Damaged Home? How To Get An Insurer To Pay Up - Part 3

Tornadoes. Hurricanes. Wildfires. Over the past decade, insurance companies have paid more than $450 billion in property damages to policyholders. But now, some insurers are looking for ways to limit their losses by denying claims and sticking homeowners with the bill.

Today's tips conclude simple and valuable steps you can take to help make sure you get paid when filing a property claim.

Consider hiring a public adjuster: If the claim is large, you might want to hire a public adjuster.

Public adjusters work for policyholders, not the insurance company. Typically, they are veterans of the insurance industry or they worked as contractors or engineers. In most cases, they are paid with a percentage of the claim, usually 5% to 15%. They can prepare objective estimates, describe the extent of the losses to the insurance adjuster and help you withstand pressure from insurers to settle.  Often, policyholders accept low-ball offers from insurers because they don't know what they're entitled to, don't realize how much repairs cost or they're just worn down.

 

If all else fails, get help.  If your claim is turned down, you can lodge a complaint with your state regulator. Or hire an attorney to take a look at the denial letter. And if you succeed in proving your claim, it doesn't have to cost you too much money.

 

 

 

 

 

Damaged Home? How To Get An Insurer To Pay Up - Part 2

Tornadoes. Hurricanes. Wildfires. Over the past decade, insurance companies have paid more than $450 billion in property damages to policyholders. But now, some insurers are looking for ways to limit their losses by denying claims and sticking homeowners with the bill

Visit our Blog Site over the next 2 days to learn some simple and valuable steps you can take to help make sure you get paid when filing a property claim.

 

Move fast. Prevent further damage -- but don't disturb the evidence:  Gather information as quickly and completely as possible. Try to make sure you uncover and document every bit of damage.

Many policies require prompt and early notice of a claim and in some cases, insurers may deny claims that were discovered later.

Especially in the case of disasters that cause widespread damage, it helps to contact insurers early on so you're at the top of the adjuster's list.

Board up broken windows, but don't start cleanup or other significant work until after the insurance adjuster comes.

Do not throw out damaged belongings until they have been examined and recorded by your insurer. That carpet that was ruined when a pipe burst may be a moldy mess but resist the urge to kick it to the curb until the adjuster gets there and tells you it's okay to dispose of it.

Also, if you have to live in a hotel for a while, or a rental apartment, keep the receipts. Those expenses should be reimbursed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Damaged Home? How To Get An Insurer To Pay Up - Part 1

Tornadoes. Hurricanes. Wildfires. Over the past decade, insurance companies have paid more than $450 billion in property damages to policyholders. But now, some insurers are looking for ways to limit their losses by denying claims and sticking homeowners with the bill.

Visit our Blog Site over the next 3 days to learn some simple and valuable steps you can take to help make sure you get paid when filing a property claim.

Document your holdings: Technology has made it easy to keep track of your belongings -- and the condition of your home.

Now, you can do a walk through with your smartphone and take photos or videos of your furniture, electronics, appliances, everything of value, including the home's physical features. Then email the visual evidence to yourself so you won't lose it.

Pay particular attention to documenting architectural details. Many policies have exclusions that enable insurers to turn down claims for wear and tear. If a roof is in poor condition, for example, and gets blown off in a storm, the insurer can say it was not maintained and it won't pay for the resulting water damage.

Keep records of previous repairs and maintenance so you can prove that the windows, roof, siding and other home features were in good shape. You can even take photos of these records in case you lose the hard copies in a disaster.

When It Comes To Hurricanes, Lightning Really Can Strike Twice

Weather experts are predicting a less active hurricane season on the Atlantic Coast than in recent years due to the fact that water temperatures are projected to be cooler than they have been under the influence of El Nino.

While a storm of the magnitude of Sandy may not occur again for many years, it is always a good idea to prepare for the possibility that a storm or other disaster may interrupt the usual summer cycles of rainy and sunny days and present the state with a major weather challenge.

If that occurs, it’s up to each of us to be ready to respond effectively.  


That means using the tools of preparedness that can mean the difference between life and death, danger and safety, when a storm arrives.    

    - Perhaps the most important thing you can do is create a family communications plan. Make cards for each family member with names and contact numbers. Have a contact in another state, or at least another town, that family members can get in touch with, as making a long-distance call or even sending a text message may be easier than a local call during a disaster.

   - Know how to get to higher ground if you need to evacuate, what your community’s evacuation route is, and where it goes. New Jersey has several state roads, U.S. highways and interstates designated as state coastal evacuation routes along with county and local routes.

  - You also want to know just how vulnerable your home and property are to flooding. Learn the elevation level of your property and whether there are any levees or dams in the area that might pose a flood threat.

  - Secure your home’s windows, roof, and garage. Permanent storm shutters are best for windows, but plywood five-eighths of an inch thick and cut to fit is an effective temporary solution and will also work on windowed garage doors. Secure the roof to the frame of the house by adding straps or additional clamps, and while you’re up there, make sure the gutters are clear.

 

- Keep any trees and shrubs around your home trimmed to improve their wind resistance. Bring in outdoor furniture, decorations, plants in stands, and anything else outside that isn’t nailed down. If you own a boat, decide ahead of time where and how you plan to secure it.