What to look for, what to ask, and what red flags should make you reconsider.
It’s easy to find someone to cut down a tree, but finding a trustworthy person to do the job properly is a whole different story. You want someone who will get the job done without damaging your property, and who will also clean up after themselves. But that’s not all – you also need someone who is reliable and insured, so you’re not left liable if something goes wrong. It’s a big responsibility, and you need to make sure you’re hiring someone who can handle it.
Hiring a tree service company can be a daunting task, especially in areas like Selkirk where storms and diseases like Dutch elm disease can have a significant impact on trees. The short working season in this region also adds to the complexity of tree work, making it crucial to find a reliable company. Here’s a simple guide to help you make an informed decision when hiring a tree service company that you can trust.
The Credentials That Actually Matter
ISA Certified Arborist
The ISA Certified Arborist credential is the main professional standard for arborists in Manitoba. Earning it requires at least three years of full-time arboriculture experience, passing a 200-question exam covering tree biology, pruning, disease, risk assessment, and safe work practices, and maintaining continuing education every three years to keep the credential current.
In 2026, arboriculture was officially recognized as a trade in Manitoba, with Apprenticeship Manitoba beginning the process to formalize certification regulations. Until those are fully in place, ISA certification is the recognized benchmark. You can verify any arborist’s credential at treesaregood.org before you hire.
Not every person on the crew needs to be certified, but there should be a certified arborist on staff who is supervising or overseeing the work.
Liability Insurance
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance before anyone sets foot on your property. For residential tree work in Canada, commercial general liability coverage of at least $2 million per occurrence is the standard baseline. This covers third-party property damage and bodily injury, meaning if a branch comes down on your roof, your neighbour’s car, or a passerby, there is coverage in place.
Do not take their word for it. Ask for the certificate and check that the policy dates and company name match the quote you received.
WCB Manitoba Coverage
Workers Compensation Board coverage is separate from liability insurance and equally important. If a worker is injured on your property and the company does not have active WCB coverage, you can be pursued for medical costs and lost income under Manitoba rules. Ask for a WCB clearance letter confirming the company is registered and coverage is active for the period the work is being done.
Any legitimate company will have both documents ready to send without hesitation.
Common Mistakes Selkirk Homeowners Make When Hiring a Tree Service Company
Choosing Based on Price Alone
The cheapest quote is almost never the best deal. A significantly lower price usually means something is missing from the scope, no stump grinding, no debris haul-away, no permit handling, or it means the company is operating without proper insurance. The savings are not worth the exposure if something goes wrong.
Not Asking for Insurance or WCB Before Work Starts
Most homeowners never ask. They assume the company is covered and find out otherwise only when something breaks or someone gets hurt. Ask before work begins, not after.
Hiring Door-to-Door Solicitors After Storms
After a major wind event or ice storm, trucks show up in Selkirk neighborhoods offering to deal with hanging branches or downed trees for quick cash. These storm chasers often have no insurance, no credentials, and no intention of sticking around if the work causes damage. A reputable company does not need to knock on your door to find work.
Skipping the Written Quote
A verbal quote is not a quote. If the scope, price, and what is included are not in writing before work starts, you have no recourse if the crew leaves a mess, bills you for extras, or does something you did not agree to.
Agreeing to Topping**
If a company recommends topping your tree as a way to reduce its height or make it safer, that is a reason to find a different company. Topping is not a legitimate pruning technique. It leaves large stubs that rot, triggers weak and poorly attached regrowth, and often creates a more dangerous tree than the one you started with. Reputable arborists do not top trees.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire
Before you agree to anything, get answers to these:
On credentials:
“Do you have an ISA certified arborist on staff? Can I have their name or certification number to verify?”
On insurance:
“Can you send me a Certificate of Insurance and a WCB Manitoba clearance letter before work starts?”
On scope:
“Can I get a written estimate that lists exactly what is included, cutting, cleanup, haul-away, stump grinding, and any permit fees?”
On elm compliance:
“How do you handle elm pruning ban timing? Do you schedule elm work outside the April 1 to July 31 restriction?”
On complications:
“If you find unexpected decay, a hidden utility conflict, or something that changes the job mid-way, how do you handle that? Will you stop and get my approval before any extra charges?”
On cleanup:
“What does cleanup include? Will you chip the branches, remove logs and debris, and rake the area before you leave?”
A company that answers all of these without hesitation is one worth hiring. One that gets defensive or vague on any of them is telling you something.
Red Flags to Walk Away From
No written estimate. If they will not put it in writing, do not let them start.
No proof of insurance or WCB. Not negotiable. If they get defensive when you ask, that is your answer.
Recommending topping. Any company that suggests topping as a solution to a tree problem either does not know what they are doing or does not care about the long-term outcome for your tree.
Pressure to decide immediately. Legitimate companies give you time to review a quote. High-pressure tactics to sign on the spot are a warning sign.
Unusually low quotes. If one bid is dramatically lower than the others, ask exactly what it includes before accepting it.
Door-to-door solicitation after a storm. As mentioned above, reputable companies do not need to canvass your street after a wind event.
