--- title: Hiring an Arborist: 8 Questions to Ask First url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/blog/hiring-an-arborist-questions/ business: Battle Born Tree Service address: 6301 US Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701 phone: 775.232.8243 hours: Office Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm; phones answered seven days a week; 24-hour emergency service credentials: ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A on staff; Nevada Business License # 20131580674; fully insured type: Tree service (removal, crane work, pruning, stump grinding, defensible space, snow removal, firewood) --- - [Home](https://battleborntreeservice.com/) - [Blog](https://battleborntreeservice.com/blog/) - Questions to ask before hiring an arborist # What should you ask before you hire an arborist or tree service? Ask for the arborist's name and ISA certification number, the company's Nevada business license and proof of insurance, and a written scope that says what is included. Verify the ISA number yourself on the ISA website. Key takeaways - An ISA Certified Arborist is a person; ask for the name and number and verify it. - Ask for a Nevada business license number and proof of insurance. - Get the scope in writing: what is cut, what is hauled, stump or no stump. - Compare more than one estimate. Nevada does not license tree removal and trimming as contracting, so there is no contractor license number to check. What you can check is a business license, insurance and a person's credential. ## Is a tree company licensed in Nevada? The Nevada State Contractors Board's consumer guide lists removal and trimming of trees and shrubs among work that does not require a contractor's license. So there is no board number to check. A tree company can show a Nevada business license. Battle Born Tree Service is licensed and fully insured, and prints Nevada Business License # 20131580674. ## What is an ISA Certified Arborist? It is a person who has met the International Society of Arboriculture's requirements and passed its exam. The credential belongs to the individual, so a company should say it employs one, not that it is certified. Battle Born has two ISA Certified Arborists on staff, including ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A. Ask for the name and number, then look it up on the ISA's verification page and check that the status is current. See [what is an ISA Certified Arborist](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/what-is-an-isa-certified-arborist/). ## What proof of insurance should you ask for? Ask for a certificate from the insurer, not just a statement. OSHA says contact with electricity is a leading cause of death for tree care workers, and a hurt worker or a damaged roof is a bigger problem when no insurance stands behind the job. Call the agent to confirm the policy is active. See [proof of insurance: what to ask for](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-service-proof-of-insurance/). ## What should the estimate say? It should say which trees, what work on each, whether the wood and chips are hauled, whether stump grinding is included and who handles permits. Battle Born's estimates are free and tailored to each client. The ISA recommends getting more than one estimate. We do not post prices; the right number depends on a site visit. See [how to read a tree service estimate](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/how-to-read-a-tree-service-estimate/). Be wary of any quote that is far lower than the rest without a reason. Ask what is left out. Cleanup, stump grinding and haul-off are the usual gaps, and a clear scope makes them visible before the work begins, not after. ## What else is worth asking? - Who will be on site, and does an arborist assess the job first? - How will the work be done: climbing, bucket truck, boom truck or crane? - How is the cleanup handled? - Do you call 811 before grinding stumps? - How do you work near power lines? - Do you top trees? The answer should be no; see [why topping is not pruning](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/why-tree-topping-is-not-pruning/). At Battle Born, a certified arborist assesses every job before work begins. We do not claim line-clearance certification, and NV Energy handles its own primary lines. ## What are red flags? A company that cannot name its arborist, will not show insurance, asks for payment in full before work or offers topping as pruning deserves more questions. Compare notes across estimates, and take your time. Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) for a free estimate. Take notes during each visit and compare them side by side. The estimates should cover the same trees and the same work, or the totals tell you nothing. Ask each company how it would handle the biggest tree on the job, who would lead the crew and what happens if the plan changes on the day, then ask for the answers in writing. A company that welcomes those questions is easier to work with than one that hurries you. Battle Born will walk the property with you and answer them at no charge. ### Sources - [ISA Trees Are Good: Verify an ISA Certified Arborist](https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/verify) (read October 17, 2026) - [Nevada State Contractors Board: Choosing the Right Landscaper](https://www.nvcontractorsboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Choose_Landscaper_english.pdf) (read October 1, 2026) - [International Society of Arboriculture, Trees Are Good: Why Hire an Arborist (PDF)](https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Why%20Hire%20An%20Arborist_0321.pdf) (read October 17, 2026) - [OSHA: Electricity and Tree Care Work, A Deadly Combination (OSHA 3861, 2016)](https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA3861.pdf) (read October 17, 2026) ### Talk to the office [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) | Monday to Friday | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm | |---|---| | Saturday and Sunday | Office closed, phones answered | Phones answered seven days a week. 24-hour emergency service. [Free estimate](#quote) ### Keep reading - [What is an ISA Certified Arborist, and how to verify one](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/what-is-an-isa-certified-arborist/) - [Proof of insurance: what to ask a tree service for](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-service-proof-of-insurance/) - [How to read a tree service estimate](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/how-to-read-a-tree-service-estimate/) - [Arborist vs tree service vs landscaper in Nevada](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/arborist-vs-tree-service-vs-landscaper/) - [Arborist consultation](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/arborist-consultation/) - [About Battle Born Tree Service](https://battleborntreeservice.com/about/) ### Terms on this page [Arborist](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/arborist/) [The full glossary](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/) ## More from the blog Pruning and care October 17, 2026 5 min read ### What should you do with your trees in October in Carson City and Reno? In October, finish watering while the ground is open, look over your trees for dead or hanging limbs, and clear leaves and needles away from the house. Save most live-wood pruning for the dormant seas Pruning and care October 17, 2026 6 min read ### Young trees in new subdivisions: the first ten years A young tree in a new subdivision needs very little pruning in its first two or three years, then steady structural pruning to build one strong central trunk and well-spaced branches. The ISA says tre Removal and equipment October 17, 2026 6 min read ### Where tree debris and green waste go in Reno and Carson City Green waste has a few legitimate homes in our area: the landfill or transfer station if the load is only wood and green waste, a fire district drop-off day or curbside chipping program if you qualify, [All posts](https://battleborntreeservice.com/blog/) ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). Phones are answered seven days a week. ### Does Nevada require a license to remove a tree? The Nevada State Contractors Board lists tree removal and trimming as work that does not need a contractor's license. A business license and insurance are what to ask for. ### How do I verify an ISA Certified Arborist? Ask for the name and number and search the ISA's verification page on treesaregood.org. ### Is certified the same as insured? No. Certification shows a person's training. Insurance is separate; ask for a certificate. ### Does Battle Born give free estimates? Yes, free and tailored to each client. Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243).