When you have a piece of property that needs work before a landscaping or construction project, professional land clearing can be a big help. Rather than attempting this massive job yourself, hiring a company that specializes in clearing work is always a smart choice. Still, you want to be sure that the professionals you pick can handle the job.
Here are five questions you should ask any Oklahoma land-clearing company before you sign them up.
1. What Is Your Experience With Similar Lots Like This?
No two land clearing projects in Oklahoma are exactly alike. Some lots have many large trees, requiring huge bulldozers and chainsaws, as well as stump removal. Others might only have small woody plants and weeds, necessitating brush removal and vegetation clearing.
When hiring a company, it needs to have the expertise and equipment to handle the vegetation found on the property. If the professionals have no experience with taking down large trees, they may struggle to operate the equipment required for your project.
Lot size and accessibility play a role in determining who to hire for land clearing, too. If your lot isn’t easily accessible, the company needs to have a plan for how it will haul the equipment.
2. Can I Decide What You Do With the Debris?
After eliminating the large trees and vegetation, you need to decide how to handle the debris. You want a company that gives you options for the debris, which could include:
- Hauling larger items
- Leaving debris on the property
- Piling and burning debris
- Turning trees and branches into mulch
You might have plans for the wood chips from the property, but will your chosen company be happy to create piles of mulch? Perhaps you want the trees cut into firewood. Some companies won’t be willing to do this type of work.
Many property owners want their land-clearing company to remove everything, including heavy trees and boulders. If this describes you, be sure to ask whether the company has the equipment necessary to haul away these items and ask for an accurate cost estimate.
3. How Can I Trust That Your Cost Estimate Will Be Accurate?
Any trustworthy company specializing in lot preparation should give you an accurate cost estimate for the work. Will the company provide this estimate for free and without tagging on obligations? In developing a trustworthy cost estimate, the company should also ask you for details about the size of the lot and what’s growing on it.
Some companies may use a satellite photo of the lot to determine an accurate cost estimate. For larger projects, a company might send a professional to the lot for a personalized inspection. Regardless of how the company obtains the information, it’s a vital step in generating an accurate cost estimate.
4. What Safety Precautions Do You Take?
A land-clearing project requires the use of heavy equipment. After all, moving boulders and taking down large trees can be dangerous work. It’s essential that any company you hire has the know-how (and insurance) to manage these items safely.
Does the company have the safety gear to protect employees as they work? If the lot is in a populated area, ask about warning signage to protect anyone walking in the area. If you have outbuildings or a home near the space that’s being cleared, how does the company protect them from damage?
Your chosen land-clearing professionals should also take great care to keep any utility lines safe, whether they’re overhead or buried. If you need to clear areas near your neighbor’s property, extra precautions are also crucial to avoid liability issues.
5. Do You Carry the Necessary Licenses, Permits, and Insurance Coverage?
Even in rural areas, local governmental bodies may have rules about removing vegetation and clearing a lot. Are there rules for the sizes and species of trees you can remove? For instance, if you have to remove trees that carry environmental protection ordinances, you might need a permit from your local authorities.
Before you hire the site-clearing company, ask whether it gets these permits for you and holds any licenses to operate in your area of Oklahoma. If you’d like to protect yourself from errors or accidents on the job, check that the professionals have insurance coverage, too. Burning the cleared vegetation, trees, and brush after removing it might also require you to have a controlled burn permit from the local fire department.
Contact Our Experts for a Free Estimate for Your Next Land-Clearing Project – Including the Bells and Whistles
AHR Land Clearing and Forestry Mulching can answer all these questions and provide proof of licensing, insurance, and experience. When you need lot-preparation work, our land clearing services will prepare your parcel for whatever plans you have in mind. We serve the entire region around Edmond, Oklahoma.
Want an accurate price estimate for land-clearing work? Contact us today at (405) 451-4896!
