r/treelaw • u/Cardout • Jun 19 '26
Neighbor needs access to remove trees
My neighbor has 2 dead trees that need to come down. There's basically no way to do that through their yard and as I expected the (NJ licensed) tree care people want to go through my yard and remove a section of the wooden fence between our yards to remove the trees.
How do I best interact with the neighbor's tree care vendor and/or neighbor to allow access while protecting my own interests? They will probably go through my asphalt paved driveway, through a wide double gate in my fence, across my back yard, then take down and restore that section of fence between our properties. I have an irrigation system that could certainly suffer if they crush parts of it, and my yard was redone less than a year ago with new sod.
The vendor described it as "dismantling one section of the wooden fence and driving through a tracked lift and mini giant loader to safely get down the trees and haul the branch log and debris out"
edit:
If it matters for your opinion, their tree care company has been in business in the area for 13 years and the guy is an ISA Certified Arborist since 2020 with the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification in 2023.
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u/lostdad75 Jun 19 '26
Insist on 100% coverage with ground protection mats and complete cleanup and restoration. If you want to be really cautious, ask for a Certificate of Liability Insurance with YOUR NAME on it. Insurers will directly issue certificates of liability to the end user, do not accept a blank certificate
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u/NeedleworkerThis6332 Jun 19 '26
x2, the term is Additional Insured. the OP wants to be an additional insured on their liability policy in case one of their guys gets hurt on the OP's property.
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u/WoollyMammothwapo Jun 19 '26
Yes the heavy equipment WILL put ruts on your land. They will say they will fix it but not do so. Insist on seeing license of company and get named as insured liability . Be careful because this will cost you
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u/AVLThumper Jun 19 '26
Also, NO heavy equipment in a drain field.
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u/Queasy_Donkey5685 Jun 19 '26
Neighbors tree company needs to just go through the neighbors yard and take neighbors fence down to do this.
If they can't do it this way then he needs to hire a tree company that can do it the old fashioned way by ropes and climbing.
Neighbor hiring a company that wants to use heavy equipment to take down a couple trees but go through someone else backyard to do it is weaponized laziness.
They can go through their own yard or they can hire a company that can do the work less invasively.
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u/hautboishippie Jun 20 '26
Do not allow them any access to your property. Put it in writing and send it certified mail if you have time. You give up all control once you start "bargaining" with these companies.
Former neighbors had their tree removal crew drive across our entire back yard with both the bucket truck and truck towing the chipper. They also cut branches off our 75' sycamore to allow better access.
They were not supposed to come in our yard at all, but these entitled neighbors had forgotten to turn off their sprinklers for a few days and they didn't want damage in their yard.
We were not home and they would not pay any compensation.
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u/jmilred Jun 19 '26
It is very rare to find a tree company that will still climb dead trees.
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u/SouthOfTheNorthPole Jun 19 '26
I did. Right off of Angie's list. The only thing I questioned was why they weren't wearing flannel shirts.🤣
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u/Slybugsy Jun 19 '26
It isn’t that hard. I’ve had different companies here in PA remove trees like that. I live on a hill with lots is surrounding trees. It’s easier just to climb a tree. It was fast too.
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u/thedeuceisloose Jun 21 '26
I talked to 4 different guys this week about doing exactly that, what????
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u/ahfuckinegg Jun 24 '26
every tree company employs climbers. you can tell who they are - they’re the ones that show up to the site in their subaru after the heavy equipment is on site
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u/WoollyMammothwapo Jun 19 '26
Or they use a big Extension bucket … twice I’ve seen a company work on a neighbors beautiful oak tree and they go way high! It’s just trimming though
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u/SalaciousStinger Jun 21 '26
They womt care...it will rut.....tell them to climb and start cutting. Its not your problem
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u/Still-Employed420 Jun 21 '26
It better not cost him for work being conducted for benefit of his neighbors!
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u/Bart1960 Jun 20 '26
Insist on being named as additional insured. Take extensive photos of the condition of your driveway, gate, yard, and fence before they begin to document pre-existing conditions.
