4 Qualities Insurance Carriers Need in a Tree Service Partner

When a claim requires tree and debris removal, insurance professionals need to find a tree service partner to quickly secure the property, control costs, and avoid risks that could escalate or delay the claim.

The right partner will adhere to four necessary characteristics:

• Deliver rapid responses and superior customer service following tree damage
• Provide transparent pricing and detailed cost estimates
• Employ certified specialists and properly trained professionals
• Have ample insurance coverage

These help property adjusters and vendor managers know their green industry service provider will act in the best interest of carriers and policyholders alike.

Rapid Response and Superior Customer Service Following Tree Damage

Time is of the essence for carriers and policyholders when a failed tree impacts a home. Everyone involved wants the property cleared safely and swiftly. And often the claim is at a standstill until the tree is removed.

Because of this, insurance professionals must work with partners who provide rapid assistance as close to first notice of loss (FNOL) as possible and adhere to ethical guidelines, particularly after major weather events. The best option for vendor managers would be to expedite the process and improve the policyholder experience by automatically routing tree removal to trusted partners from FNOL as part of the claims process.

Companies should be upfront about the difference in cycle times between emergency and non-emergency events, though individual businesses may have different definitions of what constitutes an emergency.

An emergency might involve a large tree impacting a home or preventing access to a property following a catastrophe (CAT) event, major weather event, or an isolated incident. In a non-emergency, the failed tree likely has not damaged the dwelling or restricted access to the property.

If carriers, vendor managers, or policyholders have questions regarding assignment prioritization, companies with superior customer service will gladly explain their process.

Once on-site, issues may arise, such as debris being left behind or work taking longer than initially expected. If concerns do emerge, quality companies address the situation head-on, often resolving issues before they escalate.

This transparency and forward-thinking approach makes it less likely that companies with these qualities will have complaints on file with state attorneys general or the Better Business Bureau.

Transparent Pricing and Detailed Cost Estimates

Knowing what a tree service provider charges to complete tree removal work through detailed estimates gives insurance professionals a better idea of a claim’s true cost than a generic price card.

This information can also confirm that estimates and invoices don’t include extra costs.

Trustworthy partners perform only the work necessary for a given assignment and ensure their pricing aligns with market rates. Keep in mind, the most accurate pricing may not be the cheapest. But it will be fair.

Diligent insurance professionals confirm that their tree service provider has transparent pricing policies.

Some companies or vendors publish tree removal cost guides to show insurance professionals and policyholders their commitment to market transparency. The guides need to be clear enough that those outside of the tree care industry, like adjusters and vendor managers, can better understand what influences costs, including:

• Standard vs. non-standard, e.g., difficult access to the tree, removals 
• Tree size 
• Price range 
• Labor hours 
• Customary equipment 
• Potential cost increases based on various conditions, e.g., high-volume event

If the work has already been completed, have an expert review the bill to ensure it’s in line with market pricing. This can offer guidance relating to pricing strategies and how vendors itemize costs or, in some cases, extra service charges.

Quality tree service companies submit invoices to adjusters that detail labor costs, equipment used, and more.

Transparency around their pricing model indicates that the partner is demonstrating an interest in operating fairly for carriers and policyholders.

But openness about costs, services, and invoices aren’t the only tenets of ethical companies that insurance professionals want to see in a tree services partner. Some also strive to improve the green industry and their own work through safety training and certification.

Employ Certified Specialists and Properly Trained Professionals

Because of the tree care industry’s inherent danger, insurance professionals prefer a partner that emphasizes and implements safe and ethical practices for tree and debris removal. This includes employing certified arborists and properly trained professionals.

Ideally, an arborist with International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification will be on staff, and the company will maintain membership with the Tree Care Industry Association, the oldest and well-recognized national trade association for tree care companies.

Companies with the right expertise will be equipped to lessen the threat of collateral damage during the removal process. This is just as important to the policyholder as the carrier to reduce the risk of increasing the claimed loss severity or causing further damage.

Tree workers should always practice their company’s safety protocol, including wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

Tree care companies must make sure their practices are clear, emergency procedures are followed, and that workers know how to use protective equipment, according to a Journal of Safety Research study. Ideally, these plans are updated regularly, and companies will periodically hold “refresher training” to ensure compliance.

Provide Ample Insurance Coverage

In addition to safety measures for their workers, high-quality vendors also will protect companies from a legal and business perspective by carrying workers’ compensation, general liability, excess liability, and auto liability insurance.

Request a copy of the company’s certificate of insurance to verify they have full coverage and in what amounts. Companies that send technicians on-site for tree and debris removal tend to require robust coverage because it reinforces that they take the dangers of the job seriously and have a vested interest in protecting their workers, clients, and the company itself.

Insurance professionals who consider rapid responses and superior customer service, cost transparency, detailed cost estimates, proper certification and training, and comprehensive insurance coverage are more likely to select a vendor that provides fair and honest pricing, even if they don’t offer the lowest rate.

HMI, part of Alpine Intel’s suite of services, delivers high-quality services and is committed to offering fair, transparent, and market-based pricing for all projects. As a leading provider of outdoor property claim solutions, specializing in emergency tree removal, estimate reviews, and disaster response services nationwide, HMI is available for assignments ranging from storm damage recovery to large-scale commercial projects. 

To partner with HMI for tree removal services, submit an assignment today.

Alpine Intel’s content is meant to inform and educate readers using general terms and descriptions. They do not replace expert evaluations that determine facts and details related to each unique claim.