Should I have an arborist make a new home pre-purchase visit?
If you are purchasing a new or an older home with established trees, it is an excellent idea to have one of our Certified Arborists inspect the trees prior to locking in the deal. Just as buyers need a home inspection to evaluate the house’s foundation, roofing, heating and cooling systems, plumbing and electrical systems to make sure they are in good shape, a Certified Arborist should inspect the trees to make sure they are in good working order.
It is wise to know about the trees at your new home, beginning with the species of trees on the property. Many species have particular characteristics—good and bad: potential pest problems, structural defects, or disease issues. Only qualified arborists with education and experience can properly and accurately perform this job. Over the years, many clients, when informed that their new home has a tree with serious problems have stated, “One of the main reasons we bought this house was because of this wonderful tree.”
Sometimes the tree is wonderful, in good condition, sound and solid. Sometimes the tree has numerous defects, substantial root loss, large areas of decay, or other problems. It is important to know the issues that a tree problem can present and what can be done for them, prior to purchase. Often, trees are very large and in close proximity to the house. A large limb or trunk failure can be catastrophic. It is far better to know what potential problems exist before investing in a property.
Clients have often narrowed their home search down to two or three properties, and then have us inspect the trees on each property and actually make their purchase based on our professional opinion of the trees. Trees can contribute as much as 30 percent to the land value of a property, making them a significant asset. However, health condition issues and structural defects can also cause trees to become a tremendous liability. Only an arborist with sufficient experience, education, and specialized training can determine the difference.
