Tree work signed tree by tree, with the neighbors on board
Tree work has one mistake nobody can undo: taking down the wrong tree. After that come the ruts in the lawn, the cracked driveway and the neighbor who never agreed to a bucket truck in their yard. SignMaster gets the trees, the cleanup and the access signed before the saw starts, on your phone in the yard or by link for whoever isn't there.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 3 min read
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What a tree company should get signed
| Document | What it settles |
|---|---|
| Work contract | Each tree by number, species and location, removal or pruning, and the price for each |
| Cleanup choices | Wood hauled or left in rounds, chips hauled or left, stump ground and how deep |
| Property access and damage | Where the trucks and crane go, and who pays for ruts or a cracked driveway |
| Neighbor permission | Access across the neighbor's yard, or consent to work on a tree on the line |
| Storm work authorization | Emergency removal, the rate, and how it relates to the insurance claim |
| Plant health care program | Treatments for the year, like injections and fertilization, renewed annually |
The tree service contract in the template library is a starting point. Use this template opens it in SignMaster with blanks for your prices and the trees.
Make sure it's the right tree
- 1
Mark and number
Flag or paint each tree in the yard and give it a number. In your contract template, each number has a line for species, location and the work, pruned to ANSI A300 or removed.
- 2
Attach the sketch
Draw the property with the numbered trees and scan it with the iPhone and iPad app. Add it to the envelope next to the contract.
- 3
Initial each tree
Add an initials field beside every numbered tree. The homeowner can't finish without initialing each one.
- 4
Sign before the crew is booked
Send it and choose Sign in person while you're standing in the yard, or send it by link. Everyone gets the sealed PDF when the last person signs.
Permits and power lines
Many towns protect certain trees or require a permit to remove them, and work near power lines can need the utility involved. Put a line in your contract about who checks for a permit, and have the homeowner initial it. SignMaster doesn't know your local rules.
Neighbors and shared trees
When the only way in is across the neighbor's lawn, or the oak sits on the property line, get the neighbor's signature too. Add them to the same envelope as a second signer: they get their own link, sign on their phone without an account, and both households get the sealed copy. Put them first in the signing order if your crew can't be scheduled without their OK. If they decline, they can say why, and you find out before the crane is booked.
Storm season
After a storm, homeowners need the tree off the roof today. Keep a storm work template with your emergency rate and a plain statement that the homeowner owes you whether or not the insurer pays. Send it from the truck and get it signed by link or in person before the climber goes up. Paid plans have no envelope limit, so a busy week costs nothing extra.
Plant health care renewals
Yearly programs, like ash borer injections or deep-root fertilization, renew every year. Bulk send the renewal from one CSV in late winter: each row gets its own envelope with the client's address, the trees treated and this year's price in labeled text boxes. Reminders follow up, and the results file tells your arborist which properties are confirmed.
Pricing
Arborists who estimate and the office that schedules each need a seat. Crew is $49 a month for 5 people, plus $8 a month for each extra person. A one-climber business can use Solo at $15 a month with unlimited envelopes. New workspaces get 14 days of Crew free. See plans.
What SignMaster doesn't do
- It doesn't assess trees or write arborist reports.
- It doesn't apply for permits or call the utility.
- It doesn't bill insurers or take payment.
- It sends signing requests by email, not text message.
Questions? Answers.
How do I make sure the crew removes the right trees?
Number each tree on site and in the contract, attach a sketch, and add an initials field beside every tree. The signed PDF is the crew's work order.
Can a neighbor sign permission for equipment access?
Yes. Add the neighbor as a signer in the same envelope or a separate one. They sign from a link on any phone or computer, no account needed.
Can I get storm work authorized quickly?
Yes. Keep a storm template ready, fill it from the truck and have the homeowner sign in person or by link before the work starts.
Can I renew plant health care programs in bulk?
Yes. Bulk send the renewal from a CSV of last year's clients on any paid plan. Each client gets their own envelope with their trees and price filled in.