I have a tree near the house that should be removed before it crushes the house. Seems that it would be smart for insurance to cover this rather than pay for repairs later.
2006-10-26 08:58:14 · 16 answers · asked by anteater 69 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Insurance
Your insurance company will not cover the tree removal as it stands. Your policy reads that you are expected to take preventative measures with any hazard that may cause a loss. If you know about it and don't remove it before it causes a loss, your policy may exclude coverage.
Your insurer would have sent you a policy form (it looks like a book) which will define anything and everything you need to know. Just about every insurer follows the same ISO policy form which indicates they will pay $1000 for the removal on the residence premises if (1) your tree fell due to the peril of windstorm, hail, weight of ice, snow, or sleet (2) a neighbor's tree fell due to a covered peril provided that fallen tree damaged a covered structure, blocks a driveway on the residence premises or blocks a ramp which is designed for use by handicapped persons entering or leaving the premises.
2006-10-26 14:07:43 · answer #1 · answered by Rexy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you are responsible for all the maintenance of the house and grounds. THey don't replace broken windows, worn out roofs, they don't paint houses, all those things, AND the hazardous tree, are all considered maintenance.
If your tree lands on the house, you'll have the homeowners deductible to pay. If it lands on someone else's house, and they can prove you knew it was hazardous, your insurance company can deny liability coverage for you. If you have another claim, and the adjuster comes out and notices the hazardous tree, they can require you to remove it within 30 days, or cancel your policy. Oh, and check your policy - if it lands on your house, usually there is a limit of $250 for "debris removal", which would be tree parts that land on your house. If it actually costs $2,000, you have to pay the rest.
If you want a maintenance contract, it costs a WAY WAY lot more than an insurance policy - which is designed to cover UNEXPECTED losses.
2006-10-26 13:40:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Insurance does not pay to remove any vegetation unless it actually causes a loss.
You can't insure something that hasn't already caused a loss....that's not insurance.....that's maintenance and you are fully responsible to maintain your own property.
One more thing about moving a tree....
An insurer will pay to remove the tree from your home but that's all. It pays to take it off the house and then to leave on the ground next to your house.
The removal of the remainder of the tree is up to you.
2006-10-26 10:40:28 · answer #3 · answered by markmywordz 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry -- no homeowner's insurance will ever pay for the removal of a tree that is hazardous - that is just the way it is.
2006-10-26 10:42:30 · answer #4 · answered by sglmom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely, they would. BUT, the cost to remove a tree is usually less than the deductible you would have to pay, before the insurance company pays anything.
2006-10-26 09:01:40 · answer #5 · answered by jim 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No insurance will not pay for you to maintain trees on your property. In fact if it was to fall and only land in your back yard insurance still would not pay for its removal. It only would pay for its removal if it lands on your home or fence.
With your theory you are saying that it would be smarter for an insurance company to pay to replace the bald tires on my car before one of them blows and causes damage to my car.
That is not how insurance works.
2006-10-26 11:12:48 · answer #6 · answered by mamatohaley+1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call your agent. Also if the tree is near any power lines the electric company might pay to remove it.
2006-10-26 09:07:31 · answer #7 · answered by Liz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not a chance. And if the tree does fall, homeowner's deducible will probably be more than the cost for you to cut it down yourself, not to mention your insurance will probably go up after the loss.
2006-10-26 09:02:44 · answer #8 · answered by KQ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would also add that you should spend the money to remove the tree before it damages your property. I would also highly recommend that you read your policy and consult with your agent. I could see your insurance company denying your claim because you had knowledge of the peril and chose to do nothing to prevent damage to your property.
2006-10-26 10:31:11 · answer #9 · answered by Joey H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are trying to use your homeowners policy as a maintenance policy. You need to pay to have the tree removed.
2006-10-26 09:46:58 · answer #10 · answered by blb 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