Guide for Plant Appraisal Clears Up Post-Storm Debates

For Immediate Release
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Book Clears Up Post-Storm Debates

A publication entitled Guide for Plant Appraisal may not seem to be a grabber on the marketplace, but it certainly is having an impact on the peace of mind and the wallets of property owners caught up in seasonal storms.

The book is the ultimate reference for professional appraisers called in to determine the cost of the damage to landscape trees and shrubs wrought by winds, rain storms, ice and wet snow loads. It is the collective work of experts in arboriculture and landscaping who together have set guidelines on determining the worth of a wide range of trees in a multitude of settings.

The guide is recognized by the courts and insurance companies as a reliable arbiter in settling damage claims or assessing losses in property values. Without it, homeowners attempting to receive compensation for damage to trees could be entangled in endless debates based on nothing else but opinions.

Five green-industry associations collaborated in the making of the national guidelines. Each one endorses the publication by urging property owners to engage only those appraisers who rely on its procedures as their primary source in making their calculations. The groups are the International Society of Arboriculture, the American Association of Nurserymen, the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, the American Society of Consulting Arborists, and the Tree Care Industry Association.

According to officials of the International Society of Arboriculture, good landscaping can boost the market value of a property from 5% to as much as 20%. Trees are therefore tangible assets. Some homeowners have added comprehensive coverage riders to their home insurance policies to cover at least limited storm losses to shade and ornamental trees.

Beyond this protection, the IRS may permit an income tax deduction to those who can show they incurred a loss in excess of 10% of adjusted gross income due to a severe storm during the tax year. In all cases, claims must be supported by credible figures.

Providing those credible figures can be confounding, especially if informed and universally accepted guidelines are lacking. Evaluation must take into account tree species and size, along with tree health prior to the storm, landscape value of the tree in relation to the buildings and other components of the overall landscape, the extent of damage to the tree, and the cost of restoration both to a particular tree and to the overall landscape. The guidelines agreed to by the five associations take all of these factors into consideration.

Owners should take photographs of their landscapes every two or three years to substantiate tree number, size, condition, and appearance in case something does happen. If tree loss does occur, photographs should be taken and, if possible, the tree should be appraised before it is removed.

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a nonprofit organization supporting tree care research around the world. Headquartered in Champaign, Ill., ISA is dedicated to the care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees. For more information, contact a local ISA Certified Arborist or visit www.isa-arbor.com.