Is that tree actually a hazard?
A formal risk evaluation using ISA TRAQ methodology — the standard insurers, attorneys, and municipalities expect. You get a documented risk rating and clear management recommendations, not a guess.
A tree risk assessment answers three questions: how likely is the tree (or part of it) to fail, what would it hit if it did, and how bad would the consequences be? Those three factors combine into a defensible risk rating over a defined time frame — the framework taught in the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ).
I perform TRAQ assessments throughout the Kansas City metro for homeowners worried about a large tree near the house, for insurers and lenders who require documentation, for municipalities and property managers with trees over public spaces, and for anyone who has been told "that tree needs to come down" and wants an independent answer before spending thousands of dollars.
When you need a risk assessment
An insurance company or lender requires one. Your municipality mandates it. You are buying or selling property with large trees near structures. A tree company recommended removal and you want an independent second opinion. Or you are genuinely concerned about a tree near your home, your driveway, or a play area and want to know the real level of risk.
An independent assessment matters here for a simple reason: the person rating the risk should not be the person who profits if the tree comes down.
What you get
A written risk assessment following ISA TRAQ methodology: documentation of the tree and its condition, the targets within reach, the likelihood of failure and impact, and the severity of consequences — combined into a risk rating from low to extreme. The report closes with management recommendations: monitor, prune, treat, remove, or accept the risk, with a recommended reassessment interval.
One thing a risk assessment does not do: guarantee safety. No honest assessor can promise a tree will never fail. What you get is a structured, documented professional judgment that lets you make an informed decision — and demonstrates due diligence if the question ever becomes a legal one.
How it works
A systematic site visit using the TRAQ framework: assessment of the tree’s condition and structural defects, the site, and the targets. Photographic documentation of everything relevant. A written report with the rating and recommendations, typically delivered within a week.
If the assessment identifies a problem that needs a deeper answer — decay, root issues, disease — it can extend into a diagnostic assessment.
Questions I hear a lot.
What does a tree risk assessment tell you?
It tells you how likely a tree is to fail, what it would probably hit if it did, and how severe the consequences would be — combined into a single defensible risk rating over a defined time frame. It does not promise a tree is safe; it gives you a structured, documented judgment so you can make an informed decision.
A tree company said my tree is hazardous and needs to come down. Should I get a second opinion?
If the recommendation came from a company that would be paid to do the removal, an independent assessment is worth considering — especially for a large, mature tree. Some trees flagged as hazards genuinely need removal; many can be retained with targeted pruning, support systems, or simply monitoring. The assessment costs a fraction of an unnecessary removal.
How is tree risk actually rated?
Under TRAQ methodology, the assessor evaluates the likelihood of failure, the likelihood of the failed part striking a target, and the severity of the consequences. Those combine into a risk rating — low, moderate, high, or extreme — for each identified concern, over a stated time frame. The target matters as much as the tree: the same defect over a busy patio and over an empty field produces very different ratings.
Do insurance companies and cities accept your assessments?
The reports follow ISA TRAQ methodology, which is the standard most insurers, municipalities, and attorneys expect, and they are written to be read by non-arborists. Each report documents the method, findings, rating, and recommendations so a reviewer who never saw the tree can follow the reasoning.
What does a risk assessment cost?
Fees are flat and quoted up front based on the number of trees and the site. A single-tree residential assessment is a modest cost next to the price of an unnecessary removal — or the cost of a preventable failure.
Tell me about your situation.
Every assignment starts with a short conversation. Describe what's going on, and I'll tell you honestly whether you need this service, something simpler, or nothing at all.