The cost of tree removal can be significant. As you might imagine, the majority of homeowners rarely have money set aside for such an expense. With that in mind, when one of your trees goes down and you need to act swiftly, maybe you ask yourself, “Can I claim tree removal on my home insurance?”
Keep reading to learn more.
It depends on the situation
Keep in mind that homeowner’s insurance will not cover the cost of removing a tree that has not yet fallen. Remember it’s your responsibility to maintain the yard, including any trees. While you may have the ugliest tree imaginable in your front yard, don’t expect home insurance to cover the cost of removal unless it’s fallen.
Now, what happens if a tree fell in a nasty storm and damaged the house? In this case, you can expect your home insurance to cover the necessary repair costs. Note that tree removal would likely be included.
There are other interesting scenarios worth discussing here. For example, what happens if your tree falls directly onto the driveway? On the other hand, say that you’re disabled and a fallen tree blocks the wheelchair ramp?
We recommend checking your home insurance policy and contacting your agent in either of these situations. It’s pretty standard for policies to cover tree removal up to $1,000 per storm. Of course, leave those storm-damaged trees in the hands of a professional.
Let’s consider yet another hypothetical. A tree from your yard falls into the street and is causing major havoc for the entire neighborhood. While some municipalities will remove the tree themselves, others might require you to do it.
Lastly, there’s the much-debated scenario where a tree from your yard fell onto a neighbor’s property, causing damage. In this instance, your neighbor would need to file a claim on their home insurance policy. However, if it’s determined that the tree was dying and you had been warned previously about the hazard, you can expect to be held liable.
For additional reading, feel free to check out our recent post “Do You Know Who Should Pay for Trees on the Property Line?”
If you were to take just one piece of advice from this post, it should be this: don’t count on getting reimbursed for the cost of tree removal. The fact is that some insurance companies just don’t want to spend time valuing landscaping.
CHICAGO’S TREE REMOVAL EXPERTS
Do you need a tree removed from your property as soon as possible? Here at Pro Tree Service in Chicago, we understand the risks associated with such a task. That’s why it’s imperative to leave tree removal tasks in the hands of a professional.
Unfortunately, not every local tree removal service performs quality work. Some take advantage of homeowners by overcharging or cutting corners during the process. That’s not how our tree company conducts business, though.
Whether your trees are surrounded by power lines, commercial properties, and/or poisonous wildlife, you can count on Pro Tree to get the job done right the first time. We have been serving Chicago residents for three decades and, as a result, have grown to become leaders in the industry.
There are certainly times when tree care costs a pretty penny. You can feel comfortable knowing that Pro Tree is committed to providing the best solutions at the most competitive rates through what we call our Best Price Guarantee. Simply come to us with a reasonable, written estimate and we will match or beat it by 10 percent.
Take a good look at your tree. Do you notice natural splitting or cracking at critical parts? On the other hand, maybe significant aging or disease has taken a toll on your tree.
We invite you to contact Pro Tree to request an estimate. Our team is fully licensed, bonded, and insured to perform everything from tree removal to land clearing.
Why risk getting stuck with a shady company that only cares about taking your money? At Pro Tree Service, our customers are also our friends and neighbors.
Let us take the hassle out of tree care. And yes, we also offer emergency services for your convenience!