 Pre-loss property inspections are important when dealing with property damage insurance claims. They allow you to prove the condition of your property was in prior to the damage occurring.
As a Boca Raton public adjuster, Reliant Insurance Adjusters offers pre-loss property inspections. The following explains two situations where these inspections are advisable and help avoid claim denials in the future. Before a Natural Disaster In the wake of a natural disaster, it is not always easy to determine the source of any damage that was done to your property. For instance, is there a leak in your roof because of a hurricane, or is it the result of improper maintenance? These questions can be difficult to answer after the fact, which is why pre-loss inspections are so important. They allow us to ensure we are equipped with all the knowledge needed during the claims process, helps narrow down the timeframe during which any damage has occurred and most importantly, allows us to prove the damage is not pre-existing. These inspections can be done before hurricanes, fires, floods, or any other event that might be covered by your insurance policy. In the event of a fire, this type of inspection report will also help show proof of the contents inside the property. What Needs to Be Inspected Before a Natural Disaster? We offer different pre-loss inspection packages. For instance, when performing inspections for residential property owners, it would be important to inspect the roof as well as interior of the property. However, an inspection for a condominium unit owner, we only inspect the interior of the unit. If performed for the condominium association, the inspection would cover the building exterior and common interior areas. For commercial buildings, we personalize those inspections on a case-by-case basis, as this allows us to factor in the unique needs of your building. Being a public adjuster provides the knowledge and understanding of what is needed. Contact us if you are unsure what kind of pre-loss inspection you need. We can also review your insurance policy and advise if you have enough coverage for your property and what the policy covers and excludes. Looking for a Public Adjuster in Boca Raton? Reliant Insurance Adjusters is here for you. Our team is very experienced with handling all types of insurance claims, interpreting insurance policies, and resolving underpaid or denied insurance claims. We represent you, not the insurance company and protect and represent your interests throughout the claim process. If you are interested in our pre-loss inspection service, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to answer any questions you have and provide any information you need.
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 Buying a home is an exciting time. It also happens to be one of the largest investments an individual will make in their lifetime.
While you can easily get caught up in the moment and the excitement, there are a few things you should consider to best maintain your new investment and keep everything running in tip-top shape. 3 Tips for New Homeowners If you have found the perfect home that meets your lifestyle and budget needs, you may want to consider the following essential tips for new homeowners. #1: Safely store your warranties and manuals As you begin purchasing new appliances, you will want to save their manuals and warranties. Storing them in an organized folder or binder, perhaps in page protectors with tabs, can help make them easy to find whenever you may need them. #2: Thoroughly vet any contractors you want to hire Not everything may be suitable for a DIY project. As tempting as it may be to save a buck or two by repairing or renovating items on your own, sometimes you will have to hire a contractor. When you do, be sure to thoroughly vet them before hiring them. Make sure you check that they are licensed and insured. Check their referrals and reviews and also be sure that you have checked with your local building authority to ensure that you can get any permits needed to complete the work. #3: Don’t neglect routine maintenance There are many factors that go into keeping a home running in tip-top shape. This often requires some routine maintenance. Change your air conditioning filters on a monthly basis and have the system checked for blockages and leaks. Make sure your windows and doors are sealed and that you do not have any leaks under your sinks. One of the best ways you can start your journey of homeownership is by having a professional conduct a thorough inspection of your home and tell you what needs to be updated now and what can be done at a later date. Get Started on the Right Foot Homeownership is an exciting time and a remarkable achievement. It can be easy to get swept up in choosing the right furnishings and color palettes for your new home, but there are a few things that should be on your priority list. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we provide several services including an independent Pre-Loss Property Inspection as well as detailed estimating services. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.  When discussing a property insurance policy, it is always important to outline that different policies have different terms. This is why we take our duties as a public adjuster in Broward County so seriously: we want to make sure we understand exactly what your policy covers.
Generalities are useful for helping you understand the likelihood that your policy covers a specific form of compensation when you have a covered loss for damage to your property. In this instance, it is safe to say that property insurance policies do not cover the cost of property maintenance. To explain why, we should discuss what these types of policies are designed to cover, as well as what to look for if you want home maintenance costs included. What Do Homeowners Insurance Policies Typically Cover? Most insurance policies are designed to cover unforeseen incidents also known as sudden and accidental damage. The exact nature of your policy may vary, but insurance companies often offer plans that include: Therefore, it is important to understand your options carefully when purchasing an insurance policy. While it is tempting to choose the cheaper coverage available, this may not give you adequate protection for your property. I always say shop coverage not price! What If Your Insurance Company Believes Damage to Your Home Was Caused Due to Lack of Maintenance? It is important to note, that although your policy only covers damage from sudden and accidental loss, it is still important to maintain your property with the proper upkeep. This will certainly avoid any issues with your insurance company should you have to file a claim. For instance, if a minor leak goes undetected and continues over a period of time, this will result in more extensive damage than if it was stopped immediately. Because the damage to your property would then be long term, your insurance company may deny coverage and claim that the water damage is not the result of a sudden and accidental loss. This situation can get especially complicated if it is ambiguous whether the damage was caused by an unforeseen event or a lack of maintenance (e.g. Did your property experience water damage due to a hurricane or because of an unrelated leak that was not fixed? This is one of the reasons why it is useful to speak with a public insurance adjuster. They can review your policy and help you determine if your damage is covered in your policy and exactly what your insurance company should provide with coverage. It is important to have a pre-loss inspection, which allows you to document the condition of your property before you have a loss. Sometimes, insurance companies mislabel damage as either pre-existing or long term damage. With a detailed pre-loss inspection report, we document your property from the exterior to the interior so this will not happen to you. What If You Want a Policy That Covers Maintenance? Insurance policies are designed to help you in the event of a covered loss/damage to your property. They are not designed to maintain the property, therefore, if you are a homeowner, you may wish to purchase a home maintenance/warranty contract which usually covers maintenance of the air conditioning, appliances and plumbing. You should always have your roof and windows checked on an annual basis to make sure there are no active leaks and the caulking around your windows and doors are sealed properly. Additionally, it is important to make sure that sprinkler heads are faced away from the building to ensure that no water seeps into the property. It is important to make sure you understand what your warranty covers. While some companies just offer coverage to repair these items, others will cover replacement. If you choose to go this route, it is important to determine whether the cost of the warranty is worth the repairs you think you will need. Looking for a Public Adjuster in Broward County? You have come to the right place. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, our goal is to help you better understand the coverage that your insurance policy provides. Whether you want us to help you with an insurance claim, a pre-loss inspection, or you just have questions you would like to ask first, please do not hesitate to contact us today. It is our primary goal that our clients’ needs come first.  While it is not required, flood insurance can be highly beneficial even for properties that are not located in a flood zone. Many property owners tend to assume that their property insurance provides adequate coverage in the event of a flood. However, flood damage is often a dicey subject when it comes to your insurance policy.
Flood insurance requirements are based on FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) maps that are often outdated or don’t include all the types of flooding a property can encounter. Whether a property is in a flood zone or not, it can still be at a risk of flooding and the associated damages. 3 Reasons You Should Get Flood Insurance Even if your property doesn’t sit inside a flood zone, you may still want to have flood insurance. You may not have considered this, but floods, including flash floods, are the number one natural hazard across the nation. The following are three reasons you should get flood insurance, even if your property is not in a flood zone. #1: A small amount of water can create extensive damage Whether it is a slow leak overtime, a hemorrhaging pipe, or a flood, water exposure inside your property can lead to extensive damage. Having a separate flood insurance policy can often help mitigate the financial loss of moisture/mold remediation and repairs that may need to be done. #2: Hurricanes are not the only cause of flooding Many individuals may assume that flood insurance is only for those in flood zones or for properties that are at risk of flooding from hurricanes or heavy rainstorms. But flooding can result from a variety of scenarios, such as inadequate drainage systems, a burst fire hydrant, or an overflow of an underground plumbing system. #3: Insurance claims for flood damage happen in low-risk flood areas While flooding may be less likely to occur outside of a flood zone, floods still happen in moderate or low-risk flood areas, too. In fact, according to FEMA, over 20% of NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) flood insurance claims come from outside the limits of high-risk food areas. Be Prepared with Flood InsuranceIf you are not in a flood zone, having flood insurance may not seem that important, but having it can be highly beneficial and save you a few headaches and a financial loss. If you still aren’t sure if you should consider getting flood insurance, or if your property has flood damage and you need to file an insurance claim, we can help. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we specialize in both commercial and residential insurance claims that include water and mold damage, fire and smoke damage, hurricane and wind damage, and more. In addition, we are Certified Property Insurance Appraisers & Umpires (CPAU) with the Insurance Appraisal & Umpire Association and the Windstorm Insurance Network. We also provide independent Pre-Loss Property Inspections and detailed estimating services. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you. |
