Bizsuccess

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
By Pattie Baker

It started with the privet vines on the side of the house. They shouldn’t be there. They cause endless sneezing and basic misery when they bloom in the spring in three-fourths of my household members (okay, I somehow got a pass on it). This past spring, I promised I would get rid of them, and turn that whole little spot into a vegetable garden.

It went on to include all those tree branches covering up the street lamp and hanging into the street. Then there were the juniper bushes that made it near impossible to get to the hammock. And did I mention the crepe myrtle that whacks against the house every time the wind blows? Who knew crepe myrtles could get that big?

Yes, it was time for the “tree guy”. As luck would have it, my next-door-neighbor was having some trees “tamed.” I took advantage of the research he had already done and asked the company to send someone out to give me a quote as well. An arborist/horticulturalist walked my property with me and expertly informed me what was worth saving and what wasn’t. I appreciated the time he took to understand my ultimate goals and to explain my options, especially in saving things of value and eliminating things that would go on to cause future problems. It was a huge step up from the year before when the company I hired basically took orders as to what to hack and then went out blindly and did what I asked. They also charged me more than they estimated, for less work than they agreed to do, and they didn’t return my calls. I now understand the difference in not only hiring a true tree professional, but also in hiring a company with stellar reviews on Kudzu.

If you work in an industry that has such a huge disparity between basic service and truly professional consultation, then make sure you are marketing yourself for the level of expertise you provide. List what a consultation with you can reveal for a homeowner, and how making informed decisions now can help save them money and trouble later on. Encourage your customers to post reviews on Kudzu about their positive experiences with your company.

Curious about my “tree guy”? Click here for this company’s Kudzu profile. I can’t say I’m surprised about the reviews.