I sometimes get called to be an expert witness, a "job" that I politely decline not by saying "No, I don't do that," but by quoting a price that is exorbitantly high. I've been in court twice in my business career and I don't find it to be a pleasant environment, notwithstanding the fact that I have about 60 attorney friends here in San Diego, and three that I even pay to give me advice about my business.

Clients know that they can take advantage of my 43 years of experience in real estate, often at no charge to them, but sometimes billed as a Consultant, depending on the extent of the work involved.

A few months ago I got a call from a Client who lives in a condo complex. He was calling on behalf of his HOA which was involved in a dispute with an owner about a suspected crack in the foundation. For this specific Client, I was only too happy to go see what was going on. As we walked toward the property, I saw this way up in the air:

That's a mature eucalyptus tree. I thought to myself, "If that tree is anywhere near the condo, if not a problem now, then soon." As we walked up to the condo, here's what I saw just to the left of the door:

You can guess what my judgment was without me ever going into the condo. Yep. "Wrong tree in the wrong location."

I'm happy to report that the HOA and the condo owner reached a mutually satisfaction resolution. I don't know what it was, but the tree is no longer there, and I noticed that a few other wrong trees in wrong locations were removed, as well.

Trees can do significant damage to homes from their branches rubbing on the roof and the siding during high winds, and from those roots spreading out every which way including loose to find the nutrients that they need to survive and grow even bigger.

Readers interested in my five-part series on naughty trees can read them here.

Any naughty trees in your neighborhood? Feel free to post some pictures in your comments below. I'd love to see them and talk about them.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life -- make it a good start.

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Russel's Top 25 blog entries.

1. ActiveRain success story -- ActiveRain Feature
2. All God's creatures great and small -- ActiveRain Feature
3. An open letter to Realtors -- ActiveRain Feature
4. Just because they sell it doesn't mean you should buy it -- ActiveRain Feature
5. 12 reasons why I won't comment on your blog entries -- ActiveRain Feature
6. What happens when two home inspectors show up at the same time at the same property -- ActiveRain Feature
7. ActiveRain tags are very powerful. Here's how to use them effectively
8. Cracks on our properties and in our homes -- seven lessons
9. Did you take a shower today?
10. Go for the GOLD: How to use your time wisely
11. Hey! We have fall colors in San Diego
12. How my Clients got $17,800 from the bank on an "as-is" foreclosure
13. How sellers can prepare for a buyer's home inspection
14. How to trip, fall, and break an arm more efficiently
15. I purposefully burned a bridge yesterday
16. Is your dishwasher dish washing?
17. Out of sight, out of mind, skip the work, charge for it
18. The Client is always right, right?
19. We're three strange men. May we babysit your children?
20. What are you thinking? Yes, you! (electrical extension cords)
21. What are you thinking? Yes, you! (sink cabinets and chemical storage)
22. What part of that don't you understand? (Reading 101, English 101, & Spanish 101)
23. Which trees cause the most damage to our properties? -- five lessons
24. Would a foreclosed seller purposefully leave an explosive device behind?
25. Would you like what's behind Curtain #1, Curtain #2, or Curtain #3?