 Dealing with a public insurance adjuster is different than dealing with an independent adjuster in South Florida. An independent adjuster, is a third party who works for the insurance company. A public adjuster will make sure to review your insurance coverage and assist you with reporting your claim properly. Oftentimes, we receive calls about property damage and the property owner uses the wrong terminology while explaining their damage. This can be detrimental to your claim if you do not report your loss or explain the damage correctly, and your claim could be denied.
The same cannot be said with an independent adjuster. The difference is that an independent adjuster works for and represents the insurance company, not you. We are sometimes referred to as independent adjusters, however our true title is public insurance adjuster. Therefore, if you have any issues with property damage and mold, you should seek help and assistance from an independent public adjuster to handle your claim. If your claim gets denied, you could be throwing thousands of dollars out the window. What do you need to know about mold claims, and why do some claims get denied? Why Was Your Mold Claim Denied? When Does an Insurance Company Cover Mold Damage? Mold remediation is covered if it results from a covered peril in your insurance policy. For example, if your pipe breaks and causes water damage to your property that results in the presence of mold growth, then yes, you can file an insurance claim. Additionally, your insurance policy should also cover the ensuing damage and repairs to your property, as long as it is not excluded in the policy. If your insurance policy includes accidental water damage, it should also cover mold damage providing it is not excluded in your policy. As long as you can prove that the mold growth was a result of the water damage, you will avoid getting a claim denial. Some examples of covered perils are a leaking hot water heater that resulted in mold growth in your walls and a malfunctioning washing machine that caused moisture to penetrate your floors and possibly produce mold. However, it is essential to mention that not all policies are the same. So, before you invest your time and effort filing an insurance claim, make sure you have thoroughly read and understand your policy. Insurance policies are confusing at best because they provide coverage, then remove or exclude the coverage in a different portion of the policy, then can replace the coverage with different language and coverage. An independent adjuster will review your policy and explain the coverage so you should get help to make sure you are covered for your loss. What Are the Reasons Why Insurance Claims Get Denied? Not all insurance policies include mold coverage. So, the first thing you should do is review your policy and see if it is included. Then, you should seek assistance and guidance from an independent adjuster. Usually, insurance companies deny claims if there is sufficient evidence proving that the mold infestation resulted from poor maintenance, long term damage or neglect. An example is if you have a plumbing problem and you wait too long to get it fixed and the leak continues for a period of time. Do You Need to Talk to an Expert Independent Adjuster in South Florida? Dealing with water and mold damage is stressful, but what is more stressful is receiving a claim denial. Hiring an independent adjuster will relieve you of much stress and they will assist you every step of the way. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we have your best interest at heart. We strive to give you nothing but the best service by offering our knowledge and experience so that you can get the highest possible claim settlement. Give us a call to learn more about what we do.
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 If you live in Florida, you have experienced sudden and catastrophic wind events, such as hurricanes and severe thunderstorms. These storms can cause damage to your property’s exterior, leaving you in a position of possibly having to replace your roof, as well as repair damage to the interior. The questions is - Can you rely on your insurance company to cover all the damage?
The answer is a bit more complex than a simple yes or no because it depends on your policy. Insurance companies are beginning to implement roof depreciation schedules into their policies. Roof repairs or replacement, if the damage to your roof is caused by a covered loss, are typically covered in the dwelling coverage section of your policy. However, I cannot stress enough to make sure you understand and know what your policy covers, limits, or excludes. Recently, friends of mine obtained an insurance policy and unbeknownst to them, it included a roof depreciation schedule. What Does This Mean? A full roof replacement, without the help of insurance, can be a steep price tag for many property owners. It is a necessary component to your property’s envelope. If a roof depreciation schedule exists within your policy, the insurance company will deduct a percentage of coverage based on the age of your roof, then deduct your deductible. This can certainly result in high out of pocket expenses you did not expect to have. Does Insurance Cover Roof Replacement? Homeowner’s insurance policies will vary when it comes to covering full roof replacement resulting from a storm. Most policies cover damages from sudden and accidental losses such as wind, hail, or lightning, but may have a higher deductible. Where other policies may exclude these types of storm damages altogether. Be prepared and review your insurance policy so that you know and understand your property coverage. For example, whether you are covered, or not, for the ensuing water damage to your property from a roof leak or if you are covered for full roof replacement from a hurricane, windstorm, hail or lightening. Roof Damage Insurance Claim Denied, Now What? Was the damage to your roof insurance claim denied? The verbiage in your homeowner’s insurance policy is important for any claim you make. However, a roof repair or full roof replacement is not something you should wait to handle, whether your claim was denied or not. If you need a roof replacement and the damage is caused by a covered loss, and your insurance provider is denying your claim, you may still have options. That is when hiring a public adjuster, like Reliant Insurance Adjusters, can help you get the highest possible claim settlement and also potentially avoid an outright claim denial. Contact us today for a free policy review and learn how we can help get your insurance claim paid should you have one.  It is safe to say that if a large storm or fire has destroyed most of your home, it can feel devastating, however you have helpful options in front of you. In stressful times like these, you should call your public adjuster in West Palm Beach for assistance. Public adjusters will work closely with you and help you file an insurance claim to make sure you receive everything you are entitled to under your insurance policy when you have a loss.
