By Brent Hocking Consulting Arborist
Video consultations with a Board Certified Master Arborist — and a second opinion on any tree quote you've already received. No site visit. No sales pitch. No one with anything to gain.
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist ® | ON-2667B | Ontario
The Problem
When something looks wrong with a tree, the default move is to call a tree company. The quote arrives. It's large. And you have no way to know if it's honest.
Every tree company that sends someone to your yard gets paid to cut. Even the honest ones are answering a different question than the one you asked. You want to know what's best for your tree and your property. They're quoting a job.
"Before I wrote my first report, I spent years doing the work — as an arborist and crew member for one of North America's largest tree service companies. I know what a sound recommendation looks like. I also know what a padded one looks like."
I've stood in front of homeowners' trees and had the exact conversations I now have in consultations. The difference is that today I have no invoice to write at the end of it. With fewer than 40 Board Certified Master Arborist designations in Ontario, the credentials back the experience. On a TreeTruth call, all of it is pointed at one thing: the truth about your tree.
Book a live call and bring one estimate or several. We'll go through them together and answer three questions most homeowners never get a straight answer to.
Is the price reasonable? Is the work actually what your tree needs? And if you have more than one quote — which one should you go with?
I spent years in the field working for a major national tree service company before moving into consulting. I've had these exact conversations with homeowners while standing in front of their trees. I know the difference between work that serves the tree and work that serves the invoice.
Quote Review
$95 + HST
Live 30-minute call. Bring one estimate or several. We cover price, scope, and if you have multiple quotes — which one to go with.
How It Works
All Services
All consultations are by video. You bring your phone to the tree. I guide you on what to show me.
Quote Review
Async — delivered within 2 business days
$95 CAD
+ HST
Bring one estimate or several to a live call. We'll cover whether the price is reasonable, whether the work is right, and if you have multiple quotes — which one to go with.
Quick Question
Live video — 20 minutes
$75 CAD
+ HST
One tree, one clear question. Fast, focused, and expert. Best for "should I be worried about this?"
Standard Consultation
Live video — 45 minutes
$145 CAD
+ HST
The right fit for most situations. A proper walkthrough of one or more trees, your questions answered, and clear recommendations you can act on.
Comprehensive
Live video — 75 minutes
$225 CAD
+ HST
For larger properties, multiple trees, storm damage assessment, or a complex situation that needs time to work through properly.
Written Summary
Add-on to any consultation
$95 CAD
+ HST
A one-page PDF of findings and recommendations, signed by a Board Certified Master Arborist. For your records, a real estate file, or sharing with a contractor.
For Live Consultations
01
Book and pay online
Pick the service and a time that works. Payment is taken at booking so your slot is locked in.
02
Fill in a quick intake
Two minutes, a couple of photos, your main question. The more I know beforehand, the more we cover on the call.
03
Meet by video
Grab your phone, head outside, walk me to the tree. I'll guide you on what to show me.
04
Get honest answers
Clear guidance you can act on. No pressure, nothing to buy. Add a written summary if you want it in writing.
What People Ask
These are the situations people bring to TreeTruth consultations.
"Do I really need to remove this tree?"
A second opinion before spending thousands — from someone with nothing to gain either way.
"I have two or three quotes and I don't know which to choose."
Bring them all. We'll look at price, scope, and recommended work — and tell you which one is actually the right call.
"Is my tree dangerous?"
An honest read on risk in plain language, from someone whose only job is to tell you the truth about the tree.
"Why is my tree dying?"
Decline, dieback, odd colour, dropping leaves, oozing, leaning — let's work through it on camera.
"I'm buying a house — are these trees a problem?"
A pre-purchase look at the trees on the property before you close. Conditions periods are tight; this fits.
"A storm hit my tree. What now?"
Guidance on damage, next steps, what's urgent, and what to document for an insurance claim.
"What is this on my tree?"
Pest, disease, and fungus identification. Knowing what you're looking at is the first step to dealing with it.
"Was my tree pruned properly, or butchered?"
Whether past work helped or hurt, and what to do from here.
Why It Matters
"Before I wrote my first report, I spent years in the trees — working for one of North America's largest tree service companies. I've had these exact conversations while standing in front of homeowners' trees."
— Why the field background matters
Brent Hocking
Questions
No — this is a video service, which is what keeps it fast and affordable. If your situation genuinely needs an in-person assessment, I'll tell you on the call and explain what's involved. No obligation.
A phone or tablet with a camera and the ability to walk outside to the tree. That's it. I'll guide you on what to show me. If you can video call family, you can do this.
I can give you an honest, expert read on risk based on what I can see. No one — on camera or in person — can guarantee a tree's behaviour because trees are living things and conditions change. I'll always be straight with you about what I can and can't determine remotely.
I'll tell you which quote is the honest one, which is accurately scoped, and which is fairly priced — and if you have multiple quotes, which one you should go with. That's effectively the answer. What I don't do is formally endorse a specific company by name, because my value to you is that I have no relationships that influence what I say. Bring one quote or several — the more you have, the more useful the comparison.
That disclaimer has no real enforceability against a homeowner seeking professional advice. You received the document as part of a sales process and you have every right to get a second opinion on it. This is no different from having a mechanic look at a quote from another shop.
The video service is available anywhere in Ontario. I'm based in Hamilton and the greater Toronto area. For Quote Reviews, location is almost always irrelevant.
A video consultation is advisory and educational. It isn't a formal tree risk assessment, a written arboricultural report, or documentation for a permit, development application, tribunal, or legal matter. Those services are available separately and require a site visit. I'll tell you if your situation needs one.
Reschedule or cancel with at least 24 hours' notice for a full credit toward a future booking. Less than 24 hours' notice and no-shows are non-refundable. If you experience a technical issue, I'll make reasonable efforts to reconnect or reschedule at no charge.
Book this week. No site visit, no sales pitch, no pressure.
Independent arboricultural advice. Not a substitute for a formal on-site assessment. Read the full terms.