Avoid price gouging after a storm

Price gouging is when retailers take advantage of spikes in demand by charging extremely high prices for necessities, most often after a natural disaster strikes. When trees fall on buildings, homes, or vehicles from severe weather, it can cause serious property damage and cause a large delay to business operations. This puts property owners and business owners in a vulnerable position when trying to get trees removed. With so many individuals'' needing tree removal and not very many businesses equipped to handle the job, we tend to see predatory pricing practices after storms. Read more to learn how you can protect yourself from price gouging:  

1. Build a relationship with local vendors so you have good reputable companies to call and avoid ‘storm chaser’ companies.  
2. You can say no to signing an ‘Assignment of Benefits’ (AOB). This would be signing over your property rights to the vendor.  
3. Check the Better Business Bureau and make sure the company you are using is properly licensed, insured, and has no consumer complaints against them.  
4. Make sure the company you are working with is a certified arborist on staff and belongs to leading trade organizations such as the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) or the TCIA (Tree Care Industry Association).
5. Only pay a deposit of 25% upfront and only make the final payment when the work is completed, and you are pleased with it.
6. Be sure to get a detailed proposal with all the cost breakdowns and don’t sign a blank work authorization.  
7. If you have a concern about the pricing, you receive and the vendor fails to address them, you can file a complaint to your state attorney general’s office.  
8. Deny any liens and demand a release and waiver of any liens that could be placed on the property from all subcontractors prior to making your final payment. Subcontracts may place liens on property owners if they have not been paid by the tree vendor, and the lien will remain on the property title and will impact your ability to sell the property.  
9. Evaluate the work you need done and prioritize what needs to be done now, and if there are things that can be done at a later date. This could lower your costs.  
10. Be sure to work with your adjuster while getting prices to be sure that your policy will cover the costs you expect it to.

Multiple factors affect the price of a tree removal quote. Read this article by PropertyCasualty360 to learn more details.  

*Article Source: PropertyCasualty360