Trees are Property Heroes
Throughout my career as a teacher, my favorite topic was trees. I loved teaching kids to love trees, know their names, and understand their benefits to the world. At Purdue, my favorite class was Dendrology, where over a semester, we attended classes in the woods around Tippecanoe County and learned 120 species of trees by bark, bud, and twig– and had to know and correctly spell the scientific name for each one. I couldn’t get enough!
Fast forward to my current career in real estate and I still love discovering what trees are on a property and educating my clients about them. While trees may be an afterthought for many in the homebuying process, they add real value to a home. In addition to the basic curb appeal of a tree planted in a yard with intention, trees offer many more benefits. They also can pose problems to structures which should be understood and managed.
Shade. A deciduous tree, or one that loses leaves each season, can provide energy saving cooling. Planted on the south side of the house, the house will be cooled in the summer by the tree’s canopy. In the winter, when passive solar warmth is a benefit, the leaves are gone and sunlight can pour through.
Windblock. Evergreen trees such as pines, spruces and firs, when planted on the west side of a house, provide a wind block against the bitterly cold winds out of the northwest in winter. These strategically placed trees can block the winds that produce drafts and cold walls and rooms.
Absorption of water. We all know that water is the enemy of houses and the root systems of trees are enormous sponges. A tree’s canopy is roughly equal to the radius of the root system. Pretty amazing when you think of it. Climate change presents many challenges, and it’s not all about drought. We’ve seen a busy flood year so far this year, and absorption of heavy rain or flood water requires trees. Bare yards have but a thin root layer of a few inches– not enough to absorb heavy rainfall. Trees are a part of the solution.
Also, though, trees can pose problems to structures. Bear in mind these key aspects of tree placement around structures:
Foundation problems. I recently sold a home with a giant Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum, ha ha) that had grown too large for its placement and the roots (remember, the root system is about the same diameter as the canopy) was pushing the foundation wall inward. That was a $10,000 repair, plus another $2,000 for the removal of the tree. It’s important to consider how large a tree will get when deciding on placement.
Damage to roofs. Tree branches (especially dead branches) should be kept clear of roofs, for the obvious reason that them coming down and punching a hole in your roof would create problems. Branches touching roofs also invite critters and insects to move in/ onto your home. Have those cut back from the roofline. One can often still get a lot of shade without the tree physically covering the roof. Your insurance agent will thank you, although I don’t know if that will translate to a premium discount. But if they’re a local agent, maybe they’ll treat you to a cup of coffee if you send them a picture of your newly trimmed tree.
Debris and drainage. Tree debris left in gutters, downspouts, and downspout extensions can cause real issues with drainage. If left unattended they can fill up with leaf debris, maple helicopters and the like. Water may pour over the front edge of the gutter or even worse, out the back edge and down the house, where it will seep into the ground around the foundation. Full gutters also provide mosquito hatching habitat. Keep ‘em clean. Installing gutter guards can help tremendously. I would much rather have to clean gutters in order to have trees than not have to clean gutters and have a bare yard.
When you call me for a property tour, we will absolutely be discussing the trees. Maybe it will tip the balance for you on a decision or maybe not; but it should factor into the total package. Maybe not as much as the kitchen cabinetry, but at least as much as the tile in the bathroom!