Arborwell Company Profile

You need a real professional when it comes to proper tree management. Based in Hayward CA, Arborwell is more than those guy-in-a-truck tree removal services. Instead, Arborwell is a fully-staffed, highly involved professional organization that specializes in the science of healthy trees and has 10 to 12 Certified Arborists on staff, more than any other tree service company in Alameda County and the entire Bay Area.

Specialty Services
Arborwell provides services far beyond simple pruning. Their vast wealth of knowledge makes them experts in diagnostics, disease control, tree fertility programs, plant preservation, and tree transplanting, removal and replacement.

When you work with Arborwell, you aren't just getting a great service for a fair price. You benefit from more than 200 years of combined professional arborist experience. Peter Sortwell, founder and president of Arborwell, has worked in tree management for more than 30 years. From his early years working with his father's tree management company through his experience as vice president in the tree division of a national landscaping firm, Peter has experience at all levels of his trade. Backed by a degree in Plants and Soils from the University of Maine and a love for his field, he brings to the table a unique combination of skill and passion.

During a research phone call to randomly selected customers, April talked about her recent experience with Arborwell. "The arborist was very knowledgeable about tree health and structure. They did an excellent job on my trees without jeopardizing the health of the trees."

A Healthy Solution
Peter Sortwell knows it takes real skill to keep trees healthy. "People wonder why their trees aren't doing well—it's because they're not growing in a natural environment," he says. Stressors including pollution, cars, concrete and foot traffic all impact tree health.

Arborwell understands that people oftentimes have emotional ties to their trees. Grass and shrubs can be replaced, but trees take generations to reach their full potential. They are an investment, increasing the curb appeal and value of your home.

Losing a tree can be an emotional decision. The staff at Arborwell doesn't take the decision lightly. Recent customer Becky learned this first hand when she hired Peter Sortwell and his staff to care for a sick tree. "Other companies advised us to cut it down, but Arborwell was willing to save it," she said.

Number One Priority
Arborwell knows that customers wishes always come first. "We are in the business of customer service, trees just provide the venue," says Peter Sortwell. With 90 people on staff, Arborwell provides big service for even the smallest jobs.

"They showed up on time and were very efficient. They kept the shape of the tree and even asked if it was adequate before they left. Of all the tree services, they were the best," said recent client Jan, during a research call.

The proof is in their response time. An employee-created set of overarching practices guides all customer interactions, including pledging to always be on time and promises to return all phone calls the day they are received and solve customer quandaries within the business day.

Patricia, a customer who has used Arborwell for several years, had this to say during a research phone call: "They are there on time and they do what they say they are going to do. The price is also as agreed upon. They clean up after themselves and they are very pleasant to deal with."

And Arborwell uses non-impact vehicles to protect customer's lawns while they work on their trees unlike less careful tree services.

Customers say Peter Sortwell is knowledgeable, honest and dependable. They know from personal experience that he runs Arborwell with the highest standards. Proof of this comes in the form of employee respect, a wide array of services and excellent work at a fair price. And nothing can top Arborwell's satisfaction guarantee—if you're not completely satisfied, you don't pay a dime.

Karen, a customer, saw the difference in Arborwell's service. "They had a quick response, were very pleasant and easy to work with, and were also very neat and knowledgeable about issues," she said during a recent research call. "Before Arborwell, I used two other companies, but Arborwell was by far the very best."

—Lauren Bongard Schwarz
Associate Editor
The Prime Buyer's Report