Hiring Contractors for Insurance Claims: How an Insurance Claim Contractor Works

Even if the contractor means well, the contractor is unlikely to have the experience needed to competently handle an insurance claim – especially claims involving complicated damage or large payouts. Insurance is regulated at the state level, so the role and level of involvement of contractors for insurance claims that is legally allowed will depend on your state.

Today, we’re explaining the pros and cons of insurance claim contractors, including when to hire a contractor for an insurance claim – and when to hire a public adjuster instead.

Hire Reputable Contractors for Small Insurance Claims

For larger insurance claims, using an insurance claim contractor can be risky.

For smaller claims, however, it may be a good idea to use an insurance claim contractor – assuming the contractor is a good and reputable individual.

Keep in mind that in some states, like Texas for example, it is illegal for a contractor to fully handle an insurance claim on behalf of a policyholder. This is because a conflict of interest can arise when the person in charge of performing the repair work, is also given the authority to negotiate a claim settlement or try to interpret what is covered under a policy. It’s important to be aware of this, even if it is legal in your state.

Unfortunately, many contractors make similar promises about their work, making it difficult to separate reputable contractors from disreputable ones.

All contractors claim to be good, honest, and fair. This makes it hard for homeowners and commercial property owners to distinguish good and bad contractors – especially if you have limited experience with insurance claims or home repairs.

Things to Ask Your Insurance Claim Contractor

How can you separate good and bad insurance claim contractors? Here are some of the things any reputable contractor will be happy to provide before handling your claim:

Written Estimates: All reputable insurance claim contractors will provide detailed, written estimates outlining the exact costs of supplies, labor, and other expenses. If a contractor is unable to provide this information, or if the information seems unusually expensive, then it could be a red flag.

Schedule and Time Frame: Does the contractor have a specific estimated date of completion? Does the contractor have a timeframe for work to be completed? Contractors with vague timeframes may be unable to complete the work in a timely manner. Or, they might hastily do a half-quality repair job, completing your job weeks before any reputable contractor would complete it.

License Number: All licensed contractors are able to provide license numbers proving they are legally able to work in your jurisdiction.

Insurance Information: All reputable contractors will also be able to provide their insurance information, including the amount of liability insurance they carry and the number of their general liability policy. Don’t let any contractor work on your property without insurance.

Experience & Qualifications: Has the contractor handled similar repairs from similar claims in the past? Does the contractor have firsthand experience dealing with these types of property damage issues? The more experience and qualifications the contractor has, the better they will be able to handle the repairs for your insurance claim.

Guaranteed Work or Satisfaction: Not all contractors guarantee their work – even reputable contractors leave wiggle room if something goes wrong. However, all reputable contractors have some type of satisfaction promise or guarantee. Ask the contractor what happens if you’re unsatisfied with the work – or what happens if the repairs fall apart within months of the job.

All reputable contractors provide the information above for free. You should not have to pay to obtain any information.

How Insurance Claim Contractor Scams Work

Every year, thousands of Americans are victimized by insurance claim contractor scams.
Some of these scams are relatively minor: the contractor overcharges the insurance company for work while performing average-quality repairs to the property.

Other scams are more serious, with insurance claim contractors disappearing with millions of dollars in claim payouts while performing zero repairs.

Most insurance claim contractor scams fall into one of the following examples:

Poor Craftsmanship and Bad Repairs: Some insurance claim contractors promise the highest level of work. They claim to perform repairs to the best possible specifications, restoring your home perfectly to pre-loss condition. In reality, they charge your insurance companies a premium rate while performing lower-quality repairs, then pocket the difference. They might use poor building materials or shoddy craftsmanship, for example.

The Disappearing Contractor: Some contractors take this scam to the next level. They contact policyholders, get policyholders to sign their rights to the contractor, accept the insurance claim payout, and then simply disappear. One unlicensed contractor in Florida recently scammed an elderly man out of $60,000, accepting the insurance money and then never completing repairs.