Once the storm has passed, you are left to deal with the damages. The stress of dealing with property damage, going back and forth with your insurance company, and having to prepare and submit piles of paperwork can take a toll on your emotional, mental, and physical health. Luckily, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. While it is true that you cannot undo what has happened, the good news is you can file for an insurance claim and have help doing so. How to File for a Property Damage Insurance Claim Why Should You File an Insurance Claim? Filing a property damage insurance claim is very stressful especially when you rely on your insurance company to cover the damage and pay your claim. Once your claim is approved, your insurance company should issue payment for your damages so that you can repair your home. However, filing a claim is not as easy as it looks. If you need to file a claim, do not do it alone. Hiring an experienced and knowledgeable public adjuster is your best bet. They know how to interpret your insurance policy, determine coverage and when to file a claim. They also know what documents are needed, when timelines need to be met and how to properly document your damage. Ask Your Family and Friends for a Referral Your best advocate is a public insurance adjuster because they work for you, not the insurance company and should always have your best interest first. They can empathize with you and more than likely, have gone through what you are. We suggest you ask your family or friends if they could refer you to a credible and experienced public insurance adjuster and then start from there. Word of mouth is always the best resource. Call Your Public Insurance Adjuster Let your public insurance adjuster know what happened. Do not make any repairs in your home, except emergent ones, unless your public insurance adjuster has documented the extent of the damage. An experienced public insurance adjuster will take copious notes, detailed photos and even videos of your property to use as evidence to document your claim. Review Your Policy Together While it is true that your public insurance adjuster will be the one handling all the paperwork and will frequently be communicating with the insurance company, as a policyholder, you must also know and understand your insurance policy and what you are required to do. Insurance policies are very confusing because they show coverage in one part of the policy, then remove that same coverage deeper into the policy, then sometimes replace the coverage with revised language. They also use terminology that may be unfamiliar to you as well. Thankfully, with the help of your public insurance adjuster, you can go over your policy together and can ask all the questions you want so you can have a better understanding and expectation of what you are entitled to. Do You Need a Public Adjuster in West Palm Beach to Help You? We know how stressful it is to deal with property damage and you do not have to do it alone. Allow us to help you. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we have your best interest first and treat every property damage claim as if it were our own. After inspecting your property, our team will create a detailed damaged report with photos and a Matterport 3D tour of your property to help you with your claim. Although many companies offer the same services as we do, we strive to give you nothing but the best service by providing our experience and knowledge so that you can get the highest possible claim settlement. Give us a call today to learn more.  When you are in a situation where you need to file an insurance claim, make sure you hire an experienced, reputable, and dependable public insurance adjuster in Fort Lauderdale. Some of the duties of your public insurance adjuster will be to review your insurance policy, evaluate the damage to your property and determine if you have a covered insurance claim.
If you do, they should also gather as much documentation as possible, photograph the damage, and prepare a detailed estimate to present it to your insurance company in support of your claim. In addition to their expertise and knowledge, there are a few more qualities you need to look for when choosing to partner with a public insurance adjuster. Qualities of a Competent Public Insurance Adjuster #1 Good Communicators Look for a public insurance adjuster who has excellent communication skills. An adjuster who does not return phone calls or respond in a timely manner is not who you should entrust to handle your insurance claim. Most often, we find that our clients who sustain damage to their property are under a great deal of stress and need understanding and guidance. Regardless of your frame of mind, your insurance adjuster must effectively communicate with you. All lines of communication must be open, whether by phone, email or text. Look for a public insurance adjuster who is polite, respectful, and is readily available to talk to you and graciously explain the insurance claim process to you. Communication is one of the critical secrets to a successful settlement claim. #2 Effective Time Management A good and experienced public adjuster will provide the right service to their clients and allocate the appropriate time needed for each client. They should also not take on more claims than they can handle. This is not an issue if your public insurance adjuster knows how to manage their time well. Going through a property damage claim can be time-consuming, physically draining, and emotionally exhausting, and we are here for your every step of the way. However, an excellent public insurance adjuster should know how to use their time wisely and multitask, as these two characteristics are essential to a successful insurance claim. Effective time management will help reduce the stress for both parties. #3 Computer Savvy Believe it or not, but there are public insurance adjusters who prefer the traditional pen and paper method of managing their claims and documents. While this still works, it is not efficient in terms of time. Writing estimates on paper can be time-consuming and may result in errors. So, if you are going to hire a public insurance adjuster, it is important to ask what systems and technologies they use. Computer savvy adjusters will be able to access your file on the go and prioritize your claim. #4 Knowledge on Insurance Policy Insurance policies can be enigmatic from your standpoint, but they should not be for your public insurance adjuster. Understanding and knowledge of your insurance policy is paramount when handling insurance claims. Your public insurance adjuster will be able to explain the coverage in your policy so that you can both effectively understand the claim process and what will be expected from your insurance company. Your public insurance adjuster will prepare and submit all the documentation on your behalf. Are You Looking for an Insurance Adjuster in Fort Lauderdale You Can Trust? Property damage in itself is stressful enough, and if you are partnering with an incompetent public insurance adjuster, you are only adding more stress to your life. If you are looking for a public insurance adjuster with years of experience in the industry, you have come to the right place. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we care for you. Every claim we handle is a claim we put 100% effort into. We strive to give you the best service and so you receive the property settlement for your claim. Give us a call to learn more about our services.  Owning a property requires maintenance to keep it in good working condition. If you are like most property owners, you may put off routine maintenance for quite some time or even find yourself frequently repairing parts of your property.
