Which of these sounds more realistic? (London tree surgeon quote)

[sunshinefordays]

Would be very grateful for any insight!

We have an approx 5m tall lime tree (trunk about 3/4m diameter) in our garden. Have had two tree surgeons give us quotes for felling it.

One tree surgeon has quoted £400 to fell the tree and clear debris.

The other has quoted £800 for the same job.

I'd just be interested to know if one seems overpriced/suspiciously cheap, as the quotes are so different.

I’d say the £400 is more like it. I’m up North but based on work Ive had done before I think that would be quoted at around £250/£300 up here.

I'm north too

Was recently quoted £150 for removal of a beech including stump grinding or £100 to be heavily pollarded.

Was in conjunction with other work though.

Did you really mean the trunk is 4m wide?!!!

£400 sounds ok. I've just spent £1200 for a 40ft tree and 8m of conifers to be removed and another 60ft tree to have significant crown reduction. SW London border.

If it’s really as massive as you describe, £800 actually sounds reasonable.

I’m reading the trunk as 0.75m in diameter.

Four hundred is close to the going rate where I am in the south east for a days work for two tree surgeons ( you need two as they can’t do it alone for safety reasons.

The dude quoting eight hundred is taking the piss. He’s over priced it because he doesn’t want the job.

We have a sycamore we want felled and the price of that (London) is £1200 including removal of the wood so i think £800 is more likely a reasonable figure.

@kirinm @Bluntness100 @GreyishDays @Lunaballoon @titchy @IAintentDead @Shesaysso

Thank you all so much for your comments! That's really helpful.

Yes sorry I was trying to mean three quarters of a metre, rather than almost 4!

We've never had any tree work done before so were really in the dark with quotes, so your insight has really helped - thank you!

Op I have a tree surgeon in at least twice a year, and usually for a min of two days, we have a lot of trees, we pay a reduced rate of 350 because we use them a lot.

Honestly 800 is a complete piss take.

Taking down the tree is quick, they can do it in a couple of hours, I’ve had ninety foot pines taken down. The clearing up and removing the debris is what takes the rest of the day.

What you’re discussing is a days work max, personally I’d want my tree surgeon to do that in half a day. However as said, we use tree surgeons a lot so I know how long a job takes. In addition. He will sell the wood.

Kiri you’ve been ripped off majorly I’m sorry. I’m an hour from London and I’d laugh the guy off the propert if he tried to charge me 1200

@Bluntness100 - thanks for sharing your experience - really good to hear from those who've used tree surgeons regularly!

The more expensive one might have to pay to get rid of the rubbish (or be too busy and doesn't want the job), the cheaper one may keep the wood either for himself to burn or to sell as logs.