Before anything gets cut, decide what stays. Mature shade trees in the right spot add value and cool the house, so walk the lot and mark the trees you want kept, along with the area your builder actually needs open.
Check the rules early. Some cities and counties in the Tampa Bay area have tree protection rules or require approval to clear certain trees or larger areas. Your builder or local permitting office can tell you what applies to your parcel.
Plan for the debris. Palmetto, vines, scrub trees, and invasive plants like Brazilian pepper add up fast. Make sure your clearing quote covers hauling the material away, not just cutting it down.
Think about stumps. If a driveway, slab, or septic system is going where trees used to be, those stumps need to be ground or removed. In areas that will just be lawn, grinding is usually enough.
A clear scope makes for a clean handoff to your builder. We'll walk the property with you, price the clearing and hauling together, and leave the land open and ready for the next crew.