The safety of you and your family is a top priority. If your policy has additional living expense coverage and the home is unlivable due to a covered loss, reasonable increases in living expenses are covered. There are some conditions and limitations, so please notify your adjuster immediately if you believe you need this coverage.

Call your agent or Farmers Union Mutual at 423-476-8761, or click here to file a claim.

Discuss the next step with your adjuster. 

Depending on the type of loss, an adjuster will call to set up an inspection time or inform you of the next step.

Go over the settlement with your adjuster. Depending on the type of loss, an adjuster will follow up with you after the inspection report is complete or after all requested information has been received.

Again, your family’s safety is a top priority. If you believe you may have to stay somewhere else during the inspection and repairs, please contact your agent immediately. They will obtain contact information and information on where you will be staying and advise you as to whether your policy provides additional living expenses coverage. Keep receipts for any costs incurred (housing, food, temporary repairs, etc.).

Do not disturb the scene until your adjuster approves you to do so. We will need to do our inspection before anything is touched.

Take whatever reasonable steps are possible to get the water cleaned up. Take photos of all damage before any work is done. If necessary, contact a water removal and restoration company and keep a copy of their estimate to provide to your adjuster. An adjuster will set up an inspection to determine the cause of the loss and whether or not the loss is covered under your policy.

Take the steps needed to prevent further damage. This includes tarping roofs and covering broken windows. This is a step to prevent further loss required by your policy.  If any costs are incurred, save the receipts and turn them in to your adjuster as part of the claim.

Check siding, screens, awnings, gutters, and downspouts for damage.

Do not allow anyone other than your repair company and adjuster up on the roof. Every time someone walks on it, more damage can occur.

See below for advice on selecting a contractor.

If you have damaged or stolen personal property, prepare a room-by-room inventory. We will send forms for you to list the description, manufacturer, model, purchase date and location, and purchase price. We will ask for any invoices, photos, receipts, or other information that may be available to determine the value of lost or stolen damage. We understand that this is not an easy task, especially when your property has just sustained damage. However, the more information you can provide, the smoother the claims process. If you have any questions in this process, contact your adjuster.

If you have had theft or vandalism, please immediately report the incident to the police. Your policy requires this. You do not need to wait for the police report to be completed before you file a claim, but you do need to have reported the incident.

Please take photos of any damage to your property and provide them to your adjuster.

Contact your utility company and/or an electrician immediately and take whatever steps necessary to get power back to your property. Take photos of all damaged property before any repairs are made. This is a step to prevent further loss required by your policy. 

Seek medical attention immediately. Only administer first aid if qualified. Secure appropriate information on the injured party, such as name, address, and phone number. Write down a thorough description of the events that led up to the injury while they are fresh on your mind. Take photos of anything relevant, especially the location where the injury occurred.

Call your agent at 423-476-8761. Depending on the extent of the damage and the amount of your deductible, they will advise you whether or not we need to set up a claim. Most policies offer some coverage for tree removal if the tree lands on a covered property, although limits and deductibles apply. Contact your agent for more information.

In most cases, it is easier for adjusters to inspect after the tree has been removed. When you speak with your adjuster to go over what coverages are available for tree removal, they will suggest that you immediately contact a tree removal company to get the tree off before an adjuster comes to inspect any damages. See the section on selecting a contractor for tips on selecting a tree removal company.

If the tree was originally on your neighbor’s property, you must still file a claim with us. The tree’s owner is only liable if the tree was dead at the time of loss.