We all feel that because we pay for property insurance, our insurance companies should be there for us when we need them the most.
Our Client, Maryjo (not her real name for privacy reasons) arrived home from her chemo treatment to find water damage to her kitchen flooring and cabinets. Not understanding Florida insurance policies for water damage, she promptly called her insurance company and filed an insurance claim. Not knowing the advantages of using a public insurance adjuster, she let the insurance company inspect her property. She showed them the damage which she assumed was coming from the plumbing system. Who’s Back Does The Insurance Company Have? The insurance company then sent a leak detection company to inspect the property. Rather than performing a complete inspection of the entire plumbing system and appliances, they only inspected the reverse osmosis system which was in one of the damaged cabinets under the sink. The primary focus of their inspection was her roof. The leak detection company told her the roof was compromised, which allowed the water to enter through the roof and damaged her cabinets and flooring. Under her policy, the ensuing water damage from a roof leak is not covered unless a covered peril first creates an opening to the exterior of the building allowing the water to enter though the opening. Relying on their expert's report, and since there was no opening, the insurance company denied her claim. Do Your Due Diligence Maryjo hired a handyman in her community. He found that the water line to the refrigerator was leaking and was the culprit for all the damage. Why didn’t the leak detection company check that line? She trusted the insurance company's expert. Prior to her cabinets and flooring getting water damaged, it had not rained for some time. Also, after the inspections, the damage was getting worse, and it was still wet. How would a roof leak have caused the damage? Why You Need A Public Adjuster When I received her call for help, I asked a lot of questions. I reviewed the denial letter and the insurance policy at the time of loss. It’s important to make sure there are no water damage limits or exclusions. I inspected the ceilings and walls and saw there was no water staining on them, nor was there any damage to the upper cabinets. The damage was isolated to the flooring and lower cabinets in the kitchen indicative of a plumbing leak. Our Knowledge And Experience You should always have an advocate to represent you who has knowledge and experience. We have a combined 36 years of experience handling property damage claims for both residential and commercial policyholders. We know what to look for, what to ask, and have all the tools to properly assess property damage. Remember, not all property damage is a covered loss. If you have a new claim, underpaid claim or denied claim, or need to reopen your claim, we can help. Contact us today for a complimentary policy and claim review.
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The holidays are a festive time of the year filled with so many traditions to celebrate, but they can also present many opportunities for accidents to happen.
Keeping your property safe throughout the holiday season can be more challenging than you imagine because there are several risk factors that many people don’t even think twice about. Holiday Safety Tips for Your PropertyWe have created a short list of our top holiday safety tips to help keep your family, property, and belongings safe throughout the holidays. Smoke AlarmsInstalling and testing your smoke alarms is an important part of fire safety prevention confirmed by American Red Cross. If your smoke alarms are not hard wired, make sure you test them monthly. If they are not working, change the batteries. This will help ensure yours and your family’s safety. Be Prepared For Hot Stovetops And Grease Plenty of turkeys, hams, stuffing, and casseroles will get cooked this holiday season. If you aren’t cooking with caution and care, it could lead to a fire, especially when butter, oil, and grease are involved. Avoid leaving food unattended when its cooking on the stove or in a fryer to help reduce the chances of igniting or spreading fires. Don’t Leave Lit Candles Unattended Whether you light a menorah, or you like the cozy feeling from twinkling lights of candles, any candles can be a fire hazard waiting to happen. Be sure any combustible or flammable items (paper, Christmas trees, blankets, etc.) are not close to lit any candles. Consider placing your candles in a holder on sturdy and clean surfaces with a foot of space around the open flame. Never leave a lit candle unattended. In my home, I have replaced decorative candles with beautiful faux options. Maintain Your Christmas Tree If you love the scent of a real Christmas tree, you will more than likely be decorating the tree with lights. it is important to check the lights and make sure there are not any frayed wires, and that you unplug the lights when you go to bed. Keeping your trees watered and moist will help them from drying out which can lead to fires. Enjoy a Safe and Damage-Free Holiday SeasonThere is so much to celebrate and be thankful for throughout the holiday season, and we hope you enjoy yours safely. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we understand that accidents can still happen even if you are prepared. We are here to help you with any property damage claims you may need to file or answer any questions you may have to help keep your property safe throughout the year. Contact us today to learn how we can help. It is important that you know who insures your property. After receiving a call from a potential client recently, I realized this topic needs to be discussed.
