 In South Florida, there are certain times of the year when rains are heavy and constant. When you own a residential or commercial property, you have a responsibility to protect the property, and maintain it to prevent property damage.
Sudden and accidental events happen frequently, but if you maintain your property, the likelihood of damage occurring is lessened. We received a call from a woman who had water damage in her master bedroom, closet, and another bedroom. She was unsure of where the water was coming from and needed help. What’s Causing The Damage? When we arrived, the homeowner showed us the damage. There were visible signs of water damage to the floors, baseboards, and walls. My infrared camera showed quite a bit of moisture in these areas. The bathroom was located across the hall and away from these two rooms. There was no active leak or moisture, so we ruled out a plumbing leak. We inspected the ceilings and found that there weren’t any water stains, nor did the camera pick up any moisture. The property owner confirmed that the damage they found was isolated to the lower portion of the rooms. Investigate, Investigate, Investigate The bedrooms are located at the rear of the home. We went outside to the back and side of the property and found quite a bit of soil erosion. The grass was also gone in those areas, exposing the foundation. There was a drainage ditch at the rear of their property line, and we confirmed the water never rose high enough to enter their yard or come close to their home. I looked up to the roof line and saw they did not have gutters on the sides or rear of their home. They owned the property for 10 years, so every time it rained, the water poured off the roof and pounded the ground below causing the grass and soil to wash away over time. The ground in those areas is hardened, and there is no drainage, and the water could not soak into the ground. Rainwater then pooled at the foundation and seeped into their home. Is The Damage Covered? Although the property owner kept saying her home was flooded when it rained, soil erosion nor rain, is a covered cause of loss in her homeowner’s insurance policy, so the ensuing damages are not covered. Had the damage been caused by an actual flood, her flood insurance would have covered the damage. Flood is a rising/flowing body of water that submerges land, and the water enters the property from the exterior. Not all damage is covered in your insurance policy. You must read and understand your insurance coverage to make an informed decision on the right policy and coverage. At Reliant Insurance Adjusters, we have the knowledge and expertise to handle any property damage insurance claim. If you have a new or underpaid insurance claim, we are here to help. Contact us today.
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 After a nice dinner out with their friends in Boynton Beach, Florida, our client arrived home to the sound of smoke alarms and a wall of smoke as they entered the home. They soon found a fire raging in the master bathroom and called 911.
Fires are hazardous and can cause significant damage quickly. They put off extreme heat and you can get severely burned trying to put a fire out on your own. To avoid serious injury or smoke inhalation, you should always call 911 and leave the job to trained professionals. Accurate Information is Important When you file a property damage insurance claim, it’s important to provide accurate information to your insurance company, and the fire investigator to help determine the cause of the fire. When we met the fire investigator assigned to the claim, he interviewed our client. One of the questions he asked was if they use candles. Our client said his wife does occasionally when she relaxes in a bath. In addition to asking multiple questions, he asked if they have pets, and our client confirmed they have two cats. We were with the inspector while he was going through the burnt debris in the bathroom. The bathroom countertop and vanity were severely fire damaged. There were remains of two candles on the countertop, an electric makeup mirror, and what we soon realized was charred jewelry. He kept leaning toward the candles as the cause and thought the cats may have knocked one over. However, our client never lit the candles that day and had just come home from work and left for dinner. I informed the inspector of this information and pointed to the burned wire on what remained of the makeup mirror. As he inspected the electrical cord, he noticed that part of it was caught in the vanity drawer of the burnt cabinet. He pulled the wire out of the drawer and showed us the wire was crushed by being caught in the drawer and this was the cause of the fire! 3 Simple Tips To Avoid A Fire
Inventory Your Property Make a list of all your personal belongings, together with photos or video so in the event you do have a fire or other type of loss, you can easily identify them and compile a list of your damaged property. Know Your Insurance Coverage Review your insurance policy to verify that your property is fully protected and covered for damage. Keep a copy of your policy in your email or cloud storage for easy access. Reliant Insurance Adjusters is here for you. Our team has the knowledge and experience to handle all types of insurance claims. We also conduct Pre-Damage Inspections of your property and provide a detailed photo report for your records. If you have a new or underpaid property damage insurance claim or need a pre-damage inspection report, we can help. Contact us today to schedule a free inspection. |
