[Everyone] Re our trees and recent discussion of costs and fees with master arborists -- Would you be willing to pay $100 to $200 in assessment to check if any of our large trees is potentially in dangerous?

Mon Aug 21 01:22:26 UTC 2023

I would be willing to contribute.

Joanna

On Sun, Aug 20, 2023, 11:04 AM Maryann Dabkowski via Everyone <
everyone at chelseaplacedecatur.com> wrote:

> Hi all-
> Personally willing to contribute $100-200 to have a thorough, expert
> review of our trees. It's tempting to go with the less expensive option,
> but I suspect he'd end up referring us for a more
> rigorous inspection anyway. I'd rather be proactive now than deal with a
> tree through my roof and windows later.
> -Maryann
>
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 16, 2023 at 10:09 AM Lauren Rich via Everyone <
> everyone at chelseaplacedecatur.com> wrote:
>
>> Good morning all:
>>
>> Please see email below I sent to a few homeowners and Vincent re
>> discussion I've had with 2 arborists.  One (Dave Butler) is willing to
>> charge us $225 to come out to the property to look at our large trees, and
>> then presumably to  tell us how much more it would cost to check our
>> trees.  The other arborist (Peter Jenkins) would charge considerably more
>> (as explained in below email), perhaps $1500+ to do thorough check and
>> testing of our large trees.  There is a third arborist (Boutte) I will
>> contact but I am going out of town tomorrow for 10 days and will not have
>> time to do this until I get back (after 8/28).  I think it's likely it will
>> cost closer to $1500+ rather than $225+ to get an expert assessment of
>> whether any of our large trees are in danger of falling and damaging
>> (perhaps catastrophically) our town homes (there are 5 of 11 townhomes
>> within perhaps the fall path of 3 of our very large trees!).
>>
>> I believe in the past the Association has paid for cutting down trees, so
>> I would hope that Association would decide to subsidize some of this cost,
>> though I know (or believe) there is not enough in our account to pay all of
>> it.  I would hope that if we each agreed to pay $100 to $200 -- if need be
>> -- then we could have our trees examined by experts.  I am aware that there
>> might be additional costs if the experts advise us to cut down any of the
>> trees on our property.  However, I think we need to assess the risk.
>> Vincent asked me to forward my email below to you, with a bit of
>> explanation (as  per above).  It would be great to hear what everyone has
>> to say.
>>
>> Warmly, Lauren (#340)
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 14, 2023 at 10:28 AM Lauren Rich <laureninatlanta at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I just spoke with Patty Jenkins at Tree Inspection.com, I strongly
>>> recommend that you look at the web site, especially this part:
>>> https://treeinspection.com/advice/how-to-spot-a-dangerous-tree .  The
>>> expert master arborists Peter Jenkins and Neil Norton work for this
>>> company.  Here is what Patty told me:
>>>
>>> First, she said Peter Jenkins (whom I believe is her husband) is the
>>> person who should look at the trees which concern us, she said he is the
>>> tree expert in this town.  Second, she could not give me a "firm" statement
>>> about fees, other than that he charges $150 per hour (not just for walking
>>> property and testing trees but also for writing up report -- which he would
>>> have to do if he recommends action on the tree), plus up to $100+ per tree
>>> to drill with a resistograph (which evidently helps to assess the health of
>>> very large trees 40 to 50 inches in diameter, she was able to look at tree
>>> map while I was on the phone with her and she says the 3 large trees facing
>>> my side of the property would be candidates for drilling because of their
>>> size, depending on what he sees).  If there are 8 to 10 large trees we are
>>> worried about, he would walk the property (she urges that as many of us as
>>> possible walk the property with him) and tell us which trees he thinks
>>> needs drilling in order to assess (he also takes into account where the
>>> tree might fall if it is not healthy when determining whether to drill; in
>>> other words, he would not drill if there is no "target" we should be
>>> concerned about).  I asked her whether $1000 to $1500 is a fair estimate;
>>> she said yes, but no guarantees.  What we CANNOT do is hire him just to
>>> walk the property for an hour, she said, and make a recommendation -- and
>>> then we choose whether to go forward or not.  I had the impression that we
>>> would HAVE TO go forward with whatever he suggests once we have him look at
>>> specific trees we are concerned about.  That's why the $1000 to $1500
>>> estimate.  She also said he is not available 'til next week.  I told her
>>> I'd get back to her at some point on this.
>>>
>>> I don't know whether we want to commit $1000 to $1500 of Association $
>>> on this right now, and be concerned it might be more than that. It's pretty
>>> clear to me from what she said that if Peter Jenkins believes he must drill
>>> a tree then we would have to agree for him to drill (and pay whatever the
>>> cost for drilling and for his time). I asked her whether we could say in
>>> response we are not willing to pay more than $1200 or so at this point, and
>>> I don't think that would be acceptable.  There is no written contract
>>> they use.  They have been in business for 40 years and have an excellent
>>> reputation, she said they are never interested in gouging. She told me the
>>> cost for some of his recent work for small homeowners associations was in
>>> range of $1800 (this was over 2 days and he drilled 7 trees and he probably
>>> looked at 30 or 40).  Perhaps each of us would agree to pay $100 to $200
>>> per unit toward this if bill, regardless of cost.  (I would certainly be
>>> willing to pay this.)  Perhaps Vincent you might want to write to the whole
>>> membership, or I am fine with you putting this on our community email and
>>> maybe we can vote on it.  It would be good to know how much money we have
>>> on hand in Association bank account.
>>>
>>> Last, I asked  her about Dave Butler, the arborist who has offered to
