Which observation about a large tree close to the house is most useful in the report?

The useful observations about a tree near a house are the ones bearing on the building. Proximity governs whether roots are likely to interact with the foundation, the drains and the soil moisture beneath a shallow footing. Condition governs whether the tree is likely to shed limbs or fail — dieback, cavities, fungal fruiting bodies and lean are all visible indicators. Overhanging parts govern immediate risk to the roof and gutters and the debris load they will carry. Those three are observable and directly relevant. Species identification and mature height are arboricultural details that inform a specialist's assessment but are not the inspector's determination; trunk-girth age estimates are guesswork; and recommending removal before a closing date crosses from reporting condition into advising on the transaction.

Proximity, condition and overhanging parts are observable and bear directly on risk to the building — root interaction, limb failure and debris. Those are what the report can support and what the client can act on.

Home inspection standards address site conditions affecting the building. Trees are reported for proximity, visible condition and overhang; species identification, health diagnosis and removal decisions belong to arborists.

Close, Condition, Canopy. How near, how healthy, and what hangs over the roof. Everything else belongs to an arborist.

Where the tree is near a shallow foundation on clay, note that explicitly — the soil moisture mechanism is the finding that connects the tree to the structure.

• •Attempting species identification or health diagnosis
• •Estimating tree age from trunk dimensions
• •Recommending removal rather than reporting condition and referring