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For more than two decades, HMI has provided insurers and property owners with emergency response and consulting support for claims and litigation involving outdoor property. Our team of credentialed arborists, green industry experts, and professional tree crews works with organizations to identify, assess, and mitigate potential losses from catastrophic events.
We understand that outdoor property features—trees, landscaping, irrigation systems, and golf course and agribusiness assets—represent significant investments that require specialized protection strategies beyond a standard risk management approach. We're available 24/7 to:
24/7 AVAILABILITY: 877-406-3232
HMI offers a range of risk management consulting solutions to help organizations prepare for and recover from catastrophic events. Our First Responder Program offers priority access to expert evaluation and restoration of properties of all types.
When disasters strike, HMI is ready 24/7 to support insurance and liability claims, pre- and post-loss inspections, and more. Our clients include residential and multifamily housing, resorts and golf courses, traditional and hydroponic farms, orchards, wineries, municipalities and more.
INSURANCE & LITIGATION CONSULTING
Be prepared for any disaster event. Contact HMI to consult on all matters involving damage to trees, landscaping, crops, and more. We help you mitigate losses and avoid predatory pricing when navigating the complex aftermath of disasters.
We're ready with emergency response solutions that include large-scale loss cleanup and emergency tree removal and landscape repairs. Organizations nationwide count on HMI expertise for third-party reviews, cause of loss analysis, replacement cost valuation, and litigation consulting.
Rely on HMI to help you prepare for the unexpected by developing protocols that limit the impact of a catastrophe. We help document outdoor property assets, identify hazards, advise on policies, and help protect your outdoor investments with:
Contact HMI today and rely on the industry's top risk management consultants specializing in outdoor property.
For more than two decades, HMI has provided insurers and property owners with emergency tree removal and consulting support for claims involving outdoor property. Our team features the nation's top arborists, professional tree crews, and other green industry experts to help you resolve all claims involving damage to trees, landscaping, vineyards, turf, golf course features, and more.
HMI subject-matter experts help to document, protect, and restore outdoor property with consulting support to specify cause of loss, calculate replacement costs, determine loss of yield, and provide restorative solutions. We are ready to assist 24/7 to support insurance claims, liability claims, pre- and post-loss inspections, and more.
HMI offers a range of consulting solutions to help insurers and their clients recover from catastrophic events. Our First Responder Program offers exclusive access to credentialed experts for inspections, evaluations, and restoration of property such as residential and multifamily housing, resorts, golf courses, traditional and hydroponic farms, orchards, wineries, and more.
Download more information on HMI's programs and consulting services below.
INSURANCE & LITIGATION CONSULTING
When disaster strikes—whether it's severe weather, wildfires, contamination, overspray, erosion, or vandalism—HMI stands ready to consult on matters involving outdoor property. Our certified arborists and subject matter experts specialize in conducting thorough inspections to document damage.
We provide expert guidance to help clients avoid predatory pricing while navigating the complex aftermath of disaster events. Contact us today and rely on HMI for consulting support and emergency tree removal.
To All Authorized Members,
It’s hard to believe that we have turned the page on another year. It sure doesn’t seem like a year ago when we were celebrating the end of 2023, a record year for HMI and our Authorized Member Network.
Maybe it's because 2024 was a blur from beginning to end. HMI blew past the record number claims we received the previous year, by the end of August. We ended the year having received 60% more claim assignments than in 2023. Members of our Network turned those assignments into sales generating nearly twice as much revenue as any prior year in company history! Truly extraordinary.
HMI supported five major weather events last year requiring the use of deployed crews due to the volume of claims received. A record number of crews deployed to support our clients throughout the year. It’s worth noting that while hurricanes and other catastrophic storms play an important role in our services, the majority of assignments HMI receives are generated by thunderstorms, ice storms, or other “local” events. 2024 was no different, we were on pace for a record year even before Hurricanes Helene and Milton came ashore last fall.
As usual, storm work on residential properties was only part of the story last year. Through HMI, members of our Network generated millions of dollars in revenue by providing preventative and storm recovery services on a variety of commercial properties, including retail, resort, camping, and golf courses.
For those of you who were on the receiving end of all that activity, we truly value your support and commitment to the HMI program. Collectively, we are making a difference by growing demand for quality workmanship, superior customer service, and above all, professionalism.
I also want to offer my personal congratulations to all the top performers from last year. We have many companies in our Network that routinely sell 80% or more of all assignments we send them. It’s rewarding to see companies of all types excel under HMI’s program.
