I'll be straight: “cheap and great tree service” is not a phrase I use in my own marketing. Not because those things can't coexist, but because “cheap” is doing a lot of work in that sentence. (Cheap compared to what? The quote that excluded stump grinding? The one from the crew without Workers' Compensation coverage?)
I spent six years working for larger tree services before starting Little Tree Care in 2009. The goal was always the fast job and the maximum invoice. Homeowners got overcharged for removals that didn't need to happen, and the properties were usually worse off when we left than when we arrived. I started my own company specifically to do it differently.
Quick answer:A genuinely good-value tree service includes ISA-certified credentials, Workers' Compensation and liability insurance, a written scope, full debris removal, and stump grinding — all before anyone picks up a saw. If a quote leaves any of those out, the price isn't as low as it looks.
Here's what to look for.
What “cheap” actually means in tree service
The cheap quote usually has something missing. I say this not to sound like a salesperson but because I've seen what gets left out and what it costs later.
The most common omissions, in rough order of how often they appear:
Stump grinding.This is the one that surprises homeowners most. Stump grinding is loud, takes separate equipment, and adds real time to the job. Many companies exclude it by default and list removal prices that assume the stump stays. You only notice when you ask — or when you're stuck with a stump.
Debris removal.Cutting the tree is half the job. The other half is the wood, the chips, and the brush. Some operators quote removal and leave the logs cut to rounds on your lawn. That's not done — that's half done. A complete job means debris gone when the crew leaves.
Insurance.Workers' Compensation and general liability. If a crew member is injured on your property without WCB coverage, the liability can fall to you. If a limb goes through your fence because the rigging wasn't right, you want to know the company carries at least $2M in general liability before that happens.
Certified arborist on-site.Not on paper — on-site. The ISA certification is what separates someone who's had formal training in tree biology, pruning standards, and hazard assessment from someone who owns a chainsaw. Anyone can call themselves an arborist. Only ISA-certified ones have the paperwork to back it up.
Five things every honest quote includes
Before you sign anything, a complete tree service quote should answer all five of these without you having to chase them down.
1. Written scope.What exactly is coming down or being pruned? Where does the debris go? Is stump grinding in or out? Put it in writing. A verbal quote is a verbal quote — it's not a contract, and it can change the moment you hand over the deposit.
2. Stump grinding included.Ask directly: “Is stump grinding included in this price?” If the answer is “we can add that,” that's a no — add it now and compare the total to other quotes.
3. Full debris removal.Chips hauled, brush gone, logs off your property. Not “left cut to rounds on site.” Clarify this before the job starts.
4. Proof of insurance.Not a verbal assurance — a certificate of insurance listing general liability (minimum $2M) and Workers' Compensation coverage. Request it by email before the crew shows up. A legitimate company sends it without a second thought.
5. Arborist credentials. Name and ISA certification number of the arborist overseeing the work. You can verify it yourself at isacanada.net. If the company can't provide an ISA number, what they have is a chainsaw operator, not a certified arborist.
Red flags in a low quote
These aren't hypothetical — they're the patterns that lead to complaints, disputes, and jobs that have to be done twice.
Verbal only, nothing in writing.A company that won't put the scope in writing before work starts has left themselves room to change the price after work starts. That's not a coincidence.
Cash-only, no invoice. This signals no insurance, no WorkSafeBC, and no paper trail for your own records. If something goes wrong, you have no leverage.
Can't answer the credentials question.If you ask “Who is the certified arborist overseeing this job?” and the answer is a pause, a dodge, or “we're all experienced,” that's a red flag. Experience and certification are different things.
No site assessment before quoting. Tree work is too site-specific for an over-the-phone price. Access, proximity to structures, overhead lines, species, and condition all affect the actual scope. A company that quotes without seeing the tree is either guessing or planning to renegotiate on-site.
Nine out of ten complaints about tree services I've heard over fifteen years come back to one of these four patterns. The transparency question is easy to ask. It's also easy to answer — for companies that have nothing to hide.
What tree service actually costs in Surrey
Transparency on pricing is non-negotiable. Here's what our standard tree services run — all-in, stump grinding included on removals, no separate debris fees.
| Service | Range (CAD, all-in) |
|---|---|
| Small tree removal (under 30 ft, stump included) | $400–$650 |
| Medium tree removal (30–60 ft, stump included) | $800–$1,400 |
| Large tree removal (60 ft+, site-dependent) | $1,500+ |
| Crown thinning / light pruning | $300–$800 |
| Crown reduction (20–30% size cut) | $500–$1,200 |
| Deadwood removal | $250–$600 |
| Tree assessment / consultation | $150 (credited toward work) |
Rule of thumb: if a quote for a medium tree comes in at $300, it's either not including stump grinding, not including debris removal, or the crew doesn't carry insurance. Ask which of those it is.
Average tree pruning prices in this region — for a standard residential tree, crown thinning, proper cuts — sit around $400–$600. The wide range reflects access, species, and whether the crew has to rope and lower branches or can let them drop. That's not a vague dodge; it's why a site visit matters before any quote is given.
How to check credentials quickly
This takes five minutes. You can do it before the crew shows up.
ISA certification: Go to isacanada.net/find-an-arborist and search by name or certification number. If the name doesn't come up with a valid, current certification, ask for clarification. Certifications expire and require renewal — an expired cert is not a cert.
WorkSafeBC: Ask for their WCB account number and verify at worksafebc.com. This protects you if a worker is injured on your property without coverage.
General liability insurance:Request the certificate before the work date, not on the day. The certificate should name Little Tree Care (or whatever company you've hired) and show coverage of at least $2M. If the email arrives the morning of the job — or doesn't arrive at all — that tells you something.
I reckon most homeowners have never asked for any of these. Most companies count on that. The ones that can't provide them are banking on you not asking. The good ones — the ones worth hiring — expect the question and hand it over without a fuss. For more on what to expect from a tree service quote, the pricing post covers it in detail.
When not to hire anyone
I'll tell you this even though it reduces our call volume.
Skip hiring a tree service for:
- Small branches under four inches in diameter that are clearly dead and accessible from the ground — a pruning saw and a ladder handles that.
- General tidying of a young hedge or shrub — this is not arborist work.
- A stump you plan to turn into a planter or leave as-is — stump grinding is not mandatory, just tidy.
Do call a certified arborist for: anything near a power line, anything over twenty feet off the ground, any tree that's leaning toward a structure, and any large tree where the removal path isn't obvious. That's not a sales pitch — it's the single most practical piece of advice in this post. The injury risk in DIY tree work is not theoretical.
A $150 assessment, credited toward any work we do, is sometimes the best money you'll spend — because it might tell you the job is smaller than you thought, and the removal you were planning isn't needed. We've talked people out of $1,400 removals that turned out to be $500 crown reductions. That's backwards compared to how most businesses work, and it's intentional.