miamicuse wrote:
I need some tree service done to a property. Two black olive trees need
pruning/trimming/cleaning, one mango tree and oak tree was severly damaged
by hurricane Wilma to the point they are beyond recovery need to be cut down
and removed. A bottle brush that toppled need to be removed also.

I looked up three companies in the yellow pages and asked them to provide a
free estimate.

Company 1:
Clean/prune black olive tree: $450 per tree
Cut down damaged oak: $350
Cut down mango: $350
Cut down bottle brush: $200
Haul & disposal: $800
Total: $2600

Company 2:
Mango cut and haul: $850
Oak cut and haul: $150
Black olives trim: $750 each
Bottle brush cut and haul: $150
Total: $2650

Company 3:
Quoted me a lump sum of $1000 to do everything include hauling away.

Company 1 and 2 have pretty close bottom line. But look at the trim fee for
the black olives, $450 vs $850 each, why such drastic difference?

and company 3? So much cheaper?

How do I make comparisons? I have no knowledge of any of these companies?
Don't know if they are reputable or not.

Any advise on questions to ask them?

MC - location in Miami, FL zone 10

First, I would ask friends and neighbors for recommendations.
Second, I would ask them why such a big difference in prices.
Third, are they bonded/insured?
Fourth, how many people would be there to handle the job and
what kind of equipment?

I don't have a whole lot of experience with this. Had to have
one tree removed (a week before it was to be sold!!!), have
seen my father have trees trimmed and my nephew does some of
it himself. The company that removed our tree did it very
cheaply, brought in five or six people and a small bobcat kinda
machine to carry the big chunks and the fallen tree was removed
and they were gone in under an hour. My father had three trees
trimmed by two guys and it took them all day between the actual
trimming and the disposal/removal. My nephew does occasional
removal services and does it fairly cheaply because he then
cuts up the wood and either burns it himself or sells it. :P

Tracey