So, what are HMI’s plans to continue increasing the value of your Network membership in 2025? We have a lot happening that you will benefit directly from, including the addition of at least one important new client for our emergency tree removal service. We completed a successful pilot test with a large insurance carrier last fall and expect to launch a comprehensive program with them ahead of this year’s storm season. We have also grown market share with existing carrier clients because of our program's proven success and outstanding service from members of our Network. This means you will be seeing even more claim volume from carriers you are already familiar with.
HMI is continuing to expand our back office to provide timely support for members and clients as our tree removal and consulting services grow. Gretchen Piechottka’s customer service team is expanding this year to continue improving our response times as claim volume increases. Doug Malawsky is also looking to add both an arborist and horticulturalist to his team. HMI's consulting business is becoming increasingly transactional, requiring additional capacity to meet client demands. I'm also happy to introduce everyone to Patti Streeter, who joined HMI this month. Patti is working alongside Lisa Day to reduce payment cycle times. This is a topic I know we are all focusing on.
Please note that we will be implementing a small 1/2% increase to our sales assistance fee (from 12%-12.5%) effective on all jobs completed on or after April 1, 2025. This is necessary to offset increases we are being assessed by one of our largest channel partners. Please be certain to consider this increase as you are quoting work on HMI jobs that will be completed on or after April 1.
Penalty for Incomplete Files: “If there isn’t a picture of it, it didn’t happen!”
As you are all aware, we have been pleading with Network members to submit a "complete set" of photos on each HMI file. While many arborists/estimators have responded by consistently providing solid photographic documentation on every file, far too many files are still not meeting minimum requirements.
Why does this matter? At best, poor photographs slow down approvals, payments and cause adjuster complaints about HMI’s program for missing key service level requirements. At worst, they cause rejections and write-offs, which we see every day.
In an effort to eliminate this issue, HMI will be implementing a new policy later this year, whereby an incremental 1% fee may be charged on files that do not contain the sufficient number or type of photos. The fee is intended to encourage arborists to follow our minimum requirements, or offset the additional costs HMI incurs to get files audited, approved, and paid when they don’t. You will be hearing much more about this policy before it goes into effect later this year. However, right now is a great time to emphasize taking more and better photos with your teams. Please know that we hope to never assess this fee to any of our members.
Remember, it’s easy to take and upload pre-labeled photos using the HMI Connects mobile app. Download for iPhone or Android at no cost. We're working with our IT team to address performance challenges experienced with the app following major weather events. Stay tuned for updates as this effort progresses.
As you can see, there’s a lot happening at HMI this year! Stay ready, as many experts feel that macro weather patterns are likely to produce a major winter storm in the south this year, and early hurricane season forecasts are predicting another active season with 15 named storms, seven hurricanes and three of them CAT3 or higher. On top of that, HMI is adding at least one new major client. It promises to be another busy and productive year for HMI and our Authorized Member Network.
Thank you to all of our members. Stay safe!
The HMI Pro Tips series has been created to provide our member network best practices to use when processing an HMI referral to maximize the value of your membership. HMI is proud of the fact that leading insurance companies rely on our program to ensure their clients have access to certified arborists and professional crews when they need emergency tree removal services.
Members in our network play an integral role in making the HMI program the quality standard for structured storm response.
This edition of Pro-Tips reviews the minimum requirements for photographs on every HMI referral you receive. Inadequate photos are a leading cause for files being rejected and thus reimbursement delays. It's also one of the simplest requirements to meet.
Don't forget, you can upload pre-labeled photos before leaving the job site property via our HMI Connects app!
Photograph the site before removing any trees. Include clear pictures from multiple angles that illustrate the size (diameter, height, crown width) of each tree and what structures the tree is on.
It is mandatory to photograph any access issues or hazards that will impact the scope and/or cost of the removal. Also photograph any pre-existing damage to driveways, fences, or other structures.
Requirements include:
Photos taken during work are required whenever a job involves extensive rigging, large crews (6+), and/or specialty equipment such as cranes, grapple trucks, aerial lifts, loaders, etc. When billing separately for any equipment, a picture of that equipment is always required.
Provide a minimum of 4 photos showing all cleared structures. There should be at least one photo that clearly shows the size of each installed tarp after work has been completed.
By following these steps, you will not only ensure a smooth approval process with HMI, but also set yourself up for success and help expedite payment for your professional services. Contact HMI with any questions by email or phone.
Below please find additional explanations for how to take good photos.
Photograph Specifications: Please consider the subject matter when photographing in a vertical (portrait) or a horizontal (landscape) orientation.
Subject: Use vertical orientation for objects that are taller than they are wide, such as tall trees. Use horizontal orientation for wide scenes, such as landscapes with downed trees, and damage to a house or structure.
Composition: Vertical orientation emphasizes shape and form, so please eliminate extraneous details. Horizontal orientation requires keeping both foreground and background subjects close together.
