When Do You Need an Arborist Consultation? (5 Common Reasons)

Most tree services offer free estimates—someone comes out, looks at your tree, and quotes a price for removal or trimming. But a free estimate isn’t a professional assessment. It’s a sales visit.

An arborist consultation is different: a detailed evaluation by an ISA Certified Arborist who can diagnose problems, assess risk, and recommend solutions that might not involve their services at all. Here are five situations where that deeper expertise matters.

1. You’re Concerned About a Tree’s Safety

You’ve noticed something wrong—a lean, cracks in the bark, mushrooms at the base, branches that drop without warning. You’re not sure if the tree is dangerous or just looks concerning.

What a consultation provides:

A certified arborist conducts a systematic assessment:

• Visual inspection of trunk, crown, and root zone
• Probing for decay (using mallets, probes, or resistance drills)
• Evaluation of branch attachments and structure
• Assessment of lean, lean history, and root stability
• Analysis of targets (what could the tree hit if it fails?)

The result is a risk rating—low, moderate, high, or extreme—with specific recommendations.

Why it matters:

Not every concerning sign means the tree is dangerous. Conversely, some dangerous trees don’t look bad to untrained eyes. Professional assessment prevents both unnecessary removal and unrecognized hazards.

2. You’re Buying or Selling Property

Large trees significantly affect property value—positively if they’re healthy assets, negatively if they’re hidden liabilities. Both buyers and sellers benefit from knowing what they have.

For buyers:

Before purchasing property with mature trees, an arborist consultation identifies:

• Trees that may need removal in the near future
• Hidden hazards that could result in damage or insurance issues
• Trees requiring ongoing treatment (EAB, for example)
• Estimated costs for tree management

This information affects your offer and prevents surprises after closing.

For sellers:

An arborist consultation before listing can:

• Identify problems to address before buyer inspections
• Provide documentation that trees are healthy and professionally maintained
• Prevent last-minute negotiation over tree issues
• Support asking price with evidence of well-maintained landscape

Written documentation:

A professional assessment includes a written report suitable for real estate transactions—not just verbal assurances.

3. Insurance Has Questions

Insurance companies sometimes request tree assessments:

• After a claim, to evaluate remaining trees
• When renewing policies with large trees near structures
• Following neighbor complaints about hazardous trees
• To support or deny coverage for tree-related losses

What you need:

A written professional assessment from a credentialed arborist carries weight that casual opinions don’t. The report documents:

• Tree species, size, and condition
• Defects identified (with photos)
• Risk rating using accepted methodology
• Recommendations with timeline
• Arborist credentials and signature

This documentation protects you whether the tree is fine or needs work.

4. You’re Planning Construction Near Trees

Building an addition, installing a pool, adding a driveway, or doing major landscaping near mature trees? Construction can kill trees years after the project finishes—and you won’t know until it’s too late.

An arborist consultation before construction answers:

• Which trees can realistically survive the project?
• How large should tree protection zones be?
• Can the project design be modified to improve tree survival?
• Which trees should be removed rather than damaged?
• What monitoring and care do preserved trees need during and after construction?

Why it matters:

Construction damage to roots often doesn’t show above ground for 2-3 years. By then, the contractor is long gone and the tree is declining. Pre-construction consultation prevents this by identifying trees worth protecting and establishing protection specifications.

5. You Want a Second Opinion

Maybe another tree service recommended expensive work, and you’re not sure it’s necessary. Maybe a neighbor insists your tree is dangerous, but you disagree. Maybe you’ve heard conflicting advice.

An independent arborist consultation provides:

• Objective assessment from a credentialed professional
• Second opinion not motivated by landing a job
• Written documentation of tree condition and recommendations
• Clarity to resolve disputes or make decisions

The value of independence:

ISA Certified Arborists follow a code of ethics that includes honest assessment regardless of outcome. If the tree is fine, I’ll tell you. If it needs work, I’ll explain why. If removal is recommended, I’ll show you the evidence.

What’s Included in a Consultation

On-Site Assessment

The arborist visits your property and examines the tree(s) in question:

• Visual inspection from all angles
• Diagnostic tools as needed (probes, mallets, boring)
• Photography of defects and conditions
• Measurement of tree size and target distances

Risk Analysis

For hazard assessment, we use ISA’s Tree Risk Assessment methodology:

• Likelihood of failure (based on defects and conditions)
• Likelihood of impact (based on target and occupancy)
• Consequences of failure (based on target value)

These combine into a risk rating that guides recommendations.

Written Report

You receive a professional report documenting:

• Tree species, size, and location
• Condition assessment (health and structure)
• Defects identified (with photographs)
• Risk rating and explanation
• Specific recommendations with timeline
• Arborist credentials and certification

This report is yours to keep and share with insurance, real estate agents, neighbors, or other parties as needed.

Consultation Fees

Unlike free estimates, professional consultations are a paid service:

Typical cost: $150-$300 depending on number of trees and complexity.

What you get: A thorough assessment and written report from an ISA Certified Arborist.

Why it’s worth it: Proper diagnosis prevents both unnecessary work and missed problems. The consultation fee is far less than removing a tree that didn’t need removal—or the damage from a tree that should have been addressed.

When a Free Estimate Is Enough

You don’t need a paid consultation for every tree question. A free estimate is sufficient when:

• You know the tree needs removal and just need pricing
• The question is simple: “Can you trim these branches?”
• You’re comparing prices for straightforward work
• There’s no insurance, legal, or safety question involved

But consider a consultation when:

• Safety is uncertain
• Major decisions depend on tree condition
• Documentation is needed for insurance or legal purposes
• You want objective, credentialed professional advice

Schedule a Consultation

If you’re facing a decision about a tree and need professional assessment, our tree risk assessment service provides comprehensive arborist consultations throughout the Duluth area.

Call (218) 555-0391 to schedule. We’ll discuss your situation, visit your property, and provide the assessment and documentation you need to make informed decisions.