Choosing the Right Tree Company in North Central Florida (Without Getting Ripped Off)

Let’s be real: searching for a tree company in Gainesville, Alachua, Newberry, or High Springs brings up dozens of companies, and they all claim to be “the best,” “fully insured,” and “locally-owned.” After more than a decade of running The Wood Doctor Tree Service, we’ve seen every trick in the book—from storm-chasing fly-by-night crews to legitimate companies that still cut corners.

This guide is written for homeowners who want to protect their property, their wallet, and their trees without having to become arborists overnight.

Here’s exactly what to look for (and the red flags that should send you running).

A tree industry certification

1. Credentials that Actually Matter

Any legit company should be able to send you these documents before they even give you a quote:

  • ISA Certified Arborist on staff (at minimum a CTW number you can verify on isa-arbor.com). Bonus points if someone is TRAQ-qualified (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) or a Florida Certified Horticultural Professional.
  • Proper insurance: General liability ($1M+), workers’ compensation, and—if they climb or use a crane—clear proof they’re not exempt. Ask for the certificate and call the agent to confirm it’s current.
  • City of Gainesville or Alachua County business tax receipt. If they’re not registered locally, they probably don’t pull permits when required.

Red flag: “We’re insured, trust me” or they email you a blurry photo of a certificate that expired two years ago.

Tree Care Company North Central Florida

2. Reviews Aren’t Enough Anymore—Dig Deeper

Google and Facebook reviews can be gamed. Here’s what actually tells the story:

  • Look for reviews that mention specific employees by name. Real customers remember “Mike with the bucket truck” or “Jose who saved my oak.”
  • Check the Better Business Bureau and the Florida Department of Agriculture (FDACS) for complaints. Unlicensed chemical application or workers-comp violations show up there fast.
  • Ask for local references you can drive by. A reputable company will happily give you 3 addresses within 10 miles where they did similar work last month.
Palm Tree Trimming in Gainesville, FL

3. In-Person Estimates (Not Drive-By Guesses)

If someone quotes you over the phone or just by looking at a blurry photo you texted, thank them and move on. A real arborist needs to:

  • Walk your property
  • Check soil conditions
  • Look for decay, cracks, or root issues
  • Ask about your goals (safety, aesthetics, preserving the tree, light for the garden, etc.)

Anyone who says “$800 to take that oak down” without setting foot on your yard is likely either guessing or low-balling to get on-site and upsell you later.

4. Pricing: Cheap, Fast, or Good—Pick Two

When hiring a tree company, you have to choose 2 of these characteristics. A company might be cheap and fast, but that doesn't usually mean they're good.

You can hire a tree company that is both fast and good, but they're not going to be the cheapest. It's important that you choose the latter.

5. Equipment Tells You Everything

Pull up to your house and glance at the trucks:

  • Clean, lettered trucks with a local phone number = established business
  • Out-of-state plates, no logo, rented U-Haul trailer = storm chaser (especially common November–March after hurricanes elsewhere)

Look for:

  • Actual bucket trucks or spider lifts (not just guys with ladders and a chainsaw on a rope)
  • Chippers that can handle the size of wood they’re cutting
  • Crew wearing real climbing gear (harness, helmet, proper ropes—not the orange home-improvement-store stuff)

6. Contracts & Change Orders

Never, ever let anyone start work without a written proposal that includes:

  • Exact scope (what’s being removed, trimmed, or treated)
  • Cleanup details (wood hauled, chips blown off driveway, etc.)
  • Payment terms (50% deposits are common; full payment on completion, never up front)
  • Start date and rain policy

If they balk at putting it in writing, walk away.

7. The “Free Wood” Scam

Some companies knock on doors after a storm, offering to “take that dangerous tree down for free because we want the firewood.” Translation: they’re uninsured and will drop it on your roof, your neighbor’s car, or the power line—then disappear. Firewood is worth maybe $200 a cord. Your house is not.

8. Questions to Ask on the Phone (Before They Even Come Out)

  1. “Do you have an ISA Certified Arborist who will be on my job?”
  2. “Can you email me your insurance certificate before you come?”
  3. “Are you licensed to apply pesticides if needed?” (FDACS number)
  4. “How long have you been operating under this exact company name?”

If they hesitate or get defensive on any of these, thank them and call the next company.

Choosing the Right Tree Company in North Central Florida

Your trees aren’t just “yard stuff”—a big live oak can be worth $10,000–$30,000 in property value, shade, and storm protection. Hiring the wrong crew can literally cost you tens of thousands in repairs or lost tree value.

At The Wood Doctor, we’re not always the cheapest (and we’re proud of that), but we sleep at night knowing we’ve never had a homeowner call us back because a tree was improperly cut, a roof was damaged, or an insurance claim got denied because of an uninsured subcontractor.

Take 30 minutes to vet whoever you choose. Your trees—and your peace of mind—are worth it.