Insurance, paperwork and paying for tree work
What our certification and insurance cover, what your homeowners policy pays when a tree falls, what the Hurricane Sally data says about trees, the City's rules on its own trees, and how people pay for a removal they didn't plan on.
Our certification and insurance
Alabama has no state license for tree services, which is why the two things to ask any company for are an ISA Certified Arborist and a certificate of insurance. The City of Mobile defines a certified arborist as a professional certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, points homeowners to treesaregood.org/findanarborist to verify one, and requires that any permitted tree work be done by a certified, licensed and bonded arborist (Code § 65-9). The crews that work through us carry general liability and workers' compensation, and our ISA Certified Arborist plans and supervises the work. Workers' comp matters because if a climber is hurt on your property and the company doesn't carry it, the question of who pays can land on you. Ask for both certificates; we provide them before anyone climbs.
Your homeowners insurance
A standard homeowners policy generally covers damage a falling tree does to covered structures, such as the house, the garage or a fence on the policy, and removing the tree from that structure as part of the loss. Many policies pay a limited amount to remove a tree that fell without hitting anything if it blocks a driveway. What they usually don't cover is removing a standing tree before it falls, including a beetle-killed pine or a leaning one. That's maintenance, and it's the cheapest money you'll spend on a tree. After a storm, photograph everything before anyone cuts, keep the emergency invoice separate, and file the claim yourself. We provide dated photos and itemized invoices.
What the Sally data says
The University of Alabama's Center for Risk and Insurance Research studied more than 40,000 Mobile and Baldwin County homes through Hurricane Sally with the Alabama Department of Insurance, and found that nearly half the claims involved fallen trees, a risk the FORTIFIED roof program doesn't address. That is the whole argument for hurricane prep: FORTIFIED homes had 55 to 74 percent fewer claims from wind, and nothing in that program touches the pine beside the house. Your tree work is the other half of storm readiness, and it's on you.
When the tree was the City's
A tree on the street side of the sidewalk or on City property is a City tree. Report problems to Mobile 311 at 251-208-5311 or the online portal; Urban Forestry handles removal, trimming and stump requests prioritized by public safety. After hours, a tree blocking a road goes to Mobile Police at 251-208-7211. Mobile County residents with roof damage who need a tarp after a storm can call 211.
Paying for it
Most residential jobs are paid on completion by card, check or bank transfer, with no deposit until the written price is approved and the work is scheduled. For a bigger job you didn't plan on, such as several pines at once, a crane removal or a whole-lot hurricane prep, we can connect you with third-party financing with fixed monthly payments. Approval and terms come from the lender.
Reports and letters
When a buyer, a lender, an insurer or a neighbor wants a written opinion on a tree's condition, our arborist will write it with photos and measurements for a small flat fee, credited toward any work we do.