Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Michigan

Carrier appetite summary

As of this refresh, the prior HO underwriting PDF at https://www.farmersmutualmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/HO_UW_Guidelines.pdf is returning 404 and is no longer directly available from the carrier site. No replacement standalone underwriting / appetite guide is currently exposed publicly; operational guidance must be inferred from the public product descriptions and obtained in detail from the underwriting team or agent portal (Agents Login at fmibc.com). Preferred / target business (inferred from site product copy) - Homeowners (HO-2 Broad Form) on new and older owner-occupied homes up to about $200,000 Coverage A, with modern updates to plumbing, electrical, and roof and clear pride of ownership / good property maintenance. All protection classes are considered, so standard and rural risks across the Michigan lower peninsula are in scope. Replacement cost on personal property is available as an option. - Renters (HO-4 Broad Form) for tenants in single-family homes, apartments, duplexes, condos, studios, lofts, and townhomes. Renter program is positioned as a standard personal-lines product for contents, personal liability, and med pay. - Farm: small-to-medium-sized farms are the historical core book, with traditional farm property and liability coverage; appetite is oriented to rural, owner-operated farms rather than large commercial agribusiness. - Rental dwellings: qualifying non‑owner-occupied 1–4 family risks with good maintenance and updates to plumbing, electrical, and roof (described as requiring "proper updates" and above‑average maintenance / pride of ownership). - Mobile home package: tailored package policy for owner-occupied mobile homes in Michigan; details of age, limit, and construction requirements are not public and should be confirmed with an underwriter. - Inland Marine / scheduled personal property: jewelry, firearms, fine arts, and other specialty personal items insured under separate inland marine floaters with their own limits and deductibles. - Commercial and liability: About-us copy notes that the company offers commercial and liability coverage in addition to home and farm, but no public underwriting criteria or class list is provided; assume small local property and premises-based liability and confirm each class with underwriting. Restricted or declined risks (inferred, not explicitly listed) - Dwellings lacking modernized plumbing, electrical, or roof are treated as non‑preferred; the product pages emphasize updated systems and above-average maintenance, so older homes without updates or with visible disrepair are likely declined or heavily underwritten. - Risks not demonstrating "pride in ownership" or property maintenance are likely declined or subject to repair requirements prior to binding or renewal. - Unusual or higher-hazard occupancies (e.g., large commercial farms, industrial exposures, boarding houses, rooming houses, multi-unit apartments, and nonstandard habitational) are not mentioned in the public appetite and should be assumed out-of-appetite unless approved by an underwriter. - Solid-fuel stoves and furnaces are conditionally acceptable only when professionally installed and properly maintained; do-it-yourself installations or units in poor condition are likely unacceptable. Geographic notes - Single-state writer focused on Michigan, primarily rural areas of the lower peninsula. Business is confined to Michigan; do not submit out-of-state property. - All ISO protection classes are considered for homeowners, farm, and related personal property, but risks in poorer protection classes (9–10) must still present good maintenance and access for fire protection. Submission and underwriting process (publicly visible pieces) - Agents access the carrier’s policy administration platform via the "Agents Login" (fmibc.com) for real-time quoting, binding, endorsements, and renewals, suggesting that detailed rules (e.g., age-of-roof cutoffs, animal liability, trampoline/pool rules, claim thresholds) are maintained inside that portal rather than in public manuals. - The site messaging emphasizes a streamlined application process, but it does not publish specific documentation requirements; expect standard Michigan P&C package (completed ACORDs or in-system app, loss history, photos on nonstandard or rural property, and confirmation of system updates). For non-standard or borderline risks, agents should contact the underwriter in advance. Broker / producer notes - Distribution is via independent agents only; there is an agent finder for consumers and a separate agent login environment. Producers should use the internal administration system for real-time quotes and bindings and coordinate directly with the underwriting contact listed on the About Us page for questions on unusual or large risks. - Given recent rating commentary in the trade press describing volatility in underwriting results and capital pressure for this small, Michigan-only property writer, underwriters are likely to be cautious on marginal property conditions, concentration management, and severe-weather exposures. Expect tighter scrutiny on risks with prior losses or substandard maintenance and ensure submissions clearly document updates, occupancy, and any special hazards. Important limitations - Because the referenced HO_UW_Guidelines.pdf is no longer accessible and no other public manuals are exposed, the above reflects only what can be inferred from consumer-facing product pages and high-level company descriptions. For concrete rule-level items (binding authority, maximum limits by form, specific prohibited classes, solid-fuel stove requirements, age-of-roof rules, underwriting photos, and required documentation), obtain the current guidelines directly from the agent portal or underwriting staff before quoting or binding.

Referenced source pages