Warning Signs You’re Dealing with a Bad Insurance Claim Contractor

To avoid being victimized, be aware of the following warning signs of bad insurance claim contractors:

The Contractor Offers to Pay You: If a contractor offers to pay you to handle your insurance claim, it’s a sign you’re dealing with a bad insurance claim contractor. The contractor might claim to charge your insurance company $100,000 for the job, for example, when they can really do it for just $80,000. This is insurance fraud, and it could leave you with low-quality repairs on your home.

The Contractor is Going Door to Door After a Disaster: After major disasters hit a region, insurance contractors from across the country flock to the area to make money. Some contractors are reputable, while others are not. Reputable contractors don’t typically go door to door after a disaster asking to handle your claim. Instead, they let customers reach out to them.

How to Avoid Insurance Claim Contractor Scams

With basic precaution, you can avoid common insurance claim contractor scams.

Read the Fine Print: When you authorize your contractor on your insurance claim, you’re taking an important legal step. It’s crucial to read the fine print on this agreement. Some contractors seem legitimate, then hide malicious terms and conditions in the fine print.

Check References: Take a few minutes to call references provided by the insurance claim contractor. A reputable contractor will be happy to provide multiple references. A lower-quality contractor may be unable to provide any references.

Ask for a Second Opinion: Are you concerned about a contractor’s estimates? Are you worried about the real cost of repairs? Ask for a second opinion. Any contractor can provide a free estimate, making it easy to see exactly how much repairs cost in your area.

Don’t Pay Contractors Upfront: Do not pay a contractor before speaking to your insurance company. If the contractor asks you to pay 50% upfront, for example, politely decline. Insurance companies will typically pay the contractor directly. Or, the insurance company will send a check payable to you and the contractor, and both parties sign off on the check. It’s rare for you to pay the contractor out of pocket unless it’s for temporary or emergency repairs – and even then, you should request an estimate and detailed invoice upfront.

Keep Track of All Receipts, Payments, and Other Information: The days following an insurance claim can be overwhelming. You’re bombarded with information while picking up the pieces of your life. Despite the confusion, it’s crucial to keep track of your receipts, payments, and other information. The better organized you are, the easier your claim will be.

Leave Larger, Costlier Insurance Claims to the Professionals

Contractors are not insurance claim professionals.

Some contractors might have experience dealing with claims, but contractors are not certified experts. They don’t have the skills, expertise, or education to navigate complicated insurance claims.

In some cases that can be okay for smaller claims, where minor errors are unlikely to impact your financial future.

For larger claims, however, a single error could change your life.

One mistake on your fire damage insurance claim could cause your insurer to deny a $100,000 payout, for example. It could literally change your financial future – all because an inexperienced contractor made a simple mistake.

This assumes the contractor is acting in your best interest – which isn’t always the case.

If the contractor acts maliciously, then you might suffer in other ways. Your insurance company might pay $100,000 in home repairs, but your contractor cuts corners and uses poor-quality materials to give you a $25,000 repair job, pocketing the extra $75,000 in profit. You and your insurer paid the same amount for your claim – but your home may fall apart quickly due to the low-quality repair job.

For all of these reasons, most experts do not recommend using an insurance claim contractor for larger or more complicated claims.

Generally, if your home or commercial property insurance claim is more than $10,000, it’s best to hire a Public Adjuster or Insurance Attorney for assistance with any claim disputes, denials or other issues.

Hire a Public Adjuster to Work With Your Contractor for Larger, Costlier Claims

Public adjusters are certified, licensed insurance industry professionals. A good public adjuster has decades of claims experience.

Public adjusters can manage your claim from beginning to end. They negotiate with your insurance company, manage contractors, and ensure your claim gets completed and paid in a timely manner.

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Public adjusters charge a fee after you accept the insurer’s final settlement. They charge a small percentage of the total claim payout. However, they’re often able to double or even triple insurance claim payouts, to ensure you are fully indemnified for your loss.