>>> walk our property for $225.  She said he is an excellent arborist and would
>>> tell us whether further testing is required on any trees -- and then he
>>> would likely refer us to their company (to Peter Jenkins for testing)!  So
>>> if we go this route -- ask Dave Butler to look at the trees for $225 -- we
>>> may wind up hiring Jenkins anyway (to essentially do the same thing).
>>>
>>> Not sure what we want to do here.  (However, I do think we should be
>>> concerned about more damage from trees (perhaps catastrophic damage) if
>>> this weather continues -- and I have no doubt it will.
>>>
>>> I am leaving town tomorrow for Augusta, then hopefully on Thursday to
>>> Canada for about 10 days.  I would be glad to check with other arborists
>>> when I get back.
>>>
>>> Best regards, Lauren
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 11, 2023 at 2:52 PM Vincent Wimbush <vlwimbush at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Thanks for this work, Lauren.
>>>>
>>>> I agree with Sara that the price is reasonable. ((I'm actually
>>>> relieved.) If the others you have contacted come in at or around this price
>>>> I want to support moving forward with the assessment. I think we should
>>>> give the others contacted a reasonable limited time to respond; but we
>>>> should not hold things up for any one person or company. Let's say within a
>>>> week's time (from initial contact)?
>>>>
>>>> I wonder now, Sara, whether the tree removal that was recommended ought
>>>> not be put aside until we get assessment from an arborist. It may be the
>>>> case that more action will be recommended. I would like not to have to go
>>>> through the special hiring of Mr. Ringer or anyone else to address problems
>>>> with trees on several different occasions apart from having the big picture
>>>> to consider.
>>>>
>>>> Several big expenses may be ahead for the HOA. I am still wondering
>>>> whether we can do all that needs to be done under regular budgeting. Too
>>>> early for me to tell. But I am trying to keep things in balance.
>>>>
>>>> vlw
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Aug 11, 2023 at 2:31 PM Sara Crews <sara408 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Very reasonable price.  Thank you, Lauren
>>>>>
>>>>> On 08/11/2023 11:59 AM EDT Lauren Rich <laureninatlanta at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> See below, waiting for 2 more estimates.
>>>>>
>>>>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>>>>> From: Lauren Rich <laureninatlanta at gmail.com>
>>>>> Date: Fri, Aug 11, 2023 at 11:58 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: Requesting fee schedule for tree examination
>>>>> To: Dave Butler <treebutlerdb7 at gmail.com>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you, Dave.  As I understand this, to look at the 12 large trees,
>>>>> you would charge the Association a total of $225 and would provide a
>>>>> written report and photos.  If we want you to assess more than 12 trees,
>>>>> you would come out to the property and give us an estimate.  (I assume you
>>>>> could do this while you are examining the 12 trees for the $225 fee; you
>>>>> could then tell us how much more your fee would be to examine others?)
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Aug 11, 2023 at 10:42 AM Dave Butler <treebutlerdb7 at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Ms. Rich;
>>>>>
>>>>> I would be happy to conduct an assessment of the trees on your
>>>>> association's property.  My fee is usually based on the size of a property
>>>>> and the number of trees.  If you want me to assess the 12 trees only, the
>>>>> fee would be $225 and that would include a written report with photos.  If
>>>>> your association decides that they would want all trees on the property
>>>>> assessed, I would come out to evaluate the workload and then provide a
>>>>> written estimate.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for contacting me for your tree care services.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Dave
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Dave Butler
>>>>> The Tree Butler
>>>>> ISA Certified Arborist #SO-6236A
>>>>> treebutlerdb7 at gmail.com
>>>>> (404) 580-3917
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Aug 11, 2023 at 4:06 AM Lauren Rich <laureninatlanta at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear Mr. Butler:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I reside at 340 Drexel Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030, in a development of
>>>>> 11 townhomes in the middle of Drexel Avenue between Ponce de Leon and
>>>>> College Avenues.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Several trees have crashed on our block recently due to storms.  As a
>>>>> result, our homeowners association has recently been discussing whether we
>>>>> should retain an arborist to examine about a dozen large trees (and other
>>>>> smaller ones) in our development, to determine if there is any possibility
>>>>> of destruction of property due to age and health of these trees.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> We consulted the Georgia Arborists website for arborists and found
>>>>> your company's information.  I am seeking initial consultations with
>>>>> arborists on behalf of our association.  We are interested in your
>>>>> fee schedule to come out to our property to examine the trees.  I would
>>>>> appreciate any information you can provide in this regard.  If you would
>>>>> prefer to discuss this by phone, please provide phone number and most
>>>>> convenient time for me to call.  I am available to discuss this with you
>>>>> early next week.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sincerely, Lauren Rich (phone 404 788 3023)
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Lauren Rich
>>>>> Atlanta, GA
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Lauren Rich
>>>>> Atlanta, GA
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Lauren Rich
>>>>> Atlanta, GA
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Lauren Rich
>>> Atlanta, GA
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Lauren Rich
>> Atlanta, GA
>>
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