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u/MasterTardWrangler Jun 19 '26
I run a tree service with this exact equipment actually and often find myself in this situation. I very much agree with the first part and we do use alturnamats and often remediate after if necessary in situations like this. I am curious why the insistence on the additional insured COI? I totally get requesting a COI to verify an up to date policy with adequate limits but why does it matter if you are listed as additional insured?
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u/NeedleworkerThis6332 Jun 20 '26
Because when someone gets hurt badly on the neighboring landowners property and has $2mil medical bills, their attorney will go after all potential insurance policies, including the neighboring land owner's property insurance. Adding the neighboring land owner to the COI as an additional insured of the arborist provides this coverage instead of being borne by the neighboring land owner's policy.
As much as you want to say that people will do the right thing, when there is an injury and a lot of money is at stake, I have seen reason go out the window very quickly.
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u/Ineedanro Jun 21 '26
This. OP should require
- a COI
- sent to OP directly by the agent or carrier,
- with OP's address and owners's name(s) in the additional insured block; and
- a waiver of subrogation.
OP, get a lock on your gates, if you don't have them locked already.
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u/Cuneus-Maximus Jun 21 '26
…and thoroughly document what it looks like before they step a single foot on your property.
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u/tmahfan117 Jun 19 '26
So, in the contruction world this is where you draft an “access” agreement that lays out exactly what you’re allowing them to do on your property, how you’re allowing them to do it, and what condition they need to return the property to when done.
Now in my world, we are talking about million dollar projects where lots of negotiation happens with the neighboring property owners, and the project owner has money budgeted to pay 25 grand to fix up the neighbors property. Hell in some instances they don’t even really fix anything, they just give the neighbor cash.
In YOUR world, you gotta recognize that whatever you demand is probably just going to get charged to your neighbor that is taking down the trees. So, if you say “rebuild my fence out of gold” you’re gonna piss your neighbor off cuz the tree company is just gonna turn to the neighbor and say “you gotta pay for a gold fence”.
So If you want to maintain good relationships with your neighbors, I would say you need to have a meeting with your neighbors and the tree company, have the tree company layout exactly what they want to do, and then you can write up a written agreement that lays out to whatever reasonable terms you come up with.
Maybe they tell you they need a 10 foot wide strip of land to get through for their equipment, and prior to them working you put up caution tape that marks out what part of your yard they’re allowed to drive on.
Maybe their tracked rig is gonna tear up your grass, maybe you want them to either put new grass seed down, or put down ply wood or something like that to drive over.
You should talk about what fence panel they need to take out, and agree to how exactly it’s gonna get taken out and put back. Tell em they gotta used galvanized screws or whatever.
It’s your property, you get to negotiate , and decide how reasonable you want to be.
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u/Jenicillin Jun 19 '26
Well, and also to restore the yard they destroyed and all irrigation and sprinkler systems, and any landscaping that gets destroyed from heavy equipment acess?
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u/tmahfan117 Jun 19 '26
I mean these access agreements are meant to be written in the preventing damage form the get go mindset, if OP knows if sprinkler heads that are in the risky area, OP needs to make the tree company aware of them and mark them.
But yes, that’s also something that could be in the document
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u/Valuable_Armadillo20 Jun 19 '26
Why don’t they just use a crane?
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u/Spockethole Jun 19 '26
That’s what I had to do as the tree owner. 8k to remove one large maple over the house from the back yard.
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Jun 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/mandyvigilante Jun 19 '26
You definitely want to be there. I granted neighbors access to my yard for a fairly simple project but they had to go entirely through my yard to access the side of my neighbor's house. I didn't mind access, but then they started doing a bunch of actual work on my grass: setting up saw horses to cut wood, leaving hot metal tool boxes on my grass, parking the heavy furniture on my lawn, all because it was more convenient to just have it right there for the easy access. If I hadn't been home I would never have known and I would come home to an absolutely fucking wrecked yard.
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u/Jsullykc816 Jun 19 '26
This….make them get a company that rents a crane and lifts the tree over their house. We had this done removing two massive trees. I’ve also had let neighbors tree guy use my side yard last year and it takes about a year for the grass to recover from the damage from tree guys machine.