ClaimsMate’s public adjusters have firsthand experience with fire damage insurance claims, water damage insurance claims, flooding, mold, and all other types of claims. Contact us for a free assessment – don’t risk your financial future on an unproven insurance claim contractor.

Original Post Here: Hiring Contractors for Insurance Claims: How an Insurance Claim Contractor Works

How To Speed Up An Insurance Claim For Property Damage

In other cases, the insurance company is not acting maliciously, but the claim is so complicated that it takes months to process.

Whatever the situation may be, it’s important to understand how to speed up an insurance claim.

By speeding up an insurance claim, you get money in your bank account sooner – at a time when you need it most.

We’re sharing some of the tips, tricks, and strategies anyone can use to speed up a homeowners insurance claim.

Before a Claim: How to Proactively Speed Up an Insurance Claim

Some of the best opportunities to speed up an insurance claim occur before a disaster.

By creating an inventory and keeping separate copies of important documents, for example, you can drastically speed up an insurance claim.

Even if you’re in the middle of a claim, the tips below can help avoid headaches for your next claim.

Take a Regular Inventory of your Home and Possessions

If you’re in the middle of a claim, then it’s too late for this tip. However, maintaining a good home inventory can speed up an insurance claim.

If you are currently dealing with a home or commercial insurance claim that involves lost or damaged personal property, then getting your inventory of damaged items and proof of loss forms thoroughly and accurately completed will help expedite the claim process.

Many people keep an inventory of all of their possessions in their home. You might have a binder, notebook, or spreadsheet listing your possessions, their approximate value, and any accompanying receipts or photographs.

This is less important for low-value items – like cutlery or a shampoo bottle. However, it’s important for higher-end items, including televisions, jewelry, and other valuables.

Many insurance companies require additional documentation when replacing high-value items – say, anything worth more than $500. If you have a home inventory, you can quickly provide your insurance company with the proof they need to reimburse you.

Set aside one day every 6 or 12 months to refresh your home’s inventory. A good, accurate, well-maintained home inventory could speed up your claim by months.

Keep Copies of All Important Documentation

In a house fire or other serious disaster, you might lose everything. Replacing important documentation is difficult and time-consuming. However, it’s much less difficult and time-consuming if you have copies of all important documents.

Consider making copies of the following documents:

• Mortgage information
• Land titles
• Insurance forms
• Birth certificates, passports, and similar documents

Make copies of all your important documents today. Keep these copies in a folder and leave them in a secure location – like a fireproof and waterproof safe, a safety deposit box, or the home of a trusted friend or relative.

Or, pack these copies in an emergency kit with other important items, making them easy to grab before disaster strikes.

In a major disaster, you might lose the original versions of these documents. If you have copies, it speeds up your entire recovery process – including your insurance claim.

During the Claim: How to Get an Insurance Settlement More Quickly

There are steps you can take during the claim to speed up the claims process.

Take Photos and Videos of the Damage ASAP

After a major insurance claim, your insurer requires evidence of the damage. Take photos and videos of the damage as soon as possible.

Remember: the restoration company will start to restore and repair the damage. If you don’t take photos or videos of the damage today, then you might miss your opportunity.

You might claim your $1,500 TV through your insurance, for example, only to find you have no evidence of the damaged TV. The TV has already been removed from your property by the restoration crew.

Once it’s safe to do so, take photos and videos of the damage around your property. The more evidence you have, the smoother and faster your claim will be.

Take Steps to Limit Further Damage

Homeowners insurance and commercial property insurance policies cover unexpected events – like a house fire. Your insurance policy does not, however, cover damage that occurs after a covered event that could have been avoided – like rain damage that occurs for weeks after a fire previously tore a hole in your roof.

