Empire Tree Experts

Don’t hire them. Despite several requests, Lucas never gave us a contract. We hired them last fall and we are still cleaning up the mess they left. Logs were scattered all over.
They were asked to put fence back to keep the livestock in, didn’t happen.
We asked that the logs be cut, some were left long and family had to do it. Those that were cut, only half were cut according to the correct length. There are also many logs that have not been cut through, again family has to do it.
They said they would cut the stumps down, they are still there; one is almost 4 feet high.
We are in our ‘80s and relied on Lucas to do the job he said he would do. Instead we have to finish the job by asking our children to come and help us.

I recently had a tree removed in my backyard by Empire Tree Experts. Overall, I am satisfied with the work that was done. The guys that came over were very friendly and did a nice job of cleaning up the work site after they were done. The only reason I’m rating Empire 3 stars is because the crew was about 2 hours late… which I realize happens from time to time. However, a call in advance would have been appreciated to know that they were running behind. It was convenient that we could make it work when they arrived, but I can see how this would have been very frustrating to someone that planned their day around what was originally agreed to. Thanks to the crew that came to take care of this for us…

Called this co. To take down some large dead oak trees on the property. Came out for an estimate. Didn’t hear from them and after many calls they made an appointment. Never showed or called to cancel. Finally after more calls they show up.
When my back was turned they took and entire truck load, only half mine and dumped the chips right off the drive in full sight. Could not believe the gall. Asked him to remove but fell on deaf ears.
I cannot recommend these guys at all. It was just a continual headaches dealing with them

If you are aiming to upset your neighbors… this is the company I would go with. Otherwise you have got much better options! Twice they worked on my neighbors property cutting trees twice they have come on my property and removed lumber for wheel chalks I watched the first time and and they saw, and still neglected to ask me even when I gave the wtf face. I had to go get my child from school and came home to find the lumber they borrowed had just been thrown in the front of my driveway so I had I stop my car in the street to move what they had so carelessly placed I called and complained and they honestly the reaction was basically a «and wtf are you telling us, your problem not mine»…two weeks later I come home to see my lumber under their wheels yet again, only to later find my lumber on the corner of another neighbors yard tossed in some high weeds, I’m sorry my car was blocking your careless placement maybe you should put thing back where they came from or better yet ask first (or maybe buy some real wheel chalks?) you disrespectful ass hat of a company! So this time I’m not calling you I’m telling Unilocal,seems to be more effective !

My neighbor, who has had quite a lot of tree work done on his house, suggested I call Empire Tree Experts to remove a 100+ foot topped Douglas Fir which was located precariously next to my house. Lucas (the owner) gave me a great price (far better than the other two bids that I got), his guys showed up on time, and worked hard all day long in the hot sun. They came with a cherry picker, chipper and tractor, and all the necessary tree climbing and safety equipment. After very carefully limbing the tree and lowering the branches on ropes where it made sense, they dropped the monster without incident and proceeded to cut and quarter it to my specifications. At the end of the day the work wasn’t quite finished. They came back a couple of days later and finished the job according to the agreement. Lucas and his crew were professional, personable, and straightforward. I will definitely call them again.

We used Empire to remove several trees and our neighbor also used them. We both found the same thing: they will show up to take your money and do most of the job, but good luck getting them to come back and 1) finish the job and 2) clean up the mess they leave behind. The owner *will* call and hassle you for full payment, however! Hold back a sizable portion of payment until you are satisfied the job is done – we did this and finally (after 8 months of asking them to finish the job) used the money to hire someone else to finish it.

Our landlord asked for a bid on removing a limb that had fallen and to trim two trees in our back yard. While waiting for another tree service to deliver the other bid for same work, Lucas came out with a crew without being requested and started to take down both trees. We called the landlord and asked the men to stop the removal. The landlord came out and stopped the work.
Lucas was presumptuous and took down one of the trees that only needed to be trimmed. I would not trust this Company to do any work in the future. We had another tree service complete the work, and were satisfied with their work.

Empire Tree Experts have twice come out and trimmed out our Cypresses. The first time, I met with Lucas and went over exactly how the trees were to be trimmed. He gave me an estimate, and his crew came out with a wood chipper and did about half the job we had agreed upon.
Lucas came back out, took a look, and agreed that the job was incomplete. I hung with the crew when they came back, and when it got dark, they decided they were finished.
Since the job had clearly taken a lot more effort than it had maybe looked like at first, I did not press for day three, although the job was still not complete.
A few months later, Lucas and the crew came back to do the same trees again. This time, I could not be there, and my instructions were lost in the translation. Lucas remembered me, remembered the job, remembered the trees, but did not remember anything about my particular desires. And I could not be there at all that time.
I was horrified to come back and find the trees had been trimmed like hedges. Plus there were pieces of tree all over the place. These are cypress trees. Think Monterey, Think open and beat up looking by the weather. Think romance. Hedge clipped? Squared off?
I called Lucas, told him that since I had not been there to give the instructions I would not hold the job against him, but could he please send the crew out to pick up the debris.
No one came out. No one returned my calls. I filled about a dozen trash bags with the debris and the garbage service picked it up.
Months later, Lucas called about his bill. Was I going to pay it? I had never gotten the bill, and it was too late to insist he pick up the debris. I resigned myself to paying the bill and resolved never to use Lucas again.
This year, I trimmed my own trees.
And guess what. Inside the hedge trim job was the rest of the story. Branches and twigs, mostly pieces of dark brown tree hacked off and just left lying on top of the branches. Fallen into the branches, forming a density of dead stuff that has to be penetrated and prodded loose just to get the tree trimming gadget into the part of the tree that needs to be trimmed. Like dreadlocks, tree style. Like dreadlocks you have to comb out, tree style.
Were it not for the fact the Lucas at one time actually tried to fix a botched job, I would not give him two stars. The last time, he just ignored and intimidated me with collections after a truly abysmal job. Do not be fooled by the beautiful photographs on his web site. You can do a better job yourself with a $ 79 trimmer from the hardware store — at a huge savings over his quadruple digit bill.