No physical address, no online presence, or a business name that changes between the quote and the invoice.
Large cash deposit or full payment upfront before work starts.
Why ISA Certification Makes a Real Difference
Hiring someone with an ISA certified arborist on staff is not just about credentials on paper. It changes the quality of the work in practical ways.
A certified arborist knows where to make cuts so the tree heals properly. They know how much live canopy can safely be removed in a single season without stressing the tree. They understand Manitoba’s elm pruning ban and schedule work accordingly. They assess structural defects and risk before cutting, rather than figuring it out as they go.
A general handyman or unlicensed cutter might get the tree down, but the method matters. Improper cuts invite rot and disease. Removing too much live canopy weakens a tree heading into a Manitoba winter. Missing a structural defect before starting a removal creates serious safety risks.
In a province where Dutch elm disease is active, emerald ash borer is established, and winter puts real stress on compromised trees, proper technique is not optional.
How to Read Google Reviews When Choosing a Tree Service
Reviews are one of the most useful tools you have, but they are easy to misread.
What a trustworthy review profile looks like:
Reviews spread consistently over months and years, not a big burst in a short window. Specific details about the job, the crew, cleanup, and communication rather than generic phrases. A mix of ratings with professional responses to the occasional lower score.
What to read in the reviews themselves:
Look for mentions of specific services, “they removed a large elm in our front yard”, cleanup detail, “raked everything and left the lawn clean”, and how problems were handled. Reviews that mention the crew showing up on time, explaining what they were doing, and following through on what they quoted are the most reliable signal.
What looks suspicious:
Twenty or more five-star reviews posted within a week or two. Generic one-line comments with no specifics. Reviewer profiles with a single review or reviews for businesses in completely unrelated cities on the same day.
A company with 200 or more reviews built up over years, with specific detail and consistent feedback about quality and cleanup, is a genuinely trustworthy signal.
The Real Risk of Hiring an Uninsured Tree Service
Most homeowners do not think about it until something goes wrong.
If a worker falls from a tree on your property and the company has no WCB coverage, their medical costs and lost income can become your liability under Manitoba rules. You can be treated as the de facto employer for that job if the company is not properly registered.
If the crew drops a large limb on your roof, your fence, or your neighbour’s car and the company carries no liability insurance, your own home insurance may have to cover it. That means your deductible comes out of your pocket and your premiums may go up.
The certificate and clearance letter take about two minutes to request and verify. It is worth doing every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I verify that a tree service company has an ISA certified arborist?
A: Go to treesaregood.org and use the arborist locator tool. You can search by name or certification number to confirm the credential is current. Ask the company for the arborist’s name or cert number before you hire.
Q: Is the cheapest tree removal quote the one I should go with?
A: Not unless you have confirmed that it includes the same scope as the other quotes. A lower price often means something is excluded, debris removal, stump grinding, permit handling, or the company is uninsured. Compare quotes on what is actually included, not just the bottom line number.
Q: What is the elm pruning ban in Manitoba and why does it matter when hiring?
A: Manitoba prohibits pruning healthy elms from April 1 through July 31 each year to reduce the spread of Dutch elm disease via elm bark beetles. A company that schedules elm pruning during this window either does not know the rule or does not care about following it. Ask directly how they handle elm work and whether they schedule it outside the restriction.
Q: What should a written tree removal quote include?
A: At minimum it should list the specific trees being removed or pruned, the scope of work including cleanup and haul-away, whether stump grinding is included, any permit fees, travel fees, and a clear statement of what would trigger additional charges if something unexpected comes up mid-job.
Q: Do I need to be home when the tree work is being done?
A: Not necessarily, but it is useful to be available at the start so the crew can walk through the scope with you and confirm access, cleanup expectations, and where equipment will be positioned. If you cannot be there, make sure everything is in the written quote before work starts.
Q: What is the difference between tree removal and tree trimming, and does it affect who I should hire?
A: Tree removal takes the whole tree down. Tree trimming removes specific branches to address clearance, safety, or health concerns while leaving the tree standing. Both benefit from a company with an ISA certified arborist involved, especially for larger or more complex trees. The credentials and insurance requirements are the same regardless of which service you need.
Q: What happens if a tree falls on a neighbour’s property during the work?
A: If the company carries proper liability insurance, their policy covers third-party property damage including your neighbour’s property. This is one of the main reasons liability insurance is non-negotiable before work starts. Without it, you and the company are both exposed.
Q: How do I know if a tree service company is legitimate and not a scam?
A: Legitimate companies have a verifiable physical address, a consistent business name, a real online presence with reviews built up over time, and can provide a Certificate of Insurance and WCB clearance letter on request. They provide written quotes and do not pressure you to decide immediately or pay large amounts in cash upfront.
Final Thoughts
Baxter Landscape and Tree Services has an ISA certified arborist on staff, 200+ five-star Google reviews, full liability insurance, and WCB coverage on every job. We provide written quotes, follow Manitoba’s elm pruning regulations, and clean up completely before we leave.
If you have a tree that needs attention in Selkirk or the surrounding area, give us a call or fill out the form below for a free, no-obligation quote.