Think About These Tree Maintenance Costs Before Buying a New Home
When you’re looking for the perfect home (or at least one that’s affordable in your price range), there are many things to consider, from walking distance to the school district to the condition of the home. myself.
In most cases, the condition of the front and back yards is not necessarily the deciding factor as long as there is open space. But one thing that many homebuyers overlook is the trees that surround the house.
Of course, they will notice them, especially if they partially shade the house or add to its attractiveness, but people often do not consider them as an asset, and do not take into account the cost of maintaining trees on their territory. Here’s what to keep in mind about this often overlooked aspect of home ownership.
How to evaluate the trees on the site
While there are certainly benefits to having trees in your yard when you are involved in the process of buying a home, it can be easy to overlook the fact that trees are living things that will continue to grow and change over time. Which means you can’t just leave them and hope for the best (well, technically you can, but it’s a gamble).
When visiting potential homes, here are a few things to consider about trees in your yard:
- Size/Age : How tall and thick is the tree? How is the department doing? Does it have room to grow (if needed)?
- Location : How close is the tree to the house? If there was a storm or strong wind, would it be possible for a tree to potentially fall on any part of the house? And the branches? Will the falling leaves clog the gutters? It looks like the roots can destroy the foundation of the house?
- Health : Does the tree look sick? Is he starting to rot? Do you see any insect infestations?
- Tree Type : Does it produce acorns or apple trees that will fall into your yard or home? Will juice drip onto cars parked underneath?
If the trees in the yard appear to be generally healthy and located in places where they do not pose a threat to the home, maintenance costs over the years should be manageable – mostly pruning as needed. Depending on the size of the trees, this may include investing in equipment to take care of the pruning yourself, or hiring professionals to do the job.
However, paying professionals to cut down a tree is usually quite expensive, and avoid paying for it if possible. (More on this a little later.)
To get a better idea of the types of tree-related problems that can arise, read this first-hand account of a new homeowner’s experience with trees in the yard.
What to do if you are interested in a house
Let’s say you fell in love with a house, but the trees on the yard bother you. What’s next?
One option is to invite an arborist as part of a home inspection. If they confirm that one or more trees need to be cut down, you can negotiate the cost of removing them with the owner as part of the closing process.
Or, if the tree in question poses a danger to any power lines, check with the city and/or local power supplier to see if the home is eligible for their tree service. Rules vary depending on the location of the house. Also, this only applies to trees with branches in the path of power lines – any other trees on the property are your responsibility.