors like to see before/after photos of similar trees and lot layouts.
Step 3: Red Flags That Mean “No, Thanks”
Unsolicited knock at the door right after a storm with a “we’re in the area” pitch.
Pressure tactics: “today only,” “we’ve got the crew right outside,” or price drops too fast.
Cash up front or vague “deposit” before any equipment is staged.
No company name on the truck, no website, or a phone number that goes to voicemail all day.
No PPE (hard hats, eye protection) and no cones/signage around the work zone.
Refusal to provide an address or proof of insurance that you can verify with the agent.
I once watched a pop-up crew start cutting without rigging over a garage. The limb swung, scraped shingles, and punched the gutter. They blamed the wind and offered a discount. The homeowner ended up paying a roofer more than he would’ve paid a real tree service in the first place.
Step 4: Questions That Separate Pros from Pretenders
Use these like a script on the phone:
“How will you bring this limb down without damaging my roof/fence?”
Listen for “block and tackle,” “controlled lowering,” “friction device,” or “bucket/crane assist.”
“What pruning standard do you follow?”
Look for mention of structural pruning, reduction cuts (not topping), and selective thinning—not “clean out the middle so wind passes through,” which is a myth.
“Who carries your insurance and can they email me a certificate?”
Follow up by calling the agent. It takes two minutes.
“Can you include stump grinding and haul-away in the estimate?”
You’ll avoid surprise piles in the yard and trip hazards. Our Stump Grinding can be bundled after removals.
“Do you handle powerline coordination if needed?”
For anything near lines, you want a team experienced in Powerline Clearance.
Step 5: Comparing Estimates the Smart Way
When the numbers arrive, don’t just scan the totals. Compare scope:
Trim vs. reduce vs. remove: These are different operations with different outcomes.
Disposal: Is debris hauled, chipped, or left? Are dump fees included?
Access: Tight side yards and pools can mean extra rigging time. Is that in the bid?
Surface protection: Mats for turf/driveways, plywood for delicate areas.
Extras: Stump grinding, root flare excavation, or Tree Health Assessment after the cut.
Cheaper bids sometimes leave out cleanup or grinding and upsell later. We spell those line items out so you can choose exactly what you want.
What a Legit Contract Looks Like
You should see:
Company name, address, phone, and email
Your name and property address
Detailed scope and price per item
Target dates and approximate start window
Payment terms tied to milestones (not “100% up front”)
Insurance statement and hold-harmless language
Signature line for both parties
If a contractor resists putting it on paper, that’s the easiest “no” you’ll say all week.
How Professional Crews Actually Do Storm Work
A quick peek behind the curtain so you know what “good” looks like:
Hazard Triage
We ID and remove hangers over entry points first, then secure cracked leaders with rope, then address accessibility (driveway/walk). That lets you get back to daily life faster while we plan the heavier lifts.
Rigging and Lowering
We rarely “just cut it and let it fall.” Instead, we set lines, friction devices, or use a bucket/crane to lower pieces safely. On tight lots, we’ll block-and-tackle limbs away from roofs, pools, and fences—slow work, but no surprises.
Clean, Flush Cuts and Correct Pruning
Storms don’t prune; they break. We remove torn wood back to proper branch collars so the tree can compartmentalize the wound. Our Tree Trimming guidelines avoid topping and lion’s-tailing (both create future failures).
Debris Management
We chip on site or haul, depending on your preference. If you’re working with your municipality for curb pickup, we’ll stage it to their specs.
Aftercare Plan
Survived trees often need help: soil aeration, deep watering during heat, and sometimes targeted Tree Injections or Tree Pest Control if wounds invite problems. Think of this like rehab after surgery.
Special Notes for Houston Yards
Clay soils + flooding mean shallow roots can loosen. If you see fresh heave on the windward side, call for an evaluation immediately.
Live oaks handle storms well but grow heavy lateral limbs; they benefit from periodic reduction for balance.
Pines can look fine and still fail later. If a loblolly took a beating, schedule a follow-up check two to four weeks after the storm.
Palms: Protect the bud. Only remove dead or hanging fronds. Over-thinning weakens them going into the next wind event.
If you want a deeper dive on storm preparation itself, our hurricane-season guide covers the before–during–after plan. This post is all about hiring smart once the mess is already on the ground.
Quick Homeowner Checklist (Print This)
Before you hire:
Take photos of damage and areas of concern
Call the utility if limbs are on/near lines
Ask for COI naming you as certificate holder
Get a written, itemized estimate (scope, disposal, equipment)
Verify references within 10 miles of your address
Confirm safety plan and access route
Clarify debris handling and stump grinding
Sign a contract with clear terms (no full payment up front)
Nice-to-have add-ons:
Post-work Tree Health Assessment
Preventive structural pruning for unaffected trees
Scheduling for Tree Weight Balancing on heavy canopies
A Short Story With a Happy Ending
Remember my neighbor? She called us instead of the magnet-truck crew. The oak had a split leader over her garage. We staged the driveway, lifted with a rope and friction device, pieced the limb down in manageable sections, and finished with a clean reduction to keep weight off the roofline. She kept the mulch from the chipper for her beds. Insurance loved the photos and the written assessment, and—best part—when the next storm rolled through, that tree swayed and settled like it had been doing it for a hundred years.
That’s what you want: not just “the mess is gone,” but “I feel safe again.”
Ready When You Are
If a storm just rolled through—or you want a second opinion on a bid you received—reach out. We’ll give you straight answers, a clear scope, and a crew that treats your property like it’s our own.
Call (346) 899-8733 or request a free estimate—our team responds quickly, shows up when we say we will, and leaves your place better than we found it.
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