Site Consultation & Second Opinion
A site visit with a verbal recommendation and a written summary: is the work necessary, is the quote fair, is there a better option, and what should a contractor be told.
Last updated · by Michael Schuck, ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A, ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional WE-15750AF
Who needs a site consultation & second opinion?
- A tree-work quote over $5,000 you want checked
- One contractor says remove, another says prune
- Removals you would rather avoid
- Property managers approving bids
What does a site consultation & second opinion include?
Site visit and a written or verbal opinion on scope, price against Bay Area market ranges, alternatives, and permit requirements the quote may have missed.
How much does a site consultation & second opinion cost and how long does it take?
Visit within 7 days of the deposit; email summary the same week.
$375 to $450 for a site visit, a verbal walk-through and a short email summary. The higher figure includes a one-page written opinion. A written report from the same visit adds $400. A desk review from photos and documents is $250 (prices as of October 20, 2026). The price is confirmed before the visit; there is no charge for a phone call to decide whether you need this at all.
How this fits the city's rules
This practice does not sell or refer tree work and takes no referral fees, so the opinion has nothing riding on it.
Request a site consultation & second opinion
Questions
Will you recommend a company?
No. We review the work, not the vendor. You keep the quotes you have.
What if the quote is fine?
Then the opinion says so and you proceed with confidence. Roughly a third of the quotes we review are reasonable as written.