The battle goes on. A “Free Estimate” is what it is and nothing more. It is a estimate of tree work and how much it will cost. Most if not all tree companies, and I am not talking about so called tree guys, I am talking about Certified Arborist give free estimates. So if you are a tree owner who knows he needs pruning this is what you should expect. If you were to expect anything more for example, health or condition of the tree then beware, most Certified Arborist are not qualified and not trained properly. Diagnosing which is a part of consulting, have fees attached to them too give you a objective, independent and ethical assessment of the tree issue. The most qualified individuals are those trained, educated and expert in the practice of tree health care, like Registered Consulting Arborist(RCA) and/or Board Certified Master Arborist.
There is plethora of informaton out there on websites and at your fingertips, filter through marketing claims for the facts, a skill all consumers should sharpen and chose between the qualified previously mentioned.