Lusk Tree Care Services, Inc

"Thank you for the kind review. We enjoyed meeting you and working for you. David Lusk"

"Thank you for your kind words. you made my day. David Lusk"

"[member name removed] Thank you for your kind endorsement. David Lusk"

"November 11, 2013 Dear Ms. [Member name removed], I apologize for the delay is responding to your Angie's List negative review of my services. I was just notified by a dismayed client of your review. Enclosed is a refund for the $90.00 tree assessment. I am sorry for your disappointment. Although you question my ability to correctly diagnose tree problems, please note that I have spent the last 40 years studying and working with trees. I studied under the late Dr. Alex Shigo, one of the worlds leading tree scientists and now considered the "father" of modern Arboriculture. His endorsement of me, many years ago, played an integral part in my being accepted as a member of The American Society of Consulting Arborist- the highest ranking organization in the field of tree diagnostics. I am the only consulting arborist by way of qualifications in Winston-Salem. The website is ASCA-consultants.org. There you will find information about our duties and expertise. With all due respect, my assessment that your tree died due to loss of roots during the construction of your home, driveway and landscape/lawn installation is absolutely, albeit unfortunately, correct. Wood borers brought to your attention by the tree cutters are a secondary pathogen that seek out weakened trees. Dead and dying trees are host to many organisms. Many trees die on construction sites where preventative measures have not been laid out prior to construction. I have included references from leading texts that clearly point out that root damage predisposes trees to borer infestations and disease. Your tree removal expert was correct about insects in the damaged tree but his more than obvious discovery is of only a part of the story. His assessment addresses merely a symptom and not the cause of the tree's death. At no point did I say all your trees would die. I did, however, state that the root systems of your trees, as well as, others in the neighborhood have been compromised. Some trees will survive, others will not. My award winning company, Lusk Tree Care Services, Inc. is considered one of the premier tree services in North Carolina. We are often underbid by the local competition who cut significant corners in order to provide the lowest cost bids. For example: 1.) Falsely advertising full insurance coverage when in fact they do not carry workers compensation protect the workers on site. The cost for this coverage is exorbitant with tree services having one of the highest rates of any profession. 2.) Some companies do not provide liability insurance coverage in the event of property damage. 3.) Many local, well known, " highly rated" tree companies also hire and pay their workers cash "under the table" as a means of avoiding withholding taxes, social security taxes and all the while circumventing insurance protection in the event of personal injury. I know this because I have hired many people over the years who once worked for these companies. I have heard repeatedly that they were paid cash, no withholdings, (no paper trail). Some were told that if they got injured, they were on their own. Angie's List does not do background checks to confirm insurance or other legal requirements in any profession. I applaud Angie's List for allowing me to set the record straight. The properties we work on and our references are without equal. We do not cut corners or operate illegally. Our methods are safe and efficient. (Our cost for the equipment that would have been used to remove your tree would have exceeded $300,000.) I am sorry our price was higher. I wish I had known before now of your complaints and I could have possibly renegotiated or reevaluated the cost while providing certificates of insurance and a highly skilled staff of uniformed, professional, fully insured tree workers utilizing the most modern equipment and methods. I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have. My direct number is 336-399-4800. Sincerely, David Lusk"

"Thank you. We all appreciate the kind review. Davis Lusk"

"Thank you for the review. We all appreciate your vote of confidence. David Lusk"

"Thank you for your thoughtful review of our services. Our goal at Lusk Tree is to provide the most qualified, ethical and best service possible from the first phone call to the completion of the project. Thank you too for advising and cautioning others that cheap tree services, more often than not, indicate that corners are being cut somewhere. For example, not providing worker's compensation insurance for all personnel on the work site, low limits of property liability, use of less qualified temporary workers and/or uninsured sub-contractors posing as employees with an emphasis on getting the job done as quickly as possible, rather than safely and conscientiously. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to write the report and your awareness that even with trees "you get what you pay for". David Lusk -President, Lusk Tree Care, Inc."

"As the owner of the company I find any grade less than an A to be not acceptable. I would like to respectfully submit more specifics with regard to the project. There was a 2 man crew on site from 8:30 till10:45. There was a log truck (50,000 dollars) and a skid steer (25,000 dollars) required to haul away a broken pine top, a pine log and removal of 2 uprooted stumps. The debris was hauled to a dumpsite which was an hour turn around time for truck and driver. The landfill fee was 50.00 dollars. I do believe that the uprooted stumps complicated the estimated time given that it is often difficult to gauge just how much digging is required to remove them. Some can be dug more easily than others and often we don't know until we try. Still, we are required to provide for an agreed upon amount. I have never increased an agreed upon amount, however, I have re-negotiated lower costs if it were deemed fair and appropriate. I am glad that Angie's List provides contractors the ability to provide comments. Thank you. David Lusk"