 Florida is a much sought-after travel destination due to our warm sandy beaches and year-round sun. However, our wonderful warm climate also happens to be the ideal habitat for mold growth.
Mold is a fungus that, if given the right moist and humid conditions, grows on several surfaces, including drywall, insulation, wood, carpet, clothing, and the list goes on. Water leaks from plumbing, air conditioning, appliances, roofs and hurricanes, are also a major cause of mold growth, which can occur in as quickly as 24-48 hours after a leak. Mold may be made up of tiny particles, but it is still a living organism that requires a food source (moisture) to grow. Although there are several types of mold, you would most likely see mold spores if they are in a visibly accessible location. There are times when mold can be hidden or unknown and you may experience allergic symptoms as a result. In many individuals, mold has been known to cause a variety of allergy symptoms. The more toxic the mold, the more serious the symptoms, like respiratory issues. HOME MOLD INSPECTION AND TESTING Mold can not only pose serious health concerns, but it can also result in serious damage to your home. If you suspect there is mold in your home, what should you do? First, you must determine the source that is causing the mold and do everything possible to fix the problem and resolve the underlying issue. It may be hard to see mold in certain areas of your property. Sometimes your air conditioning system can be the source so it is important to have routine inspections done and regular maintenance performed on your air conditioning system. After determining the cause and resolving the issue, you should take the necessary steps to have a professional conduct an inspection and an air quality assessment. Hiring a professional who is skilled in mold detection and testing is the safest way to begin making your home safe again. They will prepare a detailed report on the type of mold present and how it should be removed. HOW EXPENSIVE IS MOLD REMOVAL? Mold removal can be extremely toxic. Professional mold remediation is your best option because they know which safety protocols to follow in order to avoid spreading the fungi or cross-contaminating other areas of your home. The question is, how much will it actually cost you to have the mold safely removed? The reality is that it can vary tremendously and is dependent on several factors, such as the type of mold, extent of the mold, its location within the property, and whether or not it is covered by your insurance policy. DOES HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE COVER MOLD? Mold insurance claims are a bit different and often outside the scope of the average insurance policy. In some instances, though, mold can be covered. For example, if your water supply line sprung a leak and caused water damage inside your property and mold grew as a result of that leak, your insurance would most likely cover the water damage and mold damage. However, if something caused mold growth that is not caused by your insurance policy, the resulting mold would not be covered. FINDING AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO HELP WITH A MOLD CLAIM Too often, we hear from a potential client that their mold claim was denied. If a property owner does not present their claim properly to the insurance company, you could miss out on the property claim payment for covered mold damage removal and remediation. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we can help you determine if you have an insurance claim and how much you may be owed. We also offer a free policy review to help you determine if your current policy makes sense for your family’s needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
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 When the unthinkable happens, and your property is damaged, the last thing you want to feel is alone in the fight to get the money needed to restore your home back to normal.
That is where a public insurance adjuster comes in. Public adjusters are meant to be your partners who are looking out for your best interests. Because they are experts in their field, they should be your go-to resource to help ensure the best possible outcome for your insurance claim. How to Negotiate a Settlement Using a Public Insurance Claims Adjuster Public adjusters act as the middleman between you and your insurance company and work directly for you, not the insurance company. Understanding how a public adjuster can help you is important because they are the professionals who know the best practices that can get you the most money possible. You should hire a public adjuster when filing a property damage insurance claim, especially if there is a large sum at stake. They assist you in properly assessing and documenting the damage, the preparation of a detailed cost estimate to repair the damage, and they will leave no stone unturned to make sure the money you will be receiving includes all the coverages in your policy that are owed. When confronted with property damage, a lot of people tend to underestimate the cost of repairs. For example, if your windows were shattered in a severe storm, you may only calculate the cost of new windows to replace them. But, without an experienced public adjuster, you could be leaving out other cost variables such as removing the damaged windows, the cost of the new installation and adjoining materials affected such as wall paint or trim. A public adjuster is an expert in also finding the hidden costs of repairs like these. Once the preparation is complete, you will work with your public adjuster to file your claim. Typically, public adjusters will handle most of the process, but they will be sure to communicate with you every step of the way. During the process, if the insurance company refuses to properly settle the claim and you are left with no choice but litigation, you will likely need to hire an attorney to get your claim paid. Unfortunately now, more so than ever before, many property owners find themselves in this situation. Insurance companies are choosing not to settle claims when they should and instead force cases into litigation. What is insurance litigation? From the perspective of a policyholder, insurance litigation is the process of taking legal action against your insurer. Depending on the situation, litigation could arise if it becomes clear that the insurance company is not acting in good faith because of unwarranted delays or are refusing to negotiate and settle your claim. The Role of Homeowners Insurance Companies What is the insurance company’s role in this process? Typically, their role is to receive the claim, inspect the damage and approve and negotiate claims, but sometimes, this does not happen. There are times when the insurance company requests documentation that a policyholder is not skilled at preparing which can draw out the claim process. This may make you feel that there is no one fighting for you after the devastation of having property damaged. If you feel like you are in this situation and need someone in your corner, Reliant Insurance Adjusters is here for you. Our skilled professionals with outstanding customer service treat your claim as if it were our own, and we will be by your side every step of the way. You don’t need to do it alone. Reliant is here to help. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation.  A house fire can be devastating. Imagine working so hard to pay off your home mortgage only to find your house burn down to the ground. We don’t like to think about it, but this is the reality of many people. If it happens to you, you should know what to do, including finding a public adjuster in Fort Lauderdale. According to the National Fire Protection Association, around 300 thousand home structures are caught on fire every year, with 11,000 civilian fire injuries and an estimated 7 billion dollars worth of property damage. The Do’s and Don’ts Do’s Do hire a professional mitigation contractor to cover roofs, windows, and doors to reduce the damage to your home. You should also document everything so that when you discuss it with your public adjuster, it will be easier to trace your policy and identify what’s included in the coverage. Check the scope of the loss and the type of damage that the fire has done to your home. Moreover, check the quality and quantity of the materials, including labor costs and repairs needed to restore your home back to its previous state. Create an inventory of the number of damaged items in your home and attach receipts and bills to your documents to justify what’s written in your inventory. It’s also a good idea to hire a contractor and ask for recommendations and estimates. If all these pieces of information are starting to overwhelm you, do know that you can always count on a public adjuster for assistance, especially if you feel that you are being wrongly treated by your insurance company. Don’ts No matter how devastating a house fire is, you should think and act fast. Don’t delay communicating with your insurance company. Let them know about the loss as soon as possible. It can be tempting to start repairing your home after the unfortunate incident, but we discourage you from doing so. Wait for your public adjuster in Fort Lauderdale to contact your insurance company. It’s ideal that you let them know and agree on the scope of loss. Avoid throwing away items in your home that have been damaged by the fire. Wait until your public adjuster has inspected the items. House fires can drain you financially, physically, and emotionally, but don’t allow these emotions to overcome you when it comes to deciding on a settlement. Don’t be quick to accept an offer unless you’ve discussed it thoroughly with your public adjuster. Are You Looking for a Public Adjuster in Fort Lauderdale? House fires are a pain, but you can get through them and receive fair compensation if you ask for help and assistance. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we have your best interest at heart. We treat every property damage as if it were our own. Although many companies offer the same services as we do, we strive to give you nothing but the best service by offering our knowledge, resources, and experience so you can get the highest possible settlement for your claim. Give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you. |
