Hello! Haven't posted here in quite a while, glad to be back.

We are in contract negotiations to buy a home located on .81 acres in Passaic County, NJ. The backyard is wooded and slopes toward the house. We would like to remove the smaller trees and brush, leaving 5 or 6 large trees and grade part of the terrain to create an approximately 60' x 40' level area of backyard.

Anyone have any idea how much something like that might cost?

Machines cost up to $100 an hour, depending on their size. A bobcat is about $50. Depends on the size of the small trees how hard they will be to get out. You may just push them over and the roots will be exposed, then put them thru a mulcher. Keep the mulch aside for later. A bobcat may be able to do most of your work, or perhaps a mini excavator. Ask a machine contractor to come in and give you an estimate.

We had to have 2 rather large (95feet high) removed from our back yard last spring....we called a tree removal service and the gave us a price for removal and grinding down the stumps and took everything away for us.....have you anyone in your area you could call to get an estimate??

Thanks for the replies. We've decided to pass on this house because the time and expense to make the property usable would be prohibitive. One verbal estimate was upwards of $30,000.00

I was about to suggest that you use the trees are a natural trellis, then you wouldn't have to buy trellises and you don't have to worry abou the being in the way. My parents are looking for a house that has the smallest possible yard...I don't know what they're thinking! LOL possibly less mowing but I do that!