They say "Give it a good cutting" and that can mean a lot of different things.
How I try to spec my bids...
Goal is for safety, tree health, increased sunlight on lawn on eastern and southern side, with 10+' vertical clearance over house and garage.
Less than 20 percent foliage removal. 80% of pruning wounds to be less than 3" diameter. No wounds over 6" diameter.
Homeowner specifies to protect the rhododendron and other perennials, lawn damage/ divots okay (will be filled with owners soil and seed by homeowner).
or
Goal is xxx
Homeowner specifies approximately 50% foliage to be removed, against advice of South Sound Tree and Landscape. SSTL advises no more than 15% foliage loss on this construction impacted, mature, XXXXX.
SSTL will prune for 30' vertical/ horizontal clearance from home, resulting in pruning wounds of approximately 10".
I'm likely to walk the the second job unless the only alternative is that they will remove it. Around here, most people don't ask for anything too extreme.
I retopped a twice topped row of 80' cedars, reduction by 60%. Very mature Rhododendrons underneath, which removal would kill with sun. They want to have a hedge. If it lives, fine. If it starts dying, start underplanting.