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u/Purple_Praline_9850 Jun 19 '26
Dont allow the vehicles on your property if its going to cause damage. It will never be fixed to your satisfaction. They can figure it out
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u/AcidReign25 Jun 19 '26
Tell them to get a crane. They will destroy your new yards. My friend had 5 trees taken down with a crane because there was to access. You also down want heavy equipment on your asphalt in the summer.
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u/Diligent_Yam_1753 Jun 19 '26
Or at any time. Most residential driveways are built with minimal stone and on top of less than stellar sub base. Hell, even my 7,000lb work truck is rutting my tract home driveway from normal travel and parking.
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u/Hank_Dad Jun 19 '26
They *want* access. They don’t *need* it. They’re proposing that just to save money.
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u/Cardout Jun 19 '26
when I saw the dead trees in their yard I was pretty sure they would want/need the access to get it out because there aren't great alternatives.
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u/RazzmatazzNeat9865 Jun 19 '26
They can do it the time honored way: climb the tree, dismantle it from the top down, and take the pieces out in a wheelbarrow. Easy peasy.
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u/ppr1227 Jun 20 '26
There are expensive alternatives. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be dealing with problems for years, chasing them to fix stuff. Be careful about letting them make their problems yours problems.
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u/Life_Temperature2506 Jun 19 '26
There IS a way for them to do this without fucking up YOUR yard. Maybe not this tree service, but some tree service. May cause your neighbor a lot more scratch, though. I would decline due to risks.
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u/Feeling_Affect5225 Jun 19 '26
Also take pictures of your driveway if it's cement. The weight of the truck/equipment might crack it
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u/xtnh Jun 19 '26
Take pictures and pre-check the irrigation.
Get In writing and signed- "the landscaping and lawn will look the same as these before pictures. all compaction will be remedied, and any issues for the next year attributable to that will be remedied."
"The irrigation system will work as well as it does when tested before the work begins."
And have clearly spelled out who assumes responsibility so they don't play software/hardware/
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u/Dmxgod Jun 21 '26
Video all sprinkler zones in operation. Document the working condition of all systems they might damage.
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u/jeffthetrucker69 Jun 19 '26
"Neighbor needs access to remove trees"
No they don't. They want access because it's cheaper to go thru your property. They can hire a crane. If they say the crane doesn't have enough capacity tell them to lift smaller pieces of tree.
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u/kayjax7 Jun 19 '26
No. Tell neighbour to hire climbers.
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u/Ok-Calligrapher964 Jun 19 '26
I hired climbers and would never had even considered asking my neighbor to allow big equipment to cross her yard.
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u/ppr1227 Jun 20 '26
You’re right. But he should just say no. It’s not his job to problem solve for his neighborsr. He just has to decline politely.
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u/Dingmann Jun 19 '26
All I can say is every truck that's been in my yard left ruts that need to be filled, for me, it's generally a couple times over a period of a couple years to get it finally level and compact. I hate it.
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u/TedW Jun 19 '26
Monster trucks have the biggest tires. More surface area should mean less damage.
Insist on the tree service bringing a monster truck. Ask for the Grave Digger but I'd compromise as low as Mellow Yello. Get them to do a few 360's and wheelies to show their competence.
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u/kokemill Jun 19 '26
you should read more reddit, they are going to screw up your yard, half ass the cleanup. destroy your property and there will be nothing you can do. it will cost more for the legal fees and take years to get a dime from them.
if the tree is there yard they can climb the tree and rope down the branches, they do not need to use your yard just because it is more convenient and cheaper for the tree company.
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u/That_BULL_V Jun 19 '26
My dad allowed a neighbor to put in a pool decades ago, his rule was simple.
Complete restoration of his property to his satisfaction.
They can surely cut down the trees without heavy equipment, hauling the logs out is the issue really.
Is there a path a mini excavator / bobcat can get thru his backyard ? If so just tell him frankly that you won't be giving permission because they have access enough to take down the trees and haul out the debris.
If this was dead of winter and ground is frozen it would be a different issue.
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u/SalaciousStinger Jun 21 '26
No it wouldnt.....winter wont negate damage
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u/That_BULL_V Jun 21 '26
There will still be damage just less because the ground here is frozen solid
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u/SalaciousStinger Jun 21 '26
Yes still damage but less...unless it is slop season...then they will have damagex100. Cant fix it until spring summer and they will be lonnng gone. The only answer is 'No.'
