Horticultural Asset Management, Inc. Selected by Fireman’s Fund To Support Comprehensive Landscape Insurance Program

November 14, 2007 (PRLEAP.COM) Business News
CARY, N.C. – Doug Cowles, president and CEO of Horticultural Asset Management, Inc. (HMI), has announced that his company has signed an agreement with Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company (FFIC) to provide landscape assessments and valuations for FFIC’s clients, agents and employees. The Program will enable Fireman’s Fund to support its market-leading landscaping insurance program by establishing replacement values for the trees and shrubs on a property using HMI’s patented valuation system.

In addition to establishing the value of each plant on a property the assessment service involves the identification, sizing, mapping and general health inspection of the landscape trees and shrubs on a property. HMI uses an expert field network of arborists to conduct the assessments and evaluate each plant using HMI’s proprietary health scoring system. This evaluation will help identify plants which may require follow-up evaluation for health or other issues and will allow the property owner to remediate identified issues to reduce the likelihood that a tree or shrub would fail under adverse conditions, such as a storm or fire. The replacement values will also enable property owners to select appropriate insurance coverage for these valuable assets or help facilitate the settlement of claims.

Related Links:
www.moneygrowsontrees.com
www.firemansfund.com
www.mmimarketing.com

News Facts:
• Doug Cowles, president and CEO of Horticultural Asset Management, Inc. (HMI), has announced that his company has signed an agreement with Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company (FFIC) to provide landscape assessments and valuations for FFIC’s clients, agents and employees.
• The Program will enable Fireman’s Fund to support its market-leading landscaping insurance program by establishing replacement values for the trees and shrubs on a property using HMI’s patented valuation system.
• The assessment service involves the identification, sizing, mapping and general health inspection of the landscape trees and shrubs on a property.
• HMI uses an expert field network of arborists to conduct the assessments and evaluate each plant using HMI’s proprietary health scoring system.
• This evaluation will help identify plants which may require follow-up evaluation for health or other issues and will allow the property owner to remediate identified issues to reduce the likelihood that a tree or shrub would fail under adverse conditions, such as a storm or fire.
• The replacement values will also enable property owners to select appropriate insurance coverage for these valuable assets or help facilitate the settlement of claims.

Quotes:
“When HMI was founded we envisioned supporting the development of a landscape insurance program as comprehensive as the one offered by Fireman’s Fund,” said Cowles. “HMI’s valuation system and the remediation services offered by our network are perfect complements to the Fireman’s Fund program.”

About Horticultural Asset Management, Inc. (HMI):
Horticultural Asset Management, Inc. provides revolutionary products and services that are utilized by green industry professionals as well as experts in the tax, insurance and real estate industries. HMI’s Horticultural Scientific Standard (HS²™) enables HMI Horticultural Assessments to provide accurate replacement costs for landscape assets. The replacement cost valuations provided in the HMI Horticultural Assessments can help property owners recover from the loss of landscape assets and they also provide valuable information to those purchasing properties. Also included in the HMI Horticultural Assessments is the Michael Dirr Plant Guide, written by renowned professor and author Dr. Michael Dirr. The plant guide provides customized care instructions, as well as photographs and plant descriptions. For more information or to view a sample HMI Horticultural Assessment please visit the Web site www.moneygrowsontrees.com or call 866-937-6468.

About Fireman’s Fund
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is a premier property and casualty insurance company providing personal, commercial and specialty insurance products nationwide. Fireman's Fund is a member of the Allianz Group (NYSE: AZ), one of the world's largest providers of property and casualty insurance and other financial services. For more information, visit www.firemansfund.com.

Keywords:
Horticultural Asset Management, HMI, Doug Cowles, Dr. Michael Dirr, Landscape Assets, Replacement Costs, Landscape Valuations, Risk Management, Horticultural Assets, Property Owners, High Value Residential Homes, Horticultural Scientific Standard, Michael Dirr Plant Guide, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, Fireman’s Fund

Patty Briguglio
MMI Associates, Inc.
919-233-6600
patty@mmimarketing.com
PR Firms Raleigh, NC
Real Estate PR

(end)