Insurance Claims for Tree Damage: How It Works When You Hire Us

When the damage is covered, we are happy to bill your insurance carrier directly or to invoice you so you can be reimbursed. Either way works. We have done jobs for State Farm, Allstate, Auto-Owners, Farm Bureau, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, AAA, Citizens, Hastings Mutual and many smaller Michigan carriers.

We can also coordinate directly with your adjuster — sending photos, scope of work, and itemized estimates in the format adjusters expect. That usually shortens the time between damage and payment significantly.

Most standard Michigan homeowners policies cover removing a tree from a covered structure (house, garage, fence) up to a stated limit — often $500 to $1,500 per tree and $1,000 to $2,000 per occurrence. Removing the rest of the tree from the yard after it is off the structure is sometimes covered, sometimes not. Damage to the structure itself is a separate part of the claim and almost always covered.

Preventive removals — a leaning tree that has not fallen yet — are almost never covered. Storm-felled trees that do not hit anything are usually not covered either.

Before-and-after photos from multiple angles, a written scope of work, an itemized invoice with line-item pricing, and our certificate of insurance. If your adjuster needs anything else, we will get it to them the same day.

Your claim number, the name and direct line of your adjuster if you have it, and authorization to start work. Most adjusters are comfortable issuing verbal authorization for emergency mitigation (tree-off-house, tarping) before written approval is finalized.