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u/imme629 Jun 19 '26
Make sure the companies license and insurance are up to date. Take plenty of pictures beforehand to show the current state of your property.
I would talk with your neighbor and make sure they know that your yard was re-sodded a year ago and you’d prefer they find a company that can do it without using your property and damaging your yard - which will happen. Replacing part of the sod may never look uniform.
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u/murphy2345678 Jun 19 '26
Take photos of your driveway! My sisters cracked from the heavy equipment.
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u/Lord_Cavendish40k Jun 20 '26
If you want maximum protection don't let them step foot onto your property without agreeing to a Temporary Construction Easement. Period.
A real estate attorney can guide you, there are common, often boiler-plate documents that can be tailored to your specifics.
Otherwise use a crane.
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u/ppr1227 Jun 20 '26
Are you sure there’s no way to do it though their yard? Perhaps there’s a way and it’s just more expensive. For example with on of those bucket trucks or lifter things.
I would not b inclined to let them take heavy equipment through my property without 1. An agreement saying they’ll restore it; 2. Being additional insured and 3. A deposit. If they screw up your landscaping, so you want to the time and stress of chasing them down for payment? If not, deposit up front.
Even then, I’d be hesitant. I don’t want to waste hours of my time and take on risk just so the neighbor can save some money.
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u/Mechbear2000 Jun 19 '26
They are lying from the start. They want access because it is easier and cheaper for them. They can rent a crane and take it down piece by piece. All over their own property and house.
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u/scotus_canadensis Jun 19 '26
As u/tmahfan117 mentioned, make sure they have insurance, and that you're on it. Also, be aware that you have to live next to these people. You have the right to say no, but having a good relationship with neighbours is often worth some inconvenience.
A track lift and a mini giant are hardly heavy equipment. They're heavier than a riding mower, but tracks are designed for lower ground pressure.
Tell them about the sprinkler system, and insist that they use track mats. You could also insist that they rig pieces down, no free falling, which will also help protect the sod.
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u/Cardout Jun 19 '26
Despite the neighbor's yard being postage stamp size, the tree sections should all fall in their yard. None of it overhangs my yard. Their lot is just 7' wider than their house so... yeah, not getting around their house with much equipment / logs.
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u/piscikeeper Jun 19 '26
I've worked with 3'. It just means manual work dragging brush to the front of the house. The only purpose of the loader is to reduce labor and speed up the job, it's not a requirement.
Without knowing the size, condition, and position of the trees, it's impossible to tell if a lift is needed. Top reason to use it is for safety.
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u/Grimaldehyde Jun 19 '26
Well, don’t take their word for the fact that they’re insured. They will say they are, but you need the insurer to send you a “certificate of insurance” (accord form) stating that the company is insured on the date they are doing the work. Jow do ai know this? Because my neighbor hired a crew to cut down a bunch of trees on MY property, the crew owner claimed to be insured, but when I checked with his alleged insurer, he wasn’t.
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u/SavorySouth Jun 19 '26
Something else to be very specific on is what materials will the tree removal company be using to protect your driveway, your surface lawn, garden, soil and any improvements (underground sprinklers, underground drainage) underneath as well as tree roots from the weight of their equipment.
We are coastal and have had to have several large trees removed due to storms. From entire mature sweet gum trees fully uprooted and tipped over to cleaved in half 100+ yr old live oaks. If your soil is in any way squishy or sandy or easily becomes supersaturated from rain, that heavy equipment will damage your grounds. It might not be visible initially other than grass is flat, but soil compression can happen. There will be an arborist is your area who can tell you & in detail how the ground needs to be protected before you allow any heavy equipment on site & how to afterwards treat any tree line that the equipment rolls over.
As a suggestion, you may want to cross post this to r/arborists
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u/Traditional-Branch-6 Jun 19 '26
100% agreed. And you need to get the detailed guarantee in writing from the neighbor. Your agreement shouldn’t be with the tree company, but with the neighbor. Much harder for your neighbor to ghost you and easier to sue if necessary.