Resolution: The level of detail in a photograph determined by the number of pixels it contains. Higher resolution means more pixels and results in sharp, detailed images. Use the highest quality setting on your camera.
During this session, HMI leaders will share the challenges and best practices for working within a diverse team to help consulting arborists devise more effective strategies for serving their clients.
For more than 20 years, HMI's network has provided our clients with access to the very best tree care professionals across the United States. Members of our network help us provide professional, high-quality arboricultural services to insurers, homeowners, and businesses owners when they need it most.
If you are not yet a member, consider joining HMI's Authorized Member Network. We connect certified arborists and tree care professionals with high-value referrals for pre- and post-loss inspections, emergency tree removals, and other services. Help us provide our clients with access to the very best when they need it the most.
We create referral opportunities for certified arborists and tree care professionals. Here's how we partner with you:
When natural disasters and catastrophic events take place, HMI provides insurers and property owners with access to industry leaders who assist with first responder services.
HMI members comprise a national network of credentialed tree care companies, ISA certified arborists, and subject matter experts who support our clients' insurance claims, liability claims, pre- and post-loss inspections, and large commercial losses involving trees, shrubs, landscapes, and other outdoor property.
We help the industry's best create a more reliable pipeline of profitable projects that are largely shielded from economic factors that may stifle demand. Click below to learn more.
Build your business and profit from your professionalism by helping our clients respond to storms and catastrophic events. You may be a good fit if you provide:
We have created a path for top arborists to grow. For more than 20 years, HMI has been holding the line for the tree care industry, creating exacting standards and providing referrals for work with the nation's top insurance carriers. Creating a strong relationship between professional tree care companies and the insurance industry is mutually beneficial and provides HMI and its network with exciting growth opportunities.
Become an HMI member today, and join the thousands of arborists and crews from across the country that are committed to growth based on top quality work, customer services, and professionalism.
With Hurricane Milton ready to make landfall and many areas of the U.S. still recovering from a very active hurricane season, HMI's national network of certified tree care professionals is ready 24/7 to assist with Emergency Tree Removal Services and claims assistance.
HMI specializes in serving resorts, golf courses, and other commercial property owners with emergency tree removal and Consulting Support for documenting claims, cause of loss, estimate reviews, tree valuations, and much more.
HMI will help you avoid predatory pricing after disaster events and prioritize your storm recovery. Contact us regarding outdoor property such as trees, shrubs, turf, golf course features, landscaping, hardscaping, irrigation systems, and more.
Click below for details on HMI services:
Contact HMI at any time regarding damage to outdoor property from flooding, erosion, and more. Expect quality work performed at a fair price on properties of all types, including:
As of the 11:00 update this morning, Helene is projected to make landfall along the Florida coast tonight as a Major CAT3 or CAT4 Hurricane with sustained winds of 130 MPH. The eye of the storm is currently projected to pass near Tallahassee. However, due to the size and intensity of this storm, hurricane force winds will extend well beyond the center, primarily to the east. Winds also will extend north as Helene moves into Georgia and the Carolinas.
HMI is anticipating that the volume of claims we receive will support deployment of crews into impacted areas. Current guidance from our clients is that HMI’s support will be needed not just around Tallahassee but into central/northern Georgia, including Atlanta, where they are expecting hurricane force sustained winds and/or gusts.
If you are interested in deploying for this storm, and haven't already contacted us, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can keep you informed of our expectations and where your services may be most needed.
Alternately, you may also contact either *****@**********ge.com">Doug Cowles or Jacque Mangel directly with questions. If you are located in an area the may be directly impacted by this event please stay safe!
To All Authorized Members,
I am happy to report that tree removal sales by members of our network continue to track on a record pace this year. If you read my previous letter, you know that HMI posted its second largest Q1 in the company’s history this year. Last quarter was even more impressive. Q2 2024 was 50% higher than Q2 of 2023 and is now the single largest quarter in HMI history. Accomplishing this feat in a quarter outside of hurricane season is impressive and a testament to the growing demand for quality workmanship, good customer service, and professionalism in tree care.
Continuing the trend, we just closed our books for July and the Members of our network generated more tree removal sales last month than in any prior month in the company’s history. Certainly, Hurricane Beryl made its presence felt, but less than half of the work sold by our Network was related to the storm. With August also off to a fast start, this quarter will almost certainly break Q2’s record. For those of you who were on the receiving end of this activity, we appreciate your commitment to the HMI program. Collectively, we are making a difference.
Congratulations to the top closers from Q2, including Arbor Masters in Shawnee Mission, KS, Davey Tree in West St. Louis, MO, and Shults Tree in Louisville, KY. Thank you for your professionalism and exceptional service.
