Give each consultant the same brief
Send the same site location, number of trees, purpose and available plans or photographs to each consultant. Identify who will use the advice and any deadline. If one quote is for verbal advice on a single tree and another includes a mapped schedule and written report for the whole property, the totals are not directly comparable.
Use this comparison checklist
- Coverage: which trees, site areas and questions are included?
- Inspection: what access and inspection scope are proposed?
- Outputs: verbal advice, photographs, schedule, map, report or management recommendations?
- Audience: is the output scoped for the person or organisation that needs to use it?
- Timing: proposed visit, draft if applicable, and issue date?
- Follow-up: are clarification, revisions or another visit included?
- Price: are GST, travel and agreed additional work clearly explained?
- Exclusions: what would require a separate scope or specialist input?
Example: two quotes with different outputs
Illustrative comparison: Quote A covers an inspection and verbal advice for two garden trees. Quote B covers the same trees with a numbered schedule, photographs and a written report for a property manager. Ask whether you need the written record, and then request a matching scope before comparing price. Neither option is automatically better; the required decision and audience determine the useful output.
Ask about additional work before accepting
If access is restricted, plans change or further investigation becomes appropriate, ask how an additional scope will be agreed. Confirm whether the quoted price covers the work you described or depends on information still to be supplied. Put changes to the brief in writing so both parties know which version of the project is being assessed.
Check the purpose of a report
Where a council, insurer or project team has requested information, send the actual request to the consultant. Ask how the proposed report responds to it. A quote or report cannot guarantee an approval outcome. Avoid relying on a report name alone: a condition assessment, site inventory and development impact assessment answer different questions.
Request a clear Sorbus scope
Use the site visit preparation guide to assemble your brief. Explore reports and management advice or tree surveys, then ask us to confirm deliverables, timing and cost for your site.
Prepared by Sorbus Arbor Consulting.