That’s why it’s crucial to limit further damage to your property after a disaster. Take steps to mitigate further damage. Put up tarps to cover holes in your roof. Remove damaged items if needed to prevent further damage. Contact a 24/7 emergency restoration crew as soon as possible.

Be Present When the Adjuster Inspects the Damage

Your insurance company should send its adjuster to your home to inspect the damage. This is a normal part of the claim process. The adjuster inspects the damage, determines coverage, and analyzes the scene.

It’s important to be there when the adjuster arrives. When you’re on scene, you can explain exactly what happened to the adjuster. You can answer questions, solve ambiguities, and identify exactly what was damaged.

Your insurance company’s adjuster plays a crucial role in the claims process. You will interact with the adjuster regularly. If you’re present from the first moment your adjuster arrives, you start the relationship on the right foot. If you haven’t already met with the insurance adjuster for a property inspection, then be sure to read these tips as well.

Keep the Receipts

Your homeowners insurance policy covers additional living expenses (ALE). These expenses include hotel accommodations, meal expenses, personal hygiene items, and other costs you incur after moving out of your home.

Your claim will go more quickly if you have receipts for all of these expenses. Your insurance company will ask how much you spent after moving out of your home. If you can provide specific receipts instead of vague numbers, then your insurance company is more likely to approve your claim – and not request further evidence to slow down your claim.

Receipts to track after a loss include:

• Hotel accommodations, including the cost of staying with any friends and family
• Emergency restoration costs
• Any supplies and materials used to control the scene after damage
• Rental car costs
• Meals and food receipts
• Personal hygiene expenses and all other additional living costs you would not normally incur if your house was in livable condition

After the Initial Damage: Be Proactive to Speed Up Your Insurance Claim

As your insurance claim proceeds, you can take further steps to speed up your insurance claim.

Review your Policy

Most homeowners have insurance, but many homeowners don’t understand exactly what’s covered. You might pay thousands per year for home insurance – only to realize it doesn’t cover flooding and other significant issues.

Review your policy. It makes all other aspects of your claim easier. If you don’t know your policy, then you’re negotiating from a position of weakness. Homeowners take advantage of this weakness to pay you less for your insurance claim – or drag your claim out.

Keep Records of All Conversations with your Insurance Company

Insurance claims can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s crucial to keep records of all conversations with your insurance company to avoid any misunderstandings.

Every time you talk to your adjuster or anyone else from your insurance company, make notes about the conversation.

Your notes should include:

• Topics covered during the conversation
• Specific claims or promises made during the conversation
• The name of the employee or adjuster
• The date and time of the conversation

Ideally, your claim proceeds smoothly and your insurance company abides by its promises. In many cases, however, your records of these conversations become important.

Keep track of all phone conversations, emails, text messages, voicemails, and other communications between you and your insurance company. It’s an easy way to speed up the insurance claim by creating a physical record of the claim process.

Submit your Proof of Loss

Your insurance company requires you to submit a “Proof of Loss” document to back up your claim.

This is a crucial document. It outlines important details of your claim. You need to complete this document and return it in a timely manner.

The sooner you complete the Proof of Loss form accurately, the faster your insurance company can process your claim.

Note: Some insurance companies try to trick policyholders with Proof of Loss forms. Your insurer might ask you to submit your ‘proof of loss’, for example. You submit receipts, invoices, estimates for repairs, evidence of damage, and other expenses. Then, your insurer denies your claim because you did not submit the specific Proof of Loss form. Be wary of this trick.

Obtain a Second Opinion from a Trusted Contractor

Your insurance company might recommend a specific contractor or restoration company.

Ideally, this contractor is honest, offering competitive service compared to other contractors in your area.

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, the contractor recommended by your insurer underreports the damage to limit the claim. Or, the contractor might use poor-quality materials to lower the cost of repairing the damage.

Get a second opinion. Contact home-builders or contractors in your area.

You don’t have to use your insurance company’s recommended contractor. You can use any contractor you like.

If there’s a dispute about the value of the claim, it helps to have a second opinion. Your insurance company might claim it only costs $25,000 to repair your roof, for example, when it really costs $45,000 based on the actual repair costs in your area. Without a second opinion, you might receive $25,000 for your claim – and then pay $45,000 for your new roof.

Understand your Legal Rights

All states have insurance laws that govern how insurers respond. Your state has laws requiring insurance companies to respond to claims within a certain length of time, for example.

Check your state insurance commissioner’s website for information about insurance claim laws. If you feel your insurer has treated you unfairly, then review your state’s Unfair Claim Practices act, which outlines when insurance companies are acting in bad faith.

Respond Promptly to Your Insurance Company

All states require insurance companies to respond to your claim within a reasonable length of time. Some states have specific lengths during which the insurer must address the claim – say, 15 to 45 days.

These rules also apply to policyholders. As the policyholder, you need to respond to your insurance company within a reasonable length of time.

If your insurance company asks for documentation, then you should provide that documentation as soon as possible.

If the insurance company is demanding excessive documentation, or if the insurance company is dragging its feet while expecting fast responses from you, then this is a separate issue, and your insurer could be acting in bad faith.

Contact your Insurance Company Repeatedly to Avoid Wasting Time

If your insurance company is taking too long to respond, then be diligent.

Continue contacting your insurance company. Reach out to your insurance company regularly. Check the status of your claim. Ask if they need additional documentation. Find out why your claim is taking too long.

Some insurance companies are slower than others. Some insurance companies are understaffed. Others are overwhelmed by an excessive number of claims – say, after a natural disaster in your local area.

By contacting your insurance company, you ensure the squeaky wheel gets the grease. You show your insurance company you’re proactive about your claim – and you’re not going to wait too long for a response.

After Claim Disputes: How to Fight Back and Get a Faster Settlement

All of the tips above apply to normal insurance claims. By providing your insurance company with documentation and maintaining good communication, you can speed up 90% of insurance claims.

Unfortunately, not all insurance claims go smoothly. Some insurance companies act in bad faith. Other insurance companies deliberately drag their feet or offer an insultingly low settlement.

In this case, you might need to take further action. Here are steps to take to speed up your insurance claim after a claim dispute.

Deny, Negotiate, and Fight Back

Many homeowners are unaware they can deny their insurer’s payout. If you are unhappy with your insurance company’s offer, then you can deny, negotiate, and fight back.

Deny your insurance company’s initial offer. Fight back by providing additional documentation. Negotiate with your insurance company until you receive an acceptable payout.

Hire Professional Assistance

Every year, insurance companies victimize thousands of property owners across the United States.

Many insurance companies take advantage of naïve policyholders. Most property owners only have one or two significant claims in their life. You might not understand how claims work or what to expect. Insurance companies may take advantage of your inexperience.

If your insurance company is:

• Pushing you around
• Denying or reducing your claim without just cause
• Dragging its feet or taking too long

Then consider hiring professional assistance in the form of a public adjuster or an insurance attorney.

ClaimsMate’s public adjusters offer free consultations. We’ll review your claim, then explain how we could help speed up your insurance claim.

Originally Published Here: How To Speed Up An Insurance Claim For Property Damage

How to Deal with a Home Insurance Adjuster from the Insurance Company | Claimsmate

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Oklahoma

ClaimsMate is here to help with public adjusters across Oklahoma. Our public adjusters are available to help with insurance claim adjusting in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and other major cities across the state; however, we also have qualified, licensed public adjusters to help in smaller towns from Boise City to Sallisaw, Oklahoma.

Our licensed public adjusters have combined decades of experience helping property owners in Oklahoma get better settlement offers from insurance companies. In many cases, public adjusters can double or even triple your payout. That means two to three times more money for your claim at a time when you need it most.

Remember: insurance companies in Oklahoma are for-profit businesses. Their goal is to pay you the lowest amount they are legally required to pay on every claim.

That’s why a growing number of Oklahomans are fighting back against greedy insurance companies by hiring a public adjuster.

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How Do Public Adjusters Help With Claims in Oklahoma?

Public adjusters in Oklahoma use a proven process to handle insurance claims.

Some Oklahoma property owners hire a public adjuster after the insurance company has denied or reduced a claim. Others hire a public adjuster immediately after experiencing a major loss.

Public adjusters are typically only used for cases where a significant amount of money (more than $10,000) is being disputed between the property owner and the insurance company.

Here’s how most public adjusters in Oklahoma work:

Step 1) Analysis: The public adjuster analyzes your claim and assesses the damages.

Step 2) Negotiation: The public adjuster negotiates with your insurance company.

Step 3) Settlement: The public adjuster secures a final settlement offer.

If you are happy with the final settlement offer from your insurance company, then the public adjuster’s role is done. You only pay when you accept the insurance company’s final offer.

How Much Does a Public Adjuster Cost in Oklahoma?

All Oklahoma public adjusters will disclose their fees before they start the negotiation process. Typically, public adjusters charge a percentage of the final settlement from your insurance company. This fee will be discussed upfront and usually ranges from 5% to 10%, which is why public adjusters are usually only hired for claims totaling over $10,000.

Contact a Licensed Public Adjuster in Oklahoma Today

The Oklahoma Insurance Department requires all insurance adjusters working within the state of Oklahoma to have a license. Licenses are available to residents and non-residents of Oklahoma. Applicants must study a detailed insurance textbook, then pass an in-person exam. Many adjusters will take classes to prepare for the exam.

Because of this licensing process, you can rest assured you’re working with qualified public adjusters. When you hire a licensed public adjuster in Oklahoma, you’re getting the best possible public adjuster for your unique needs.

With ClaimsMate, our public adjusters are licensed and experienced professionals with a proven track record of securing higher claims for clients.

Wherever possible, we also try to connect property owners with public adjusters who have firsthand experience with each claim. If you are making a hail damage insurance claim, for example, then we want to connect you with one of our public adjusters with extensive experience in dealing with hail damage insurance claims.

For all of these reasons, ClaimsMate and our public adjusters give Oklahoma property owners the best possible insurance claim outcomes.

Schedule a free, no-obligations consultation with one of our Oklahoma public adjusters today.

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Our public adjusters are available throughout the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metropolitan areas as well as all large and small cities across the state of Oklahoma. We can start working on your claim immediately.

The sooner you contact us, the sooner you can get paid by your insurance company.

Remember: you pay nothing upfront. Public adjusters work on a contingency basis, which means you only pay after you have accepted the final settlement offer from your insurance company.

Learn More Here: Oklahoma

Plano

Anyone who has ever filed an insurance claim is probably familiar with the term “adjuster.” These are the people who process, investigate, and determine the fate of an insurance claim with the insurance company. Most of them are staff adjusters, which means they are on the insurance company’s permanent payroll, but some of them are independent, which means they work freelance. Either way, the insurance company pays them, so their goal is to pay out as little of the insurance company’s money as possible. This can leave Plano homeowners in a bind if they suffer damage from severe weather and this is the time they might need a TDI Licensed Plano Public Adjuster

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Plano residents have the option of hiring a public adjuster to help them ensure their claim is paid in full. A public adjuster works for the insured, and they investigate and negotiate the claim with the insurance company. They are experts at getting claims paid because they’ve been in the insurance industry long enough to know how the system works. They know what forms the insurance company needs, and they know how to take pictures of the property damage.

Public adjusters aren’t needed for all claims. Simple claims with a straightforward policy can be handled by the homeowner without the need to spend additional money. But, for those claims that are long and complicated, a public adjuster can simplify it by handling it from the beginning. The public adjuster will even oversee the needed repairs. This frees up the homeowner for other projects.

Texas law stipulates that public adjusters can’t charge more than 10% of the claim payout, so most adjusters follow the industry standard of 10%. Some choose to charge an upfront fee in case the claim doesn’t get paid out. Whatever their fees, a Plano public adjuster will put it in writing and present it at the first meeting. Homeowners with property damage should contact a public adjuster to uncover all of their options.

Looking for a public adjuster in another Texas city? We have adjusters located all over the State of Texas. Click here: Find a reliable TDI Licensed Texas Public Adjuster.

Source Here: Plano

Midland

If you’ve experienced property damage to your home or business, the last thing you want to worry about is the insurance company. Maybe you’re not familiar with your insurance policy, and the idea of reading through it causes you a good deal of stress. Not to worry, a public adjuster can help you with both of those issues. Public adjusters are individuals who specialize in helping homeowners. They’re not paid by the insurance company, so their focus is strictly on you.

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Public adjusters are experts in insurance claims because it’s what they do all day long. Many of them started at insurance companies in one capacity or another and then moved into adjusting. They know all the tricks and loopholes insurance companies look for with each claim that comes in, and they can make sure your claim doesn’t get delayed or denied.

You have a lot to worry about on a daily basis, you don’t have time to deal with insurance companies and denied claims for property damage to your home or business. Sometimes it’s better to have an advocate take care of those issues. Public adjusters can be those advocates. They handle the claim right from the beginning, and if there is an issue, the adjuster will negotiate with the insurance company on behalf of the homeowner. It frees you up to get your house or business back in order.

We as ClaimsMate.com work hard to insure our clients are happy and satisfied with the private adjuster they hire through us. If you need a private adjuster from another city, you can visit this page to locate one.

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Lubbock

The typical process starts with a homeowner meeting with a public adjuster. Insurance claims in Lubbok range from weather damage to theft, and public adjusters in the area are familiar with how insurance companies handle these types of claims. They review the homeowner’s situation and write up a proposal of fees. Most Lubbock adjusters use the industry standard 10% fee from the payout, but there are a few that use the flat fee and hourly payment structures. Once the homeowner signs the contract, the public adjuster begins processing the claim.

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The adjuster will take pictures of the damage, fill out the forms, and send in all the required documentation to the insurance company. From there, the adjuster will hire a contractor to take care of the damage, and then oversee the process to make sure the repairs are done properly. Texas law prohibits public adjusters from participating in the repairs themselves, so a contractor needs to handle the repairs. Once the contractor completes the repairs, an adjuster checks with the homeowner to make sure they’ve taken care of all the details, and then the work is done.

Dealing with a public adjuster can make the claims process so much easier for most homeowners. Since homeowners only deal with their insurance policy when they need it, the verbiage can be confusing. A public adjuster reads those policies regularly, and they’re familiar with most local and big name insurance policies, as well. Their expertise can help close a claim quickly.

ClaimsMate will supply a Texas Licensed Public Adjuster to you no matter what city you live in.

Article Source Here: Lubbock

Grand Prairie

Public adjusters are advocates for homeowners, like yourself. They don’t work for insurance companies, so their primary goal is to take care of you. Public adjusters investigate the claim and gather the evidence required by the insurance company, then send off the claim. If there is a question or dispute over the material, the adjuster handles it. Once you hire a public adjuster to take care of your claim, there’s not much else you have to worry about.

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Public adjusters in Grand Prairie follow one of three payment structures: 10% of claim payout, flat fee, or hourly rate. The most commonly used structure is the 10% of claim payout, and it’s the industry standard. In some cases, a public adjuster may prefer to collect his or her fees upfront instead of waiting for the claim to pay out. For those adjusters, they use a flat fee structure, but it still can’t exceed 10% of your claim payout. Public adjusters in Texas rarely use an hourly rate because they can’t exceed the 10% claim payout anyway, so it makes more sense to use one of the other two.

Whatever the public adjuster’s process and payment structure, he or she will discuss that with you in the first meeting. You will have an opportunity to review the proposal and compare it to other adjusters if you want to. Once you sign a contract with a public adjuster, he or she will start working on your claim. In most cases, public adjusters resolve claims quickly and efficiently.

Learn More Here: Grand Prairie

What Is A Public Adjuster And What Do Public Adjusters Do | ClaimsMate

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6 Common Reasons Your Insurer Denied Your Home Insurance Claim

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The Top Sources for Help with an Insurance Claim

Insurance claims are tricky. Many homeowners are lost: they’ve never dealt with a claim before, so they don’t know what to do.

It’s not your fault. You’ve been a safe, responsible homeowner for decades – that’s not a bad thing. Many homeowners go their entire lives without filing a major home insurance claim.

Whether it’s water damage, fire damage, smoke damage, or any other type of insurance claim, you may need help wih your insurance claim.

Fortunately, you havte plenty of resources available. There are free websites, certified insurance help professionals, public adjusters, and other trusted sources of insurance help.

Need help with your insurance claim? Here are some of the best free online resources for help with insurance claims.

Delay Deny Defend

Delay Deny Defend is one of the best-known books in the insurance claims space – and one of the most-despised books by insurance companies (which is a great endorsement).

In Delay Deny Defend, Jay M. Feinman explains why insurance companies don’t pay claims – and what ordinary people like you can do about it.

You can buy the book to learn more about the insurance industry and how it works. However, Feinman also offers good advice through his DelayDenyDefend.com website.

The premise of the book is this: starting in the 1990s, many of America’s largest insurance companies changed their approach to insurance claims. They started to delay, deny, and defend insurance claims – instead of immediately paying them out with minimal investigation.

This approach was great for combating insurance fraud, but it has wreaked havoc on honest policyholders who simply want to receive the money they’re owed under the terms of their insurance contract.

You can read an excerpt from the book at DelayDenyDefend.com here.

Confused why your insurance company is dragging its feet? Not sure what to do next? Want to read stories from other policyholders who have gone through similar situations and succeeded? Delay Deny Defend is a must-read book – and a valuable free website for basic insurance help.

United Policyholders (UPHelp.org)

United Policyholders (UP) is a non-profit organization founded with the goal of helping honest policyholders navigate tricky insurance claims. United Policyholders does not take money from insurance companies. Instead, they give policyholders honest, unbiased information. The organization’s slogan is “empowering the insured.”

In 2020, UPHelp.org has changed the lives of policyholders across the United States by providing valuable information about all types of insurance claims. Some of the covered topics from the last few months include:

• Oregon wildfires insurance claim and recovery help
• 2020 California wildfires
• 2020 Iowa derecho insurance claim and recovery help
• COVID-19 preparedness and recovery help

The UPHelp.org website is filled with free resources explaining how to proceed with property damage insurance claims, how to maximize compensation from insurance claims, and how to defend against bad faith insurers.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for free insurance claim help from an unbiased organization dedicated exclusively to helping policyholders, then United Policyholders and UPHelp.org is a great place to start.

National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA.com)

The National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA) was founded in 1951 to advocate for public adjuster education and standards of professional conduct among public adjusters. Over the past 70 years, NAPIA has built a reputation for promoting consistency across the public adjuster community.

At NAPIA.com, you can learn more about how public adjusters work and what a public adjuster is. You can also find a list of certified public adjusters and public adjusting firms for more personalized insurance help.

Many homeowners are unfamiliar with public adjusters and how they work. NAPIA wants to help by explaining everything you need to know about public adjusters and how they operate.

Reddit’s /r/Insurance and /r/PublicAdjusters Subreddits

Reddit has two main communities for insurance help, including:

• Reddit.com/r/insurance
• Reddit.com/r/publicadjusters

Like other subreddits, r/insurance and r/publicadjusters feature insurance complaints, insurance tