SECTION 1: SCOPE OF WORK, VERBAL AGREEMENTS & CHANGE ORDERS

1. Binding Written Scope: Services to be performed are strictly limited to the written line items detailed in the approved Estimate or Digital Invoice. Verbal conversations, casual hand gestures during a walk-through, or “while you’re up there” requests made on-site by the customer or third parties are strictly non-binding.

2. On-Site Requests & Change Orders: Any additional work requested by the customer after execution of this agreement, including extra branches, additional trees, logs processed differently, or debris hauled, must be documented in a written or texted “Change Order” and approved with an agreed price adjustment before the crew will begin the extra work.

3. Concealed Hazards & Internal Tree Decay: Tree work involves dangerous, high-risk forces acting on wood structures. If hidden, unexpected, or uninspectable hazards are discovered during operations (e.g., severe internal heart rot, active stinging insect/wasp infestations, embedded metal, rebar, fencing, concrete, high-voltage lines, or structural hollows), Cut & Leave reserves the right to immediately pause work on the affected area to protect crew safety and equipment.

4. Hazard Mitigation Fees: If concealed hazards require specialized rigging, additional heavy equipment, extra labor hours, or result in damaged equipment. Cut & Leave has the right to discuss a price increase or abort the job.

SECTION 2: WORK ZONE SAFETY, SITE ACCESS & EXCLUSION ZONES

1. Active Work Zone Hazards: Tree removal and trimming involve falling timber, heavy rigging drops, high-velocity wood chips, swinging cables, and heavy machinery with significant blind spots.

2. Mandatory Exclusion Zone: For safety, all residents, visitors, family members, neighbors, and pets must stay strictly indoors or at least 100 feet away from the active work zone while equipment is running or rigging is overhead.

3. Interference & Unauthorized Assistance: Customers, guests, and bystanders are strictly prohibited from entering the dropped area, handling equipment, pulling ropes, or attempting to “help” the crew. Cut & Leave assumes zero liability for personal injury, death, or property damage resulting from any individual who enters the designated work zone or ignores crew safety warnings.

4. Site Interruption & Crew Delays: If work is halted or delayed because a customer, neighbor, or pet refuses to exit the active work area or clear vehicles/property, Cut & Leave reserves the right to suspend operations. Delay time caused by customer interference will be billed at an hourly standby rate of $150/hour.

SECTION 3: SITE PREPARATION, PROPERTY BOUNDARIES & UTILITIES

1. Customer Site Preparation: Prior to crew arrival on the scheduled work day, the customer agrees to clear the entire work area and access path of:

   • Vehicles, trailers, RVs, and boats

   • Lawn furniture, grills, toys, potted plants, and garden hose reels

   • Dog/animal waste (failure to clean up pet waste in the work area may result in a $100 sanitations fee)

2. Property Boundaries & Tree Ownership:

   • The customer explicitly warrants and guarantees that they either legally own the property where work is being conducted or possess full legal authority from the landowner to authorize tree trimming or removal.

   • The customer is solely responsible for verifying property lines and accurately marking target trees (via flag, ribbon, paint, or on-site walkthrough).

   • Boundary Disputes & Neighbor Claims: Cut & Leave is not responsible for disputes regarding property lines, shared boundary trees, or neighboring canopy overhangs. If a neighbor halts work due to a boundary dispute, the customer remains responsible for paying for all work completed up to that point. The customer agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Cut & Leave against any legal claims or damages resulting from misidentified property lines or unauthorized tree cutting ordered by the customer.

3. Public & Private Underground Utilities:

   • Public Utilities: Cut & Leave will contact public utility line locating services (811 / Call Before You Dig) prior to grinding stumps or conducting ground excavation.

   • Private Utilities: 811 does not mark private underground infrastructure. The customer is required to disclose and clearly mark in writing the location of all private underground lines, including but not limited to: irrigation/sprinkler pipes, invisible dog fences, low-voltage landscape lighting, private electric sub-panel feeds, septic tanks, drain fields, and propane lines.

   • Liability for Private Lines: Cut & Leave assumes no liability for damage to unlocatable, unmarked, incorrectly marked, or non-disclosed private underground utilities or septic components.

SECTION 4: PROPERTY IMPACT, HEAVY EQUIPMENT & DAMAGE CLAIMS

1. Standard Operational Care: Cut & Leave will employ reasonable industry precautions (such as ground mats, plywood, or lowered rigging) to minimize turf and property impact where practical.

2. Inherent Lawn & Ground Impact: Heavy equipment (e.g., mini track loaders, compact track loaders, chip trucks, dump trailers) and heavy wood drops naturally exert high ground pressure. Minor turf indentation, soil compaction, lawn divots, tire tracks, small rutting, or disturbed mulch are inherent risks of heavy tree work. Cut & Leave is not responsible for lawn restoration, topsoil delivery, re-seeding, or sod replacement unless explicitly quoted as an additional line item in the written contract.

3. Driveways, Sidewalks & Hardscapes: Cut & Leave is not liable for structural cracking or settling of pre-existing thin-pour asphalt, aged concrete, flagstone paths, unreinforced brick pavers, or underground culverts caused by standard machinery transport, provided equipment was operated in a standard, non-negligent manner.

4. Pre-Existing Property Conditions: Cut & Leave is not responsible for pre-existing structural decay, cracked concrete, damaged gutters, loose roof shingles, rotten fencing, or failing retaining walls adjacent to the work area.

5. Accidental Damage Claims:

   • In the rare event of real property damage directly caused by crew negligence or equipment failure, the customer must notify Cut & Leave in writing within forty-eight (48) hours of the incident, complete with clear photographic documentation.

   • Cut & Leave reserves the right to personally inspect the damage and select a licensed, qualified contractor to repair or restore the damaged property to its pre-job functional condition using equivalent materials.

   • The customer agrees not to perform third-party repairs or withhold full contract payment prior to allowing Cut & Leave reasonable opportunity to inspect and remediate the claim.