Land, Water, and Forest

Management Expertise for

Eastern Pennsylvania

If you already own or are seeking to purchase unimproved land in Pennsylvania we offer services to maximize your opportunity for personal enjoyment and gain. Customers work with TreeDirt.com to save valuable time and achieve a better outcome for their property.

Easement Access Dispute

A property owner suspected an old easement, which had been omitted from recent deed records, was still valid and to their benefit. TreeDirt researched the property history and provided the customer a complete 100 year chain of title, historical photos & maps showing the use of the easement, and a history of the property’s subdivisions and easement recordings. The property owner shared this report with their neighbor, who in turn hired an attorney and a surveyor to review the report. Ultimately all parties agree the easement had not been extinguished and the rights to use the easement were recognized without further legal action or expenses to our customer.

Preferential Tax

Assessment

Many larger Pennsylvania properties can benefit greatly from a preferential property tax assessment. This is one of the most common and most beneficial information services we offer. We provide the services listed below to enable customers to understand and utilize this unique, but complex tax situation available for properties over 10 acres. • Assessment of your property’s eligibility and use restrictions should you apply. • Providing and completing all required forms, photos, and surveys to apply o This typically requires a 1-4 hour site visit • A step-by-step guide of how to apply relevant to your specific situation.

Pond Restoration

A customer was seeking to have a pond dredged to expand the shoreline and add water depth, but was concerned with hitting bedrock or a porous layer which would add cost and risk the integrity of the pond. TreeDirt conducted a soil survey for the property using available USDA data and information obtained during an onsite visit. The soil was analyzed in the project area and throughout the depth required for the dredging. Clay content, depth to bedrock, and other soil properties were included in the report. The report helped the customer obtain an accurate estimate for the work and complete the project within their budget.

Wetlands and Building

Site Identification

A customer received an unfavorable property value assessment from their county and desired to appeal based on the fact that their property was largely wetlands and undevelopable and in fact more a liability to their property than an asset. TreeDirt performed a soil survey on the full bounds of the property. In the soil survey we identified soils commonly found in wetlands as well as slopes unfavorable to development. In total, only about 34% of the property had development potential. The soil justification, paired with other arguments was successful in reducing the property’s assessed value by approximately 50%.

Project Outline Meeting

This is a no cost phone call where the customer describes their needs and we complete the basic data gathering neccessary to define a work scope and estimate

Work Scope Quote

The work scope quote will include all key milestones and deliverables. This step is intended to clearly set expectations and launch the project

Site Visit

If the work scope requires a site visit in order to take photos, survey timber, or survey soil, this will occur typically 1 week following the project start

SERVICES

Our diverse experience in the management of land enables us to provide information to guide you through the wide gamut of challenges unique to owning larger parcels of land. We are not your attorney, accountant, financial advisor, or realtor. Customers hire us for initial fact-finding work before engaging with a professional services representative or to generate supplemental data for themselves or their representative. Our specialization is with properties generally 10 acres and larger or containing a water or wetlands feature greater than ¼ acres.

Purchasing Land

• Partnership agreements • Off-market properties • Use value

Marketing Land

• Use value • Development opportunities • Recreational value

Easement and Boundary

Disputes

• Metes and bounds conversion to map coordinates • Deed history investigation • Know your rights & obligations

Wetlands & Water

• Soil surveys • Mitigation and Water Management • Development & Redevelopment • Drainage and retention

Timber

• Timber surveys • Timber harvest planning • Timber value and process

Zoning and Use

• Understanding your zoning regulations • Zoning variances and appeals

Roads, Trails, & Soil

• Soil and topgraphy surveys • Wildlife habitat development • Native plants and grasses • Grading and excavation planning

Property Taxes

• Tax Appeals • Preferential Assessments

Report Generation

Depending on the complexity of the project, it typically takes about 1 week to gather and prepare documents

Report Presentation

Reports, Forms, Surveys, Step-by-Step instructions and other deliverables are presented usually by phone or video conference to provide additional details and answer questions

Final Execution &

Follow Up

Usually, our reports are only a component of the customer’s project and therefore additional work is often required after the report is completed. TreeDirt will be available after the report presentation to answer additional questions and execute final tasks as needed