Also, I’m pleased to report that we recently wrapped up our second edition of the HMI Pro-Tips series, focused on how to successfully respond to Allstate assignments. Our goal with the Pro-Tips series is to provide best practices when handling HMI leads, so future Pro-Tips will include sales strategies, interpreting coverage, and other topics. We would love to have your feedback, click here to share your thoughts.
The early portion of the hurricane season has already produced a historic storm with Hurricane Beryl becoming the earliest CAT5 hurricane to form in the Atlantic. As we enter the peak of what is still projected to be a very busy season, it’s likely we will have deployment opportunities this summer/fall. If you have not yet done so, please contact Gretchen Piechottka to let her know if you are interested in deploying. She’ll make sure to get you on the list of companies we reach out to first for deployment opportunities.
“If there isn’t a picture of it, it didn’t happen!”
You may remember this phrase from our Pro-Tips campaign. For years, HMI has been trying to get our Network to improve the quantity and quality of photos submitted on all referrals. Poor photographic documentation is a constant complaint filed against HMI by our clients. This issue is causing significant approval delays, outright rejections, and slow payments.
Therefore, in Q1 of 2025, HMI will be implementing a new policy whereby an incremental fee may be charged on files that don’t contain sufficient photos. The fee is intended to offset the additional costs HMI incurs to get files audited/approved/paid when they don’t contain the required photos. You will be hearing much more about this policy before it goes into effect, but now is a great time to start taking more photos and emphasizing it with your teams. Rest assured, HMI hopes never to have to charge this fee. And remember, it’s easy to take and upload pre-labeled photos into the RMS using the HMI Connects mobile app. Download for iPhone or Android 100% free of charge.
Thank you to all of our members. Stay safe!
Regards,
To All Authorized Members,
As we all wrap-up a busy spring and start prepping for what promises to be an active summer storm season, it’s time once again for my quarterly update. If you remember, in my last letter I noted that HMI closed the second busiest January in the company’s history.
Amazingly enough, we followed that up with the second busiest first quarter (Q1) in HMI history, based on tree removal sales. It was only eclipsed by Q1 2023, which included five separate deployment events requiring the HMI network.
Q1 2024 numbers were achieved with only one deployment event in the Portland, Oregon region, which was impacted by a series of ice storms this winter. The size of the event, and size of trees impacted, overwhelmed local resources. Therefore, crews were brought in from California, Washington, and even Texas.
For those of you who were on the receiving end of this activity, we are appreciative of your support and commitment to the HMI program.
How do we make sure that we keep growing opportunities for our network members? By adding to the number of clients we support.
Previously, I mentioned new programs that are now ramping up to include insurers Liberty Mutual, Farmers, and others. We also just wrapped-up negotiations on a contract to increase the support HMI provides to PURE Insurance clients. We are currently in negotiations with another top 10 carrier to launch a new program with them before this year’s tropical storm season.
Additionally, Doug Malawsky’s consulting team has had a successful start to 2024 with a project involving thousands of acres of fire-damaged trees in California with more than $100 million in damaged property. This consulting assignment was awarded to HMI by a law firm, whereas most projects are received from insurance companies. We are confident that lawyers who handle liability claims are an increasingly important channel of business. The combination of these new programs should significantly increase HMI’s referral volume this year.
These initiatives are coming at a good time. You have likely seen our past emails referencing 2024 storm season forecasts. The El Niño weather pattern that inhibits tropical storm formation is waning. La Niña conditions, which enable tropical storm formation, are expected to emerge by late summer/early fall. This corresponds to the peak of hurricane season, to say little about what it could mean for a colder, snowier winter which is also bullish for HMI’s business! With ocean temperatures already at historically high levels, forecasters are sounding the alarm for a hyperactive hurricane season.
As you are also aware, we launched our Pro-Tips series via email this spring. The first topic wrapped up recently on how to get paid more quickly. We will follow that up with tips on successfully responding to Allstate assignments. Future Pro-Tips will include sales strategies, leveraging HMI technology, and interpreting coverage, among other important topics. Our goal with this series is to provide you with best practice intelligence for handling HMI leads.
Lastly, I would like to congratulate our Q1 closing rate leaders: Case Tree & Landscaping in Virginia, Driskill Tree & Landscape Solutions in Georgia, and Tamke Tree Experts in New Jersey. Your dedication to quality service and professionalism is greatly appreciated and reflects very well on the HMI program.
Let’s prepare for the busy season! The combination of a growing HMI client base and projections for a highly active storm season may make 2024 a banner year. As always, HMI is here to support your success with high quality referrals. If you haven’t already done so, please make certain you let Gretchen know if you are interested in deploying for us this storm season.
Thank you to all members. Stay safe!
Regards,