Hazard Tree Evaluation

A hazard tree evaluation is the professional version of the walkaround you just did in your yard. Done right, it's a systematic assessment of defect, target, and likelihood — and it produces a written report you can act on and share with insurance.

What an assessment includes

• Ground inspection of the root flare, buttress roots, and surrounding soil.
• Trunk inspection for cracks, cavities, bulges, and included bark.
• Canopy inspection — often with binoculars or drone — for deadwood, weak forks, and hangers.
• Target analysis — what's in the fall zone and how much it matters.
• Species and site considerations — coastal wind exposure, soil, drainage, recent construction.
• Written recommendations — preserve, prune, cable, monitor, or remove.

The certified qualification

For anything you're going to act on, use an ISA-certified arborist. The certification isn't perfect, but it means the person understands standards, has passed an exam, and can be held to a code of ethics. Ask for the certification number.

For higher-stakes evaluations — trees over the house, insurance disputes, legal issues — look for the additional ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ), which requires specific training in structured risk assessment.

What it costs in Brunswick County

• Single tree, written assessment: $75–$200
• Whole-yard assessment, written report: $200–$500
• TRAQ-qualified detailed risk report (for court, insurance, or HOA use): $300–$800+

This is not a big investment, and it's often the difference between saving a mature tree and removing one unnecessarily.

When to get one

• After any major storm
• Before construction near mature trees
• When a removal crew has quoted removal and you want a second opinion
• When buying a home with significant trees
• Annually for large trees within striking distance of the house