Are Trees Putting Your Home at Risk?

Trees provide beautiful shade, homes for animals and possible risk for homeowners. The higher a tree climbs, the more at risk your home is of suffering some type of damage related to that tree. What can you do? You do not have to cut down or remove trees to protect your home. Rather, you should spend a bit more time considering the condition of those trees and the steps you can take to reduce those risks.

It pays to spend some time inspecting your trees on a regular basis. This simple step can help you to avoid costly home insurance claims that could raise your premium. Here are some tips to help you to spot problems before they actually happen.

• Inspect trees at least one time every season, even in the winter months. Look for signs of wear and aging, such as bark that is peeling away or weakened branches. This may mean the tree needs attention.
  
  
• Notice limbs and specifically focus on areas where the limb connects to the tree. Does the limb seem to be sagging a significant amount? Does the limb hang? These are instances in which the limb is likely to fall, which can cause damage if it falls on top of your home or car.
  
  
• After a storm, inspect the tree. Try to move it by pushing against it. And look at the ground surrounding the tree. Is the ground disturbed or are the tree roots exposed? This could indicate that the tree is too weak.

Spend a few minutes taking a close look at each of the trees surrounding your home. Work to minimize the number of limbs that hang over your home and the number of trees that lean towards it. It is also important to consider having a professional inspect each of your trees at least one time per year to ensure they are still healthy and unlikely to fall.

When you take these steps, you reduce the likelihood that the tree will fall or that a limb will land on your home. That reduces the risk of injury, damage to your home and the number of home insurance claims you’re likely to file. It only takes a few minutes to conduct this type of inspection, but it can help to keep your trees healthy for years to come.