There are times that we receive calls from individuals after they sustain damage to their property, and they want to know if they should file an insurance claim. Sometimes they have already called the claim into the insurance company before knowing if there is coverage for the type of loss that has occurred. Why It’s Important To Know Who Insures Your Property During the call, I was told by the homeowner that she was insured with a certain insurance company. That carrier’s policy happens to cover the type of loss and damage she sustained. However, the insurance policy she had was expired, so I asked her to find the renewal copy. As she searched through her file, she did not find the renewal, and told me it automatically renewed and was included in her mortgage payment. I asked her to look further because the carrier would have sent her the renewal. It was also important to make sure she still had the same coverage for the property damage she sustained. What she found was a new policy from another carrier. She was no longer insured with her original insurance company. Unfortunately, her new policy excluded the cause of loss responsible for the damages. Her insurance agent, who should have known that there was no coverage, had filed the claim for her. Does Your Insurance Agent Handle This? We come across many individuals who have no idea who their insurance company is. Sometimes when we ask them, they give us the name of their insurance agent or agency. A good insurance agent that provides customer service and has good communication skills, will always make sure you have a copy of your current policy and that you are aware of what is and is not covered in the policy. Important Tips You Should Follow
Can You Trust Your Insurance Agent? In my recent blog “Good Insurance Agents and Bad Insurance Agents”, I focused on the importance of being aware of the distinctions between good agents and bad agents. It’s important that you are proactive and research the agent and the agency they work for. Read their reviews, and seek recommendations from people you know and trust. Experience Matters Handling insurance claims and dealing with insurance companies is what we do best. We know which insurance companies treat our clients fairly and those that do not. If you have a new, underpaid or denied claim, we provide complimentary policy and claim reviews. Contact us today. Insurance claims are difficult and not easy to navigate especially when you try to handle them on your own.
Many times, insurance companies will request documents that need to be filled out without explaining what they are or why they need it. After speaking recently with a property owner who was upset that she did not receive enough money for her claim, I requested a copy of her claim file. While reviewing the documents, I noticed she signed a Release with her insurance company. What is a Release? A Release is a legal document that releases an insurance company from further obligation related to a specific claim, in exchange for a final settlement amount. The Release will generally outline the terms and conditions of the settlement, and the amount of the settlement as full and final settlement of the claim. What If Only A Portion Of The Claim Is Settled? If only a portion of the claim has been settled and the insurance company requests a Release, you can ask them to release the undisputed payment i.e., the amount of money they say the claim is worth. If they do not want to do so without a signed Release, then it is important to request that they leave the other coverages open and excluded from the release. Should I Sign a Release? The release is sometimes an essential part of the claims process to finalize the claim and prevent future disputes or legal action related to the claim. It is important to understand what you are signing, and it is always recommended for any legal document to be reviewed thoroughly. If you have signed a Release for full settlement of your claim, know that by signing it, the claim will be full and final and forever closed. Choose a Team You Can Trust Settling insurance claims is a complicated, and often, an overwhelming process. Allow us to give your claim our personal attention. The adjusters at Reliant Insurance Adjusters have decades of hands-on experience, not just in public adjusting, but also as insurance appraisers and umpires. We provide complimentary policy and claim reviews. Contact us today. Our clients always ask us for assistance with reviewing their property insurance policies, especially prior to their renewal.
Often times, I am told that they have tried to contact their insurance agent to explain the coverages but are unable to get them on the phone. There are many insurance agents in the market, so you want to make sure you work with someone who is honest, ethical and has your best interest before their own. What To Look For In A Good Insurance Agent
Characteristics Of A Bad Insurance Agents
Choose An Agent You Can Trust It is important to be aware of the distinctions between good agents and bad agents, because it is not always transparent. Always be proactive by researching the agent and the agency they work for. Read their reviews, seek recommendations from people you know and trust. And lastly, verify their credentials. These practices will help you make an informed decision to choose an agent that will safeguard your interests by selling you the best policy to protect your property. We Are Always Here To Help Because we deal with insurance claims on a daily basis, we also know which insurance companies are fair when it comes to their claims handling practices. We also know good agents that will protect client’s needs before their own, just like us. We also provide complimentary policy and claim reviews. Contact us today. If you live in Florida, you may have experienced sudden and catastrophic losses such as hurricanes, water damage and flooding. These events can cause damage to your property, and leave you in a position of possibly having to replace your roof, as well as repair damage to the interior of your home. The questions is … can you rely on your insurance company to cover all the damage?