According to NerdWallet: “Just 55% of Americans would handle a repair right away, according to the report, and 9% of millennials would wait until the problem started causing damage. What begins as a minor issue can turn into a very expensive disaster if you put it off. A leaky pipe under the sink could eventually lead to more extensive damage, for example, increasing the cost of the issue exponentially.” There are several parts of your property to maintain, and most of them are general upkeep. With routine maintenance, you can help to avoid complex or financially disastrous expenses down the road. 7 Property Maintenance Tips Most new property owners may not even be aware of the types of maintenance their property requires, but it is an integral part of retaining its value and minimizing or eliminating costly repairs. Sometimes, it can be helpful to set up reminders for regular maintenance tasks, which may include changing your air conditioning filters, checking your smoke detectors, or just simply walking around your property to see if there are any signs of wood rot or leaks around the exterior and roof. The following are our top seven property maintenance tips #1: Trim the trees Owning a property in Florida, you likely understand how important it is to trim your tree branches, especially before hurricane season. While it may not be one of the more glamorous tasks on your maintenance list, this simple task can help prevent pest or rodent infestations in addition to hurricane debris damage. It will also prevent branches from leaning on the wires to your property which could be hazardous. #2: Keep your HVAC systems clean Another important item is keeping up with your HVAC system. You should clean your HVAC system twice a year, routinely have the lines cleared and replace the filter every 1-2 months. If you do not have kitchen or bathroom fans, you may want to consider installing them. This can help reduce the amount of moisture buildup in your property, which helps reduce the risk of mold growth. Try to remove and clean these exhaust fans annually so that the hardware runs smoothly to keep your property free of moisture the best you can. #3: Check on your plumbing and drains A very important item to include on your maintenance checklist is to check your plumbing and drainage systems. Damage to your plumbing can result from many things, such as roots and deposit build-up, often creating problems at very inconvenient times. Make sure to do routine leak checks under your kitchen sink cabinet as well as bathroom vanity cabinets. If you need help properly maintaining your plumbing and drainage system, you may want to hire a reputable plumbing company that can create a maintenance plan for your systems. Also, if your drains are running slowly, make sure to address the issue before they become completely clogged. #4: Check your garbage disposal Most kitchen sinks have a garbage disposal and they can begin emitting a foul odor. Once a week, clean out your disposal, either with pre-made solutions or a homemade combination of citrus salt and baking soda, which can do wonders when it comes to eliminating odor and unclogging your disposal. It is also important to clean the underside of the rubber as well as the upper rim inside of your disposal to remove all food debris which also causes a foul odor. #5: Vacuum your refrigerator coils Most people rid their fridge of expired food from time to time, but they often overlook the importance of cleaning the refrigerator coils. By routinely vacuuming these coils on a yearly basis, you help keep your refrigerator running smoothly. These coils are generally at the bottom of the fridge, and you would simply remove the cover and vacuum out any dust and debris. If you don't know where your coils are located, you should refer to your refrigerator manual. #6: Prevent mold build-up in your washing machine Even the machines that are used to clean your clothes need cleaning themselves and can start to smell foul. This is often a result of mold or mildew build-up from loading and unloading your laundry and is very common for front load machines. Regularly wipe down the rubber seal every few months. To properly clean your washer and remove this type of buildup, you should refer to your washing machine’s manual. #7: Check Your Window Seals Every part of your property can experience wear and tear, including your window seals. Check the seals around your windows and doors every spring. By ensuring that every part of your home is properly sealed, you can help reduce the workload of your HVAC systems and improve its longevity. This will also help to prevent damage to your property by weather driven rain from entering through poorly maintained windows or doors. Properly Maintaining and Documenting Your Property Maintaining your property is something you should not ignore if you want your property to maintain its value and keep repair costs relatively low. If you aren't maintaining your property, you could be putting your life and your property’s structural integrity at risk of extensive damages. Creating a maintenance checklist is a proactive way to ensure your property continues to function efficiently. If you are not sure which parts of your property require maintenance, you may want to hire a professional who can complete a full inspection and uncover any potential issues that may arise. Whether you need to conduct a thorough inspection before you purchase a property, create a checklist of areas of improvement, or document the condition of your property before or after a loss, we can help. Contact us today to learn how. |
