Tree service: nobody hears the phone over a chainsaw

Storm calls are where the money is, and where calls get missed

The jobs that pay best, like a tree on a house, a limb through a carport, or a driveway blocked by a fallen oak, all come in at once after high wind. That's also when every crew is already working. HomeGuide puts typical tree removal at $400 to $1,200, with large or complex removals around $3,000 (HomeGuide).

On lead prices, 99 Calls' managed campaigns averaged $37.77 per tree service lead in April–June 2026, up from $33.93 a year earlier (99 Calls; agency data, not a Google price). Google's "How leads work" page says a valid lead can be generated when "you missed a phone call during your business hours and the customer stays on the line for more than 20 seconds," and that a business-hours call answered by voicemail or a greeting "is treated as a connected call." The page applies to Local Services Ads generally and lists no exception for this category.

Intake questions for tree calls

1. Is the tree down, partly down, or still standing?

   A leaning or cracked tree after a storm gets a different callback than a pruning request.

2. Did it hit anything?

   A house, vehicle, fence, or the street. Is anyone hurt? If so, the caller is told to call 911.

3. Is it near any power lines?

   If yes, the safety instruction above, and the lead is flagged urgent.

4. How big is it, roughly, and where is it?

   Front or back yard, and whether a truck can get to it (gate width, slope, fences). Rough answers are fine.

5. What do you want done?

   Removal, trimming, storm cleanup, stump grinding, or an assessment.

6. Insurance, HOA, or landlord involved?

   It records the answer only and doesn't give advice about permits or coverage.

7. Address and callback number

   It reads both back. No arrival time is promised.