During a recent conversation with my business partner Scott, we discussed the erosion of coverage that has gone on over the years. More recently, insurance companies have added endorsements into their policies that most policyholders may be unaware about. Will this affect my coverage? Whether it’s water damage or roof damage, repairs or replacement is typically covered in the dwelling coverage of your policy, providing the damage has been caused by a covered loss. I cannot stress enough that you need to make sure you understand and know what your policy covers, limits, or excludes. Insurance companies are implementing Limited Matching Coverage Endorsements into their policies. Unbeknownst to many of our clients, when their policy was renewed, the renewal had the endorsement which reads: Coverage A – Dwelling and Coverage B – Other Structures Limited Matching Sublimit We will repair or replace undamaged property due to mismatch between undamaged material and new material in adjoining areas if repairs or replacement are reasonable according to items a. through c. below. In determining the extent of the repairs or replacement of items in adjoining areas, we will consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to: a. The cost and/or expense of repairing or replacing the undamaged portions of the property; and b. The degree of uniformity of appearance that can be achieved without such cost and/or expense; and c. The remaining useful life of the undamaged portions of the property. The total Limited Matching Coverage is 1% of the Coverage A limit of liability for repairs or replacements of any undamaged part of the building or its components solely to match repairs made to damage as a result of a covered loss. This limit includes costs for tear out and debris removal. This limit of liability does not increase the Coverage A or Coverage B limits of liability shown on the Declarations page, nor does it apply to damage otherwise limited or excluded in the policy. What does this mean? It means that you are paying higher insurance premiums for less coverage. These endorsements and limitations in your policy are detrimental and could cost you large sums of money for needed repairs should you have a claim for property damage. To add insult to injury, some policies have a $10,000 water damage limit which includes mitigation and mold coverage. So, no matter how much damage you sustain, your claim settlement would be limited to only $10,000 with this coverage. What about my roof? I previously wrote about the roof depreciation schedules that insurance companies have implemented. If you sustain damage to your roof and it needs replacement, the amount of coverage to your roof will be depreciated by the age of your roof. If you have a roof depreciation schedule in your policy, you will not be able to recover any of the depreciation that would be deducted, which could leave you with large out of pocket expenses to complete your repairs. What can you do? The bottom line is … make sure you understand and know the coverage in your insurance policy. Contact us today for a free policy review and learn how we can help. Understandably, this is a very common question that I continuously receive from clients. Most people feel that it's their property and their mortgage company has no right to be named.
If a mortgage company is listed on your insurance claim check, it is because they have a financial interest in the property that was damaged and insured. Here is how it works: Mortgage When you purchase property and must take out a mortgage, the mortgage company provides you with the funds to buy the property. In return, they have a financial interest in the property until the mortgage is satisfied. Insurance Requirement Mortgage companies require you to maintain property insurance on the property to protect both your interest and their interest. There is no exceptions and you must have adequate coverage. Loss or Damage If your property is damaged by fire, flood, hurricane, water damage or any other covered peril, you may need to file a property damage insurance claim to cover the cost of the repairs or replacement of the damaged property. Insurance Claim Check Once coverage on your claim is provided, the insurance company will issue a check. The check will usually be made out to the property owners and the mortgage company. Mortgage Company Will Not Be On Check If you sustain damage to your personal belongings or lose use of your property due to the damage, the mortgage company will not be names on these claim checks because they only have a financial interest in the building. Endorsement by Mortgage Company Since the mortgage company has a financial interest in the property, they want to ensure that the insurance claim payment is used to repair or replace the damaged property. Every mortgage company handles property damage claims differently and have a their own process in place. Depending on the amount of the claim check, some companies will endorse the check and return it to you, while others may hold the check and issue payments in stages as the repairs are made. Choose a Team You Can Trust Settling insurance claims today is a complicated, and often, an overwhelming process especially when having to deal with your mortgage company. Allow us to give your claim our personal attention. Contact us to get started. Preparing for a hurricane is crucial to ensure your safety and the safety of your loved ones. Hurricanes can be extremely destructive and bring high winds, heavy rain, storm surges, and flooding. Here's a quick step-by-step guide on how to prepare for a hurricane:
1. Stay Informed:
2. Create a Hurricane Emergency Kit:
3. Prepare Your Home:
4. Develop a Family Emergency Plan:
5. Evacuation Plan:
6. Stay Safe During the Storm:
7. After the Hurricane:
Remember that hurricane preparedness is a year-round effort. Stay informed, have a plan, and regularly update your emergency kit and family emergency plan. Being well-prepared can make a significant difference in your safety during a hurricane. Imagine that your property was severely damaged by fire along with your personal belongings. You have just reported your claim to your insurance company.
