What does a “not responsible for” clause mean?

Many tree agreements include a short section on what the company says it is not responsible for. Common examples are sprinkler lines, invisible pet fencing, buried cables, landscape lights, and things the homeowner was asked to move but did not.

Some of these are reasonable. A crew cannot see where every buried line runs. Others are not. Broad lines that excuse damage from careless work, like a limb dropped on a roof the crew was hired to protect, are worth questioning.

Ask the company to walk you through each line in plain words. Then mark buried lines and heads in the work area and tell the crew where they are. If you have a sprinkler system, ask whether they want the zone turned off.

You can also ask your own insurance agent how your policy treats damage from contractors. If a line worries you, ask for changes in writing, or get another quote.