How do you interpret this sign?

Sorry, not a sign of anything.

I don’t see a sign here.

Have you talked to the city about the tree removal approval process? I wonder if you could put in an offer contingent on city approval of tree removal.

@Cupcake My realtor is going to talk to the other realtor today to see if they will consider a contingency.

So you don’t think it was a sign to not buy the house? I think whatever you feel in your gut is right, for now anyway. Good luck!

What would be the penalty if you just went ahead and cut it down without permission?
Or anonymously paid a tree assassin to cut it down for you in the middle of the night?

Another question you might want to consider is if the tree roofs are tearing up the foundation if its so close to the house.

An alternative to cutting down the entire tree is to see whether the arborist could suggest judicious pruning, topping, and limbing, in order to both keep the tree and make it safer.

I actually care about saving some trees also. Just so many of these trees are allowed to get too large in my opinion being so close to the houses. The fees paid to the city go into a fund to plant more trees. The fee you pay is based on how large the tree is. The larger the more expensive. I think they let these trees get too large and then removal becomes very difficult.

@Judi I do worry about that. I didn’t see evidence of the foundation being affected. I don’t see how the city can be so difficult about these trees so close to the house. This area has been spared hurricanes for many many many years, so things have grown to be very large. Lore in the area is we are protected from hurricanes here. But, really it is a matter of when not if. They have been incredible lucky. There was actually another sign come to think of it, a few small tornadoes blew through a few weeks ago and an oak crashed in on a restaurant. They weren’t open at the time, because of the storms, so no one was hurt.

@gailcalled That was part of what the arborist did, he told us what he can cut. He can remove the branches right over the garage, but can only cut back up to ⅓ of the tree. I assume more than that risks putting the tree into shock. It wouldn’t get rid of my fear of the te falling down or losing a limb during a storm. It also doesn’t get rid of the problem of not being able to put a pool where I want it. It also doesn’t help my side concern of the roots.

@ragingloli This tree would have to be taken down by a professional. There is too much risk of damaging the house. Licensed professionals can lose their license for removing it without a permit.

I don’t know it was a sign but the fact that you probably would’ve ignored such a thing before, shows that you are completely insecure about the tree.
Keep house hunting. You will never feel safe and you will never be able to put a pool in. Also , a tree that large probably is damaging the house foundation.

You’re looking for signs from the universe that you should pull down a beautiful old tree to put in a pool? I don’t think the universe would be sending you that message. Why not just buy a house that has space on the property for a pool, and let someone who will love the tree buy this house?

Perhaps the universe is telling you that there are people who would mourn the loss of such an old tree, and that you should let one of them have the house.

Seriously, though… it’s just a coincidence. You should do whatever you think is right. Why not ask yourself what you would want this to mean, if it could mean anything. Perhaps that will help you to make a decision.

I think something is telling ou not to buy the house. Probably your better judgment.

I think that you should be justified to remove any tree on your property for any reason especially if it is threatening to you. Perhaps an attorney would be able to present a good case for trimming or removing the tree. Also get another certified arborist to thoroughly examine the tree. If any disease or any structural weaknesses are present then his/ her opinion may differ completely from the other arborist who did a cursory look at the tree.

The tree is extremely healthy. There is a clause in the city documents that if it is harming property value it can be a legitimate reason to remove the tree.

My realtor just left me a message that the owners will consider the contingency. Now I have to decide for sure if we want to do it.

Thanks everybody.

Ask the realitor IF the present owner is willing to dispose of the tree and add part of the cost in your offer on the house.
Obviously you are drawn to the house, since you keep going back to it.
There must be other ways to dispose of it?
( check with a University nearby regarding Landscaping problems).
They will be able to give you more information on it.

Have you considered how this might affect what your new neighbours think of you after you cut it down? I imagine you will not be terribly popular if it is a neighbourhood landmark.

Cut the tree down and scatter the wood chips as mulch.
It all depends on IF you have a viable reason to destroy it?
Like If the roots are interferring with the drain pipes etc
We had a huge tree cut down in front of our Seniors complex because it grew into and destroyed the pipes.
Wood chips and slices of the tree were recycled into nice table tops and the rest as mulch decore.
I would think that you would have to get the tree and IF damages to pipes etc can be documented etc
If so it should be reflected in the cost purchasing the house.( less for you).

Removing branches does nothing to the root system. Any tree that close to the home is not a good thing. If the tree is protected, then the house is not.

I happen to love trees including oaks. I’d freak out every. Single. Storm. if tree limbs were hanging over any part of my home.

We’ve carefully planned our plantings specifically avoiding situations like the one you’re describing.

Do I think the oak at VIR coming down is a sign for you? Yes. I think if you see it as a sign or a warning, then it is one.

If you were one who prayed and asked the Spirit what you should do, I would say that was a sign because it was the tree that was keeping you from the house; a tree now gone. If you don’t believe the power of prayer, then it was just a pleasant coincidence that allow you to move forward to buy the house.

I don’t like the idea of taking down perfectly healthy trees. Just keep looking, you’ll find something else that you like. I love the show Househunters, they always end up finding something that they like better than the other places that they saw.

I have relatives that are looking to move to my area, I’ve been through about 40 houses with them, most of which were completely wonderful. I had some favorites, but I saw a lot of other houses that I thought were equally wonderful, although they each had different features. Unfortunately the relatives are very picky and can’t seem to make a decision.

Keep looking until you find the one.