The waiting game has begun. Although you are required to mitigate, there are certain inspections and investigations that must take place before doing so. Instead, mitigate the risks of handling a claim alone, and let a licensed insurance adjuster help you through the process and obtain the best results. Public Adjusters are Advocates After experiencing damage to your property, filing an insurance claim can be a daunting process for even the most seasoned property owner. From completing forms to dealing with insurance company representatives, the claims process can quickly become overwhelming. Beyond this, it is important to remember that insurance companies are businesses, and their ultimate goal is to minimize your claim payment. A public adjuster is a policyholder advocate that can provide another perspective on the evaluation of damages and negotiate proper claim settlements. It is crucial to engage a public adjuster early in the claims process so that they can start working on your claim immediately and assist you throughout the process. Benefits of Hiring a Public Adjuster Instead of Waiting An experienced public adjuster is qualified and licensed to represent policyholders with the insurance claims process. They have thorough knowledge and expertise of the industry and local laws, which helps them achieve the proper claim settlement for their clients. Public adjusters also provide valuable support for policyholders. They document all the damage, provide a detailed estimate of damage, document and preparing a content inventory, and negotiate with your insurance company for the proper settlement of your claim. They can also assist by helping you find temporary housing. They will direct you about what to do, and sometimes even more importantly, what not to do throughout the process. Increasing the Speed of Your Claim Public adjusters work efficiently and effectively to expedite the claims process. They know how to navigate the complex and often confusing insurance industry and can make sure that you, as a policyholder, comply with all the conditions and timelines in your policy. This will help obtain your claim settlement sooner than if you tried to manage the claim alone. The proficiency of a public adjuster in handling insurance claims is one of the key advantages of hiring one. They can translate all of the complicated insurance jargon involved in the handling an insurance claim. Skilled Negotiators working on Your Behalf Public adjusters are skilled negotiators that assist policyholders in obtaining the highest claim settlement possible. They provide proof to support the claim, and public adjusters know how to present the claim to the insurance company in a manner that is clear and concise. Their knowledge of insurance policies and industry claim practices will only help to maximize your claim settlement. We Can Maximize Your Results At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we have knowledge and experience and can guide you through the entire claims process. From the initial inspections to the final settlement. We understand the stress and feelings of overwhelm that our clients have when they come to us, and we provide empathetic support as we work hard to get them what they deserve. If you are dealing with a new or underpaid insurance claim and are ready for the help of a true advocate, contact our office today. We are your trusted insurance adjusters in South Florida, and we treat every client’s claim as if it is our own. When dealing with property damage and filing an insurance claim, many policyholders are unsure whether to hire a Public Adjuster or an attorney to help them through the process.
While both professionals can provide valuable guidance and support, there are some key differences in roles and responsibilities. Understanding these distinctions and evaluating your specific needs can be the difference in helping you make the right choice for your insurance claim. To provide you with a better understanding of the immense value an experienced Public Adjuster can provide, let’s discuss the benefits of first hiring a Public Adjuster as your professional advocate in the claims process. What is a Public Adjuster? A Public Adjuster acts as your advocate and helps you by supplying thorough estimates, pictures, and documentation to support your insurance claim and they are present for all inspections with insurance company. They are experts in the insurance claims process and work to ensure that you receive the maximum settlement amount for your claim. The practice of insurance companies delaying, postponing, refusing, or attempting to settle claims for much less than they are worth are just a few of the reasons you should consider hiring a reputable Public Adjuster. 2 Top Benefits of Hiring a Public Adjuster First #1 Expertise in the Insurance Claims Process One of the main benefits of hiring a Public Adjuster is their experience and expertise in the insurance claims process. They understand the complex policies and procedures involved in filing a claim and can navigate the process efficiently. Public Adjusters can interpret all the legalese used in working an insurance claim. A Public Adjuster will investigate and compile all losses including additional costs incurred as a result of any disruption to your home or business. #2 Ability to Maximize Your Insurance Claim Public Adjusters are skilled negotiators and can help policyholders receive the maximum settlement amount for their claim. They know how to present the claim to the insurance company and will provide detailed evidence to support the claim. Factors to Consider When Choosing a Public Adjuster When choosing a Public Adjuster, it's important to consider their knowledge, experience, and credentials. Look for someone who has experience working on claims like yours, is licensed, bonded and insured in your state, and is transparent with their fees. Consider reading reviews or testimonials from previous clients to get a sense of their level of expertise and the service they provide. Making the Right Choice for Your Insurance Claim The bottom line is simple that, in most cases, you should hire a Public Adjuster before an attorney. You can get assistance from a Public Adjuster throughout the initial stages of your insurance claim and working with a Public Adjuster helps to ensure that you receive the settlement you deserve. However, if your Public Adjuster and insurance company cannot agree on a fair settlement, there are typically three dispute resolution methods available - mediation, appraisal, or filing a lawsuit. Since attorneys deal with substantive and procedural law, they frequently settle conflicts through time-consuming and expensive litigation. Partner with the Experts At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we have over 76 years of combined experience, and we handle each client's property damage claim as if it were our own. While other professionals might provide comparable services, Reliant is committed to giving you the knowledge and expertise for your residential or commercial claim. Let us guide you through the claims process and provide you with the best outcome for your insurance claim. Contact us for a free consultation and policy review. |
AuthorKaren Schiffmiller Archives
March 2024
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