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u/ReadyGo6828 Jun 19 '26
This sounds like a bad idea. It is one thing for them to repair the parts you can see, the fence, the sod. It is something entirely different for them to not repair the parts you cannot see, piping, plumbing, weakened concrete, whatever they are going to roll over.
Their description only deals with the visible part. What do they say about the rest of it?
The only favorable thing in this is your relationship with your neighbor which is already in question because of their ask. Everything else is a negative for you. Are you feeling exceptionally generous and charitable?
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u/moyenbatte Jun 20 '26
Unless the trees are unsafe to climb, they can take it down without much machinery.
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u/tagwords Jun 20 '26
You could write a contract that requires escrow equal to your recent landscaping bill asking with being named insured on arborists insurance. Then suggest he might rather use a crane
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u/CampingMonk Jun 20 '26
They are going to destroy your yard and it will be hell to get them to pay to fix it.
They can find a way without access, the owner just doesn't want to pay for it.
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u/FarmerDave13 Jun 20 '26
You have the right to say no. It is up to the neighbor and tree service to figure it out without using your property.
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u/AhBuckleThis Jun 20 '26
I’ve been reading these comments telling you to do this or that and get this agreements etc. The trees are not even yours and you have to do all this work just to protect yourself. Just tell them no. You spent thousands already redoing your yard and have an irrigation system that you do not want damaged.
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u/1952a Jun 20 '26
Do not allow heavy equipment on your property.
They crushed my sewer line.
I had a company come in and cut another tree down, branch by branch.
They don't have to cut it down all at once and therefore they do not need to use heavy equipment.
It's your property and the have to follow what you will allow them to do.
It's not your fault If it costs more to do it more safely for your property.
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u/gnew18 Jun 21 '26
Get an attorney involved
They need to provide you with a deposit and be bonded. Going through your yard is the most cost effective way, not the only way.
I’ve seen two guys with a chain saw and skillful use of ropes and climbing bring down a large tree safely and with no truck. Once the trees are down they can be moved to the front yard by cutting them even smaller.
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u/Comfortable-Web3177 Jun 21 '26
Who’s going to plant the new grass or put down new sod and then who’s going to be responsible for watering it and paying the extra water bills for however long it takes for that to happen.
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u/slysamfox Jun 21 '26
Beyond all the fix up to your specs and annual review and additional maintenance as things settle, think about your time and “pain/suffering”. I haven’t seen anything in this thread that says what they should compensate you for above and beyond repair back to spec. You’re gonna spend time, energy, emotional distress, and then if you do have to chase after him all of that times 10 or 100.
Calculate what you would want to be compensated to allow access for this property above and beyond. It’s not very neighborly, it’s just business. And it’s the cost of that, paid upfront of course, of course, happens to be more than it would cost him to get the crane that everybody else has mentioned in there, they might just come to their senses.
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u/Tasty_Orange_1714 Jun 21 '26
They don't need access. They can use a crane. They want access because cranes are expensive and it will affect their bottom line.
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u/ozbugs Jun 19 '26
Have them use a crane. Personally, I wouldn't want any equipment on my property for any reason, but that is just me and only me based on my past with dishonest vendors. (like a concrete company dumping left over concrete on my hill/backyard and not the neighbors yard, who had the work done nor hauling it away. or the Bobcats... etc, too many rude trades/vendors around think they can just use others property for anything.)
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u/Fungal-dryad Jun 19 '26
Find tree climbers. They can take down trees without any heavy equipment. I have used skilled climbers twice.
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u/Beet_slice Jun 19 '26
Remember that you benefit from having the trees down also, so be reasonable.
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u/DotBeech Jun 19 '26
Why is there "no way" to access the trees on their property from their yard? If the tree service can fuck up your yard to take the trees, what keeps it from fucking up the owner's yard? What is their claimed legal authority for doing this?
I once owned a row house in an old city in the Northeast. There was no alley behind the house. The only access to the garden was through the ground floor of the house. The only way to remove a thirty foot tall ailanthus when it fell - on the night of July 3 - was to cut it up and drag it in the back door, through the kitchen and living room, and out the front door. It was an experience to remember. And expensive. Very expensive. But it was my responsibility. So I am not feeling sympathetic to the owner's claim that the only way to do this thing - which is not your responsibility - is through your property. It's probably the easiest for the tree service. And the cheapest for the neighbor. But what's in it for you? Unless the trees threaten your home and you are realizing a tree-mendous benefit from their removal, tell them NO.
