So my neighbor has a pine tree in her backyard that appears to be dead at the top. Don't know if that's the cause, but the tree is also leaning towards my property--specifically to the kid rooms. I'm in Oak Forest where there are plenty of tall trees and this one is huge.

Is there anything I can do to have her deal with this tree in a proactive way? I keep worrying that a big storm is going to blow this thing down on my house.

The wife has called the city, but they have said the problem is ours.

tia

Talk to the neighbor?

Not sure if you can make them address removal as a preventative measure, but to protect yourself in case of damage (and to make a case for negligence under their homeowners policy) send the neighbor a certified letter notifying them that the tree is dead and needs to be removed to prevent damage to your home. Also take photos and get an expert opinion on the condition of the tree. Disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer

Once the tree shows obvious signs of distress, that it could be badly damaged or dying, you lose your "act of God" exception and coverage for insurance purposes, and it becomes your legal liability as property owner.

What is more interesting is whose liability it is if the tree was already present before the properties were mapped out, and then the portion that is overhanging is the responsibiltiy of the person whose property it overhangs. If a limb fell out of that portion and hit something, it would be the responsibility of the person on the side the limb overhang. If the whole tree fell over, then the portion that fell off one property and onto the other would be the responsibility of the person wose property it stood over, presuming it was known to be at elevated risk to fall.

I got a lot of schooling in this after Ike. My street had dozens of big pines come down all over people's yards and houses...

If you want to recommend someone cheap I have a contact.

I hired Affordable Tree Services for cut down a huge pine tree in my backyard in Timbergrove and the guy running the crew told me to contact him directly next time and said he'd cut down a really big magnolia for $300 including grinding the stump.

Here's his info:
Rodrigo Miranda
281.748.8316
832.882.8745

For perspective, Ability Trees wanted $2,400 to cut down the pine tree.

Definitely looking to talk to the neighbor (I've been out of town a ton), but was hoping to prevent an issue rather than just asking nicely if she rejects it.

(She's nice, but an 85yr+ old widow that may not have the funds to do this sort of thing as cheap as it sounds.)

Thanks for the recommendation. For that kind of price, I'd be fine paying it myself...

I had this same situation after Ike.
But the leaning tree was in my yard hovering over neighbors house.
I was proactive and had it removed myself, to prevent a horrible situation.

I paid like $150 for removal and stump grind; was about a 60' pine with just a few branches/limbs up high.

I don't remember who I used though.

But def. just ask them. Even offer to split cost if they seem hesitant. ~$200 is so worth it considering the possible outcome; lots of damage and possibly death.

$150?! Dayum, fools must be hard up for money if they're climbing 60' up a dead pine tree for a small cut of $150.....

I don't believe for a second that they cut and hauled a 60' pine for 150 bucks.

It costs me 140 to get my 30' palms trimmed.

No way anyone that did it for $150 had any sort of insurance.

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So my neighbor has a pine tree in her backyard that appears to be dead at the top. Don't know if that's the cause, but the tree is also leaning towards my property--specifically to the kid rooms. I'm in Oak Forest where there are plenty of tall trees and this one is huge.

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If there are no green needles growing on top of the tree, then it is dead. Talk with her to get it removed. If it were to fall on your house, you are pretty much SOL for insurance covering the damages.

Based on other poster's comments about insurance not paying for a tree falling on your house I don't see why the guys climbing trees would bother with paying for it. Their claims would probably be denied too.

They'll cover act of God type damage, as if some freak tornado blew a healthy tree down onto a house.

If the tree is known to be dead or diseased, they won't cover damages, and then the person whose property most or all of the tree resides on could be liable for a civil suit and won't have insurance protection.

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I don't believe for a second that they cut and hauled a 60' pine for 150 bucks.

It costs me 140 to get my 30' palms trimmed.

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i may not have stressed how few branches there were. There was like 3 branches. It was basically a trunk, and it wasn't dead, just leaning because another tree fell on it and knocked it crooked. 2 guys, took them an hour. One guy climbing, tying and sawing other guy pulling rope. Trunk was maybe 18" so a quick grind, and i remember now the stump grind was separate cause they did that one and another existing one for $75 or something.
Insured company.
There were also 4 other trees within 2-3 houses, so it was a bulk price, and they didn't haul, our trash picked it up on heavy trash day.

quote:

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So my neighbor has a pine tree in her backyard that appears to be dead at the top. Don't know if that's the cause, but the tree is also leaning towards my property--specifically to the kid rooms. I'm in Oak Forest where there are plenty of tall trees and this one is huge.

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You're not on Althea are you? The house catty corner behind us on Althea has a large leaning pine tree, and luckily, it is not leaning towards my house. Wouldnt reach us if it was.

If she can't pay for it, simply ask permission to hae it done on your dime. You don't want your kids to get hurt if it falls on their room

Just cut it down.




[This message has been edited by Panama Red (edited 5/15/2013 2:37p).]

Dude, Rule #1

DOH!

my bad!

[This message has been edited by OnlyForNow (edited 5/16/2013 12:11p).]

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I've also seen LOTS of pine trees never seen a 18" diameter pine tree 150 ft tall. Me thinks your over estimating the height a lot.

They'd have to cut at least 10 sections out of a tree that tall.

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me thinks I never said it was 150' tall. Read again

Even though 62strat could not wait to get out of Houston Texas and move to the utopia known as Colorado he is still a giant know it all ******.

don't get your panties in a wad.
Drum boy got a 300 quote for a 'very big magnolia', I don't know why 150 for a pine with very few branches is so far fetched.

And someone calling me out that an 18" 150' pine doesn't exist, when they clearly mixed up the price and height, makes me the smart ass? Not sure what to think about that.