WORKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

ACCEPTANCE

All accepted proposals must be signed and dated and may be sent by: mail, fax, or e-mail. Proposals may be withdrawn after 15 days of proposal date.

CANCELLATION

All cancellations must be received in writing 48 hours prior to start of work.

CLIENT SATISFACTION

Satisfied customers are our main goal. We guarantee all work will be done in a professional and workmanlike manner to the
specifications in the contract. Our work will meet or exceed standards set by the American National Institute (ANSI) and the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). Please bring any discrepancies to our immediate attention.

INSURANCE

Our company is insured for personal injury, property damage liability, and worker’s compensation. Please call our office for a copy of our Insurance Certificate.

OWNERSHIP OF TREES

Signature/acceptance guarantees that the trees referenced in this quote are either owned by the signee or that written permission has been received to work on trees which are not on the signee’s property. Should any tree be mistakenly identified as to ownership, the CUSTOMER agrees to indemnify RTEC for any costs or damages incurred as a result thereof.

CONCEALED CONTINGENCIES

We are not responsible for any underground property unless the owner has located and informed us of its existence. The CUSTOMER agrees to pay on a time and materials basis according to the current scheduled rates, for any additional work required to complete the job or time lost occasioned by concrete or other foreign matter in the trunk or any other conditions not apparent in estimating the work specified.

SCHEDULING

Job scheduling is dependent on the weather conditions and workloads. Unless noted on the contract or previously arranged with our office, our crews will present themselves unannounced to complete the agreed work. Should RTEC arrive for a scheduled job and are unable to start or complete work due to conflicts beyond our control, RTEC will charge by the man-hour.

PAYMENT/BILLING

Payment is due upon completion of work, if you are not present at the time of service, the Customer will receive an invoice, payment will be due upon receipt. Tree work, stump grinding, and/or fertilization may be billed separately. We accept cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. All residential projects with a total cost exceeding $10,000.00 will require a 30-50% deposit upon acceptance. Customer will be responsible for any returned check or payment fees charged by our bank or institution.

TREE TAKE DOWN

Take downs include a stump cut within 6″ of ground level, cleanup of all debris, and wood piled in general work area (unless otherwise stated). There may be additional charges for unseen concrete, metal or any foreign object in tree upon notification of owner. Some lawn damage may occur.

FIREWOOD

Normally cut into 18″-24″ lengths and NOT split. Please specify if you want larger pieces removed (additional charge)

STUMP GRINDING

By law any underground work or stump grinding can be performed only after Ms. Utility has marked that area. Once we receive notification of the marking, we will then schedule the service. Mechanical grinding of the visible tree stump to below ground level. Stump hole will be backfilled with stump chips and mound of remaining chips will be left on site (unless otherwise stated on proposal or work order). These chips are excellent for landscape mulch. Grading and soil backfill are also available for additional charge. We may not be able to complete the work if there are unforeseen foreign objects, concrete, or metal in the stump, upon notification of owner.

LAWN REPAIR & UNDERGROUND SYSTEMS EXCLUSION

RTEC will attempt to minimize disturbance to customer’s lawn. CUSTOMER understands that, unless specifically provided for herein, lawn repairs are NOT included in the contract price. Additionally, RTEC will not be responsible for any underground system (sprinkler, other) not brought to our attention prior to the commencement of work.

CLEAN-UP

Logs, brush, leaves, twigs, normally chipped, are excellent for landscape mulch. Excess sawdust, not raked up, will not be removed. There will be an additional charge for vacuuming or using a tarp. Stump chips will be left behind in a mound unless otherwise noted on the proposal.

PEST MANAGEMENT & FERTILIZATION

Materials are applied by licensed and insured operators in accordance with State and Federal regulations.

EMERGENCY SITUATION

It is our policy to respond to emergency situations in a reasonable manner. Our representatives evaluate and prioritize emergencies depending upon the severity of the situation. Our crews will respond to your required work according to its assigned priority.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT WAIVER RTEC

RTEC will inform customer if heavy equipment (including cranes and other machinery) is required for the successful and safe performance of the contracted work. Customer agrees to hold RTEC harmless for incidental damage that may occur from the normal and customary use of this equipment including but not limited to cracks in driveways, concrete, asphalt, and slate.

ARBORIST DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

Arborists are tree specialists who use their education, knowledge, training, and experience to examine and recommend measures to enhance the beauty and health of trees, and attempt to reduce the risk of living and recreating near trees. Clients may choose to accept or disregard the arborist recommendations, or seek additional advice. Arborists cannot detect every condition that could possibly lead to the structural failure of a tree. Trees are living organisms that fail in ways we do not fully understand. Conditions are often hidden within trees and below ground. Arborists cannot guarantee that trees will be healthy and safe under all circumstances, or for a specified period of time. To help minimize the risk of living and recreating around trees we will recommend a hazard evaluation be performed in many situations. A hazard evaluation provides additional information not available from a visual examination. The hazard evaluation will offer an objective analysis of a tree’s potential risk of failure. We only recommend this when enough information is not available from a visual inspection, from the ground, to determine the appropriate work to be performed. Trees can be managed, but they cannot be controlled. To live and recreate near and around trees is to accept some degree of risk. The only way to eliminate all risk associated with trees is to eliminate all trees.