The Tree413 Advisor

Find us at: www.tree413.com

Most homeowners think the best way to save money is by getting multiple quotes or negotiating a better price. Those things can certainly help. But after more than 30 years as a business owner and licensed general contractor, I've learned that one of the biggest ways homeowners lose money has nothing to do with the contractor they hire. It has everything to do with the order in which they complete their projects. When homeowners think about improving their property, they usual

Whether you're installing a new patio, removing hazardous trees, replacing a fence, or hiring a landscaper, one thing is certain—outdoor projects can be expensive. After more than 30 years in the construction, landscaping, and tree service industries, I've noticed something surprising. Most homeowners don't lose money because they hired a dishonest contractor. They lose money because they made one or two simple mistakes before the project even began. Here are five of the most

After more than 30 years as a business owner and licensed general contractor, one thing has always surprised me. Very few homeowners ever verify a contractor's insurance. Over the course of a busy year, we completed hundreds of projects. Yet only a small percentage of homeowners ever asked for proof of insurance. Even fewer knew what they should be looking for once they received it. Think about that. People are trusting someone to work on one of their biggest investments, oft

If you've followed Tree413 over the years, you've known us as a tree service. Today, we're excited to welcome you to the next chapter. After more than 30 years as a licensed general contractor, business owner, and professional in the construction and outdoor service industries, I've come to realize that one of the biggest challenges homeowners face isn't the project itself—it's knowing who to hire. Throughout my career, I've been asked the same question thousands of times. "W

One of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have is believing they can judge the quality of a project by how it looks on the day it's completed. The truth is, some of the most important parts of a project are the parts you'll never see. Take a paver patio, for example. When the last paver is installed, the joints are filled, and everything is cleaned up, two patios can look nearly identical. The homeowner is happy, the contractor gets paid, and everything appears perfect. Bu

After more than 30 years in the construction, landscaping, and tree care industries, I've noticed something that has never really changed. Most homeowners hire contractors the same way they did decades ago. They ask a neighbor who they used. They post on social media looking for recommendations. They collect a few estimates and often choose the lowest price. Sometimes they read a handful of online reviews and assume they've done enough research. Unfortunately, that's where ma