Storm damage creates one of the most pressure-filled quoting moments in home services — crews often go door to door right after severe weather, and homeowners are understandably eager to get a fallen tree dealt with fast.
Slow down enough to check a few things
- Insurance and licensing — ask to see proof before any work begins, even under time pressure. Traveling storm crews are where uninsured operators show up most often.
- Get it in writing, even if it's handwritten on the spot — a verbal agreement in a chaotic moment is hard to dispute later if something goes wrong.
- Stump grinding is almost always a separate line item from removal — confirm whether it's included or not.
- Anything near power lines or structurally compromised should go to a certified arborist or a crew specifically experienced with that risk, not just whoever's available first.
If it's an insurance claim
Photograph the damage before any work starts, and keep the itemized invoice — insurers typically want documentation of both the damage and the work performed.