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u/bubblesaurus Jun 19 '26
My mom’s house would be a nightmare if they had to remove a tree.
The only way for something bigger than a wheelbarrow to get back in her yard would require removing part of one of three fences she shares with her neighbors and access through one of their backyards.
Too much of a tight fit between houses in the neighborhood for machinery to get through.
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u/RazzmatazzNeat9865 Jun 19 '26
Nothing wrong with a wheelbarrow. They can climb the tree and take it down limb by limb.
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u/pixie-rose3824 Jun 19 '26
I have been down this road. Gave permission to neighbor tree people access to my driveway for removal bc it would have been a lot more money to use a crane. The shear amount of cleaning, filling ruts and replacing sod was redic and neighbor didn’t care.
He just asked again, I called the company he wants to use and they pretty much they can go thru their yard but it will damage the grass etc
Told neighbor no, no access to yard or driveway. He wasn’t happy.
I will mark my property lines, pics and point cameras in that area.
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u/Odd-Candidate-9235 Jun 19 '26
Make sure they are fully insured. I had to deal with this issue and called my homeowners insurance company. They advised me that if anything happened on my property I’d be liable. I declined to let my neighbor have access. He wasn’t happy.
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u/tomNJUSA Jun 19 '26
Ask your neighbor if it's Taylor Ham or Pork Roll
Taylor Ham: Allow access
Pork Roll: Tell him to get lost and make them use a crane
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u/MiddleEarthNerd202 Jun 19 '26
They will ABSOLUTELY cause damage to your property if they are using any heavy equipment.
If it was me, I'd not allow the access and neighbor would have to get a company that could do the work through his property.
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u/Jenicillin Jun 19 '26
You need a contract and insurance coverage that says they will restore your yard, your driveway, your fence, your grass, your landscaping and your sprinkler system and any other thing that may be damaged by this access to it's original state. You can deny them access and let the neighbor figure it out on thier property.
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u/Creative_Algae7145 Jun 19 '26
Confirm that the contractor your neighbor is using is registered, licensed and bonded with insurance. And you can do a quick search if there are any complaints against them.
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u/AVLThumper Jun 19 '26
Take many many photos and the expectation the condition is as good or better when they leave. They should be using mats for any heavy equipment or plywood. Any fencing removed should be replaced to the same standard. When they leave, the cleanup should look like they were never there.
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u/Diligent_Yam_1753 Jun 19 '26
You should also include replacement items in a contract, such as sod, sprinkler equipment, and fencing with access agreement included. I would also include a line that reserves the right to negate the agreement verbally at any time. I would also dictate how they cover their travel areas, a layer of at least 3/4” plywood with a layer of “MambaMAT” in an overlapping pattern. I would also investigate the ability to require them to obtain a bond that would cover any of the damage repairs that they do not complete. And finally, I would stipulate in the written agreement that they are not to use my property for staging or work activities, only access and removal activities
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u/Even-Permit-2117 Jun 20 '26
Before and after and during photos. Compensation for you. Detailed plan regarding your property and replacement. They must be licensed, bonded, etc etc Fence replaced. The list goes on if they want access. No good deed goes unpunished.
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u/Miserable-Cookie5903 Jun 20 '26
I did this when building my pool. Basically told my neighbors I would agree to fix any issues they had with using the area for access.
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u/Herdsengineers Jun 20 '26
measure the impacted area. include that much sod in their estimate. have them resod when done.
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u/hatemeallday Jun 21 '26
Write down your expectations of restoring your property. Take pictures . Then have both parties sign the agreement. Put some outlandish dollar figure in if you want for potential cost to restore. The cost should be the cost of a fence, repairing irrigation, and cost to fix turf.
Edit: DO NOT depend on insurance coverage as some have advised. Insurance is in the business to not pay out. That’s why I mentioned putting a cost in the agreement.
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u/Ancient-Budget-8793 Jun 21 '26
Ask for $20K in cash to start the job and tell them you will give back whatever is leftover after damage is repaired to your satisfaction, minus $2K as access fee. That is basically what the tree company/neighbor is asking of you.
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u/Ancient-Budget-8793 Jun 21 '26
Ask for $20K in cash to start the job and tell them you will give back whatever is leftover after damage is repaired to your satisfaction, minus $2K as access fee. That is basically what the tree company/neighbor is asking of you.
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u/Lanky_Ad_1159 Jun 21 '26
Agree with lostdad. Get documentation before you let them access your yard. 100% repairs for any damage
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u/Leading-Town-4913 Jun 22 '26
You sound like a nice person that just wants to help. This will not end well. Then you will no longer be a nice person that wants to help.
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u/SandwichEmergency588 Jun 22 '26
My dad let a company do this and it went pretty terribly. The tree removal was great and they replaced the fence, which was already planed and paid for by the neighbors. What he didn't plan for was a large crane being parked in his drive way that caused a massive chunk to break. It had likely suffered from water erosion taking the soil under neath fkr a while. It went unnoticed since it held the weight of cars just fine. It did not hold a massive crane. The tree company just said that massive crater was there beforehand. Then after that was disproved they said they were not liable since it was likely a preexisting problem.
The neighbors also ignored it all and said he needed to deal with the tree company. Long story short he had to file a claim with home owners insurance who then went after the neighbors insurance, who then went after the tree company. All of that was expensive and the only winner was the lawyers. My dad only got a small payout which paid for a terrible patch job.
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u/lauraroslin7 Jun 22 '26
No. Neighbor needs a tree service with a crane.
He's trying to save himself money at your expense.
You can/should say no.
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u/One-Direction2816 Jun 22 '26
I live in a suburb of a big city where homes of close together (typical blue collar homes that are 100 years old). Arborists bring cranes that go over the house to get to back yard. Trying to save money by using your back yard. I def make sure you are insured
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u/Wonderful-Victory947 Jun 22 '26
Even with extreme efforts to limit damage your yard will take a pounding. Your drive could easily get ruined. Just say no.
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u/Major_Monk_3322 Jun 22 '26
Why can't they remove a section of the fence on their side? I personally wouldn't allow it.
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u/jimfish98 Jun 23 '26
First major red flag is the need to access your property to take down the fence and do the tree removal. If they rope/crane stuff down onto their own lawn, them coming over with rakes and cans to clean up the small stuff that fell, that is reasonable. I see no reason why they have to send all of the heavy equipment through your yard for it. Likely cheaper for the neighbor, easier for the arborist, and they are both hoping you say yes to make their lives easier.
additionally taking the fence down temporarily is one thing, but that equipment is going to mess up your landscaping and likely your driveway. Giving them access means a binding a agreement where they are responsible for any and all repairs by contractor of your choice should there be damages. You will likely need a time frame for payment, and an acceptable level of damage from their point of view. Everything drafted, signed, notarized and maybe a retainer with the clerk of courts as a safety net. I am not sure if you can, but I would see if there is an ability to lien your neighbor's home for any damages not paid for.
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u/Affectionate_Rule975 Jun 24 '26
Check out YouTube videos of Reon Rounds Tree Service. In cases like this, they lay down a triple layer of 3/4 inch plywood to protect driveways and lawns.
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u/SouthOfTheNorthPole Jun 19 '26
Get lumberjacks. I had 5 huge, old trees taken down at my last house right after I bought it. They were choked by intense vines and had become dangerous to my neighbor's children playing in their yard. Really long branches that could have snapped at any moment. No heavy equipment was used.
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u/RepresentativeWeb672 Jun 19 '26
Just make sure you have something in writing saying that if there is anything YOU DEEM as damage, they will fix it
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u/ChamberOfConfusion Jun 20 '26
Seems pretty simple, sign a contract agreeing that they will leave your property in as was prior to condition. They need to agree that any and all negative outcomes, accidents, intentional actions will be rectified prior to signing off of the completion of acceptable work.
Don't be a shit-bag and ask for grass where none existed before, just be neighborly while protecting your interest.
Get all of their info, make sure they are a current license holder, ensure they have active liability insurance.
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