When a Tree Risk Assessment Makes Sense for Oakland County Homeowners
Updated September 7, 2026 · Written by Rob Burgund, ISA Certified Arborist MI-4857A
- ISA Certified Arborist MI-4857A
- Working in Oakland County since 2013
- Licensed and insured
- 5.0 stars from 15 Google reviews
Written by Rob Burgund
ISA Certified Arborist · MI-4857A
Rob does the tree risk assessments for Tree Pros himself and writes the report. More about Rob and Tree Pros, or verify the certification in ISA’s public directory.
What the assessment actually covers
Most of a tree’s structural problems are low and hidden, so the assessment starts at the ground and works up.
- The root flare and lower trunk, for decay, cavities, fungal growth, cracks and girdling roots.
- The main unions, especially twin trunks meeting in a tight V with bark trapped in the joint.
- The canopy from inside the tree where needed, because most defects cannot be seen from the lawn.
- The targets: what a failing limb or the whole tree would land on, and how often people are under it.
- Soil and drainage, which matter after Michigan’s wet springs and heavy summer rain.
- A written report with photos, a plain-English verdict, and options ranked from cheapest to most drastic.
Six times it makes sense
- Before you buy or sell a house. A big tree over the roof is either an asset or a liability, and a home inspector will not tell you which.
- When your insurer asks. Some carriers want written confirmation that large or overhanging trees are not hazardous. The report answers that directly.
- After a storm. A tree that lost a limb, or leaned further, may be fine or may be finished. The difference is not visible from the ground.
- When you see a defect. Mushrooms at the base, a crack in the trunk, a new lean, soil heaving on one side. Our guide to dying and dangerous trees lists the signs.
- When a neighbor raises a concern. In Michigan, a tree owner who knew about a hazard and did nothing can be liable when it fails. A written assessment either shows the tree is sound or gets the problem fixed before it becomes a claim. Our tree law guide explains the rules.
- Before you decide on removal. Removal is permanent and expensive. The assessment often finds a cheaper answer: cabling a weak fork, excavating a buried root flare, or a reduction prune.
When you do not need one
If the tree is obviously dead, or it is already on the garage, you do not need a $399 report. You need an estimate, not a $399 report, and estimates are free. If you just want a second opinion on whether a tree looks healthy, a free on-site visit covers that too.
The paid assessment earns its fee when the answer has consequences: a legal question, an insurance question, a large tree over a house, or a decision you cannot take back.
A recent example
A homeowner in Oakland Township was told by a neighbor, after a run of storms, that a big oak was leaning toward the property line. A professional assessment documented the lean and the condition of the soil on the far side, in writing. When the tree came down on a scheduled day, the owner had a dated record of both the hazard and the timely action, which is exactly what the insurer wanted to see.
What it costs and what you get
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee | $399, usually credited toward any work you proceed with |
| Who does it | Rob Burgund, ISA Certified Arborist MI-4857A, in person |
| What you receive | A written report with photographs, the verdict, and ranked options |
| Useful for | Insurers, neighbors, real estate closings, and your own decision |
What the report actually looks like
You get a written document, not a verbal opinion left on your porch. It includes photographs of the specific defects found, a plain-language description of what is wrong and where, and a likelihood-of-failure rating for the tree as a whole. It also ranks the options from cheapest to most drastic: pruning or cabling first if either would work, removal only when nothing else genuinely solves the problem. That written record is what an insurer, a real estate closing, or a neighbor dispute actually needs. A phone call saying “it looked fine to me” carries none of the same weight.
How it is different from a free estimate
A free estimate answers one question: what would it cost to do the work you already think you need done, removal, pruning, cabling. A risk assessment answers a different question first: does this tree actually need any of that. The two overlap because the same arborist is looking at the same tree, which is why the fee is credited toward whatever work follows. If you already know the tree needs to come down, because it is dead or already damaged, you do not need to pay for the assessment step. You need an estimate, and estimates are free.
How long a tree risk assessment takes
For a single tree, plan on 30 to 60 minutes on site. It runs longer if the canopy needs a closer look from a bucket truck, or if soil conditions need checking on more than one side of the root plate. The written report usually follows within a few days. Nothing about the process requires taking the tree down that same visit, and in most cases the point of the assessment is to avoid removal, not lead straight to it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tree risk assessment cost in Oakland County?
Ours is $399, and it is usually credited toward any work you decide to move forward with, so if the tree does need cabling or removal, the assessment fee is not money on top of that job, it comes off the total.
Do I need a risk assessment before selling my house?
Not always, but it is worth it when a large tree overhangs the roof, the driveway or a structure a buyer’s inspector will flag. A written, dated assessment either clears the tree ahead of the sale or documents that the issue was addressed, which avoids a last-minute renegotiation over a tree neither side can evaluate themselves.
Will my homeowners insurance require a tree risk assessment?
Some carriers ask for one when a large tree overhangs a structure, particularly after a claim or at renewal in an area with a lot of mature trees. If your insurer has asked, bring the letter to the visit so the report answers their specific question directly instead of a general one.
What happens if the assessment finds the tree is fine?
You get that in writing too, which is often the actual goal. A documented, professional opinion that a tree is structurally sound is useful for the same reasons a hazard finding is. It settles an insurance question, a neighbor dispute, or your own worry. And it does that without removing a healthy, mature tree that did not need to come down.
Can a risk assessment be used in a legal dispute with a neighbor?
It can be part of the record. Michigan generally does not hold a tree owner liable when a healthy tree fails in a storm, but liability can come into play if a hazard was known and ignored. A dated, written assessment showing you acted on a known problem, or showing there was no problem to act on, is the kind of documentation that matters in that situation. Our tree law guide covers the liability rules in more detail.
Pruning, cabling and tree health care →Signs a tree is dying or dangerous →Michigan tree law →Tree removal →All tree care guides →
Want a written answer about a tree?
Call or text to book an assessment, or start with a free on-site estimate anywhere in Oakland County.