TreeTruth^™

A free quote isn't really a consultation. It's a sales visit. The arborist is there to assess the job and price it, not to give you independent advice. There's nothing wrong with getting quotes, and most arborists are doing their best, but the model creates pressure toward quick answers and clear recommendations that lead to booked work.

Arboriculture is a complex field, and diagnosis can be genuinely difficult. An arborist walking your yard for twenty minutes, working toward a proposal, isn't in the best position to give you a careful, considered opinion. They may be very skilled. The model just isn't set up for that.

When you book with TreeTruth™, I come prepared. I've reviewed your photos and background notes before we speak. I've had time to research your specific situation. I have no work to sell, no proposal to write, and no financial interest in what you decide to do. My only job is to give you a straight answer. Sometimes that means confirming a contractor's recommendation is exactly right. Sometimes it means telling you it isn't necessary. Either way, you're getting an independent opinion from someone who had time to think it through before the call.

No. This is a video service. If your situation genuinely requires an in-person assessment, I’ll tell you on the call.

A phone or tablet with a camera and the ability to walk outside to the tree. That's it. I'll guide you on what to show me. If you can make a video call to family, you can do this.

I can give you an honest, expert read on risk based on what I can see. No one, on camera or in person, can guarantee a tree's behaviour because trees are living things and conditions change. I'll always be straight with you about what I can and can't determine remotely. If a site visit needs to happen, I'll be upfront about it. That includes telling you if an on-site assessment would serve you better than a remote one. I'd rather say that clearly than give you a remote opinion I don't stand behind.

Bring one quote or several. I'll look at whether the price is reasonable, whether the work is actually what your tree needs, and which one represents the honest scope. The more quotes you have, the more useful the comparison. I'll tell you which one I'd go with. What I won't do is tell you which company is generally better or worse; I'm reviewing the quotes, not the companies.

Yes, and often this is exactly when it matters most. When you call around for quotes, you typically describe what you need: "I'm looking at a removal." Every company that comes out is already framing the visit around that. They're not arriving to assess whether removal is the right call. They're arriving to quote the removal you've told them you need. Four companies quoting the same thing doesn't mean four independent experts reached the same conclusion. It means four people responded to the same brief. A TreeTruth consultation starts somewhere different: with your tree, and no predetermined answer.

That disclaimer has no real enforceability against a homeowner seeking professional advice. You received the document as part of a sales process and you have every right to get a second opinion on it. This is no different from having a mechanic look at a quote from another shop.

Yes: that's exactly what the Post-Work Review is for. Show me what was done on a live call and I'll give you an honest assessment of whether the work met proper arboricultural standards, what the impact on your tree will be, and what your options are going forward. Knowing the difference between good work and bad is something most homeowners were never given the tools to do. That's what this call is for.

The video service is available to any Ontario homeowner. I'm based in Hamilton, and the geographic limitations that apply to in-person work don't apply here. If your situation ever turns out to need an on-site visit, I'll tell you on the call.

A video consultation is advisory and educational. It isn't a formal tree risk assessment, a written arborist report, or documentation for a permit, development application, hearing, or legal matter. Those services are available separately through Brent Hocking Consulting Arborist and require a site visit. I'll tell you if your situation needs one.

Reschedule or cancel with at least 24 hours' notice for a full credit toward a future booking. Less than 24 hours' notice and no-shows are non-refundable. If you experience a technical issue, I'll make reasonable efforts to reconnect or reschedule at no charge.

Arboriculture is a genuinely complex field, and a good answer usually requires more than a quick look. Before we speak, I go through everything you've submitted: photos, your description, your specific question, and spend time researching what's relevant to your situation: species, common issues, site conditions, whatever applies. By the time we're on the call, I've already been thinking about your tree. That preparation is part of what you're paying for, and it's what makes the advice more useful than a rushed conversation on someone's way to the next job.

That’s exactly who this is built for. I’ll tell you exactly what to do and explain what each finding means as we find it. You don’t need any prior knowledge. By the end of the call you’ll have some. That’s the whole point.

You’ll be part of it, not a spectator. I’ll ask what’s on your mind first, then guide you through whatever we need to look at: where to point the camera, what to touch, what to measure. You’ll learn what I’m looking for and why as we go. Most people hang up knowing something real about their tree they didn’t know before.