 Being a public adjuster, appraiser and umpire for 20 years in South Florida representing policyholders with property damage claims and disputes, I have witnessed a multitude of changes throughout the years on how insurance companies process and handle property damage claims.
Hurricane Season is around the corner, so let’s discuss catastrophic events specifically. During catastrophes, insurance companies are dealing with multiple claims and may be short staffed. I have often heard desk adjusters complain that they have so many claims they are working 7 days a week just to keep up. There have also been times when different desk adjusters have been assigned to the claim. When this happens, the new desk adjuster needs to review the claim before anything further can be done. When you file your claim, the insurance company will assign a desk adjuster who will contact you for details about your claim. Once ascertained, they will assign your claim to a field adjuster to complete an inspection of your property. There are duties within the policy that the insurance company may request you comply with in addition to asking for certain documentation to support your claim. You must comply with these duties and requests to avoid any delays or the possibility of a denial of your claim. Field adjusters are also inundated with multiple claims and inspections. They are supposed to take copious amounts of photos and details of the damage and then prepare a damage estimate to submit to the insurance company. For a less complicated claim, once they submit their estimate to the insurance company, the estimate will be reviewed by the desk adjuster and if no clarification is needed, she/he will request approval so that an “undisputed payment” can be issued. Once an “undisputed payment” gets issued, that buys the insurance company additional time to process any outstanding coverages and payments on your claim. When there are multiple coverages to address such as building, contents, loss of use, business interruption, mold etc., sometimes an expert or vendor will be required to assist. The insurance company may assign an expert who will then have to conduct another inspection. Let’s say the insurance company does not agree with the assessment of the field adjuster or their expert. They may once again assign another expert such as a contractor, engineer, contents specialist, accountant or mold testing company to review the claim. This will require more time and maybe additional inspections. If the insurance company has questions about a report that was submitted from one of their experts, they can request clarification about the report which will require additional time. With all the moving parts to a claim, I can certainly understand how policyholders may feel that their claim is being delayed. If there is a claim dispute and you disagree with the insurance company’s assessment of your damages, depending on the policy wording, there may be dispute resolution options such as appraisal, mediation or arbitration. All of these would require additional time and inspections before your claim may be resolved. Our knowledge and experience make a difference. We are diligent about representing our clients and making sure they comply with all policy requirements, which lead to property claim settlements. If you are unsure if you have a covered insurance claim, or you have a new, underpaid or denied insurance claim, we are here to help. Contact us today.
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Pre-Purchase Inspection Reports – Why They Matter When You Have A Property Damage Insurance Claim5/6/2025  Living in South Florida provides wonderful opportunities for potential property owners. When you locate that perfect property, you should always hire a reputable property inspector to perform a thorough inspection.
Whether it’s for a commercial or residential property, an inspection will show the condition of the property prior to your purchase. If there are any issues found, the inspector will provide repair options in the report and the seller will have the opportunity to make the repairs prior to closing. There are times when the seller is not in the position to complete repairs, and they will provide a credit to the purchaser for an agreed amount so the purchaser can make the repairs. If this is the case, it’s important that the repairs are completed and you maintain all the invoices as proof of repairs. Why is an inspection report important when you have property damage and need to file an insurance claim? When filing an insurance claim, you want to make sure that the damage you are claiming is covered under your insurance policy, but more important, that the damage is not pre-existing. Recently contacted by a property owner who was unsure if the damage they had to the interior of their property or the damage to their roof was covered. After inspecting the damage inside, I got on the roof to finish my inspection. I did see prior repairs, and an area with some damage. In my nearly 20 years as a licensed public adjuster, and a certified appraiser and umpire, I know the difference between new and old damage. To me, the roof damage didn’t appear new. The property owner said they purchased the property approximately two years ago, so I asked if they had a property inspection report. They did and while I was on the roof, I was viewing the report. As I suspected, the roof damage was exactly the same in the inspection report as the damage I was viewing. Here are three important takeaways: 1. Your insurance policy does not cover pre-existing damage 2. Always have a property inspection done when purchasing property 3. Make sure that repairs mentioned in an inspection report are completed Before filing an insurance claim, you should have an experienced and knowledgeable public adjuster inspect the damage and review your policy to see what the policy coverages, or if you should even file a claim. Not all damage is a covered damage. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we treat every client’s claim as if it were our own. We always put our client’s interests before our own, but we will never represent a client for an uncovered loss. If you are unsure if you have a covered insurance claim, or you have a new, underpaid or denied insurance claim, we are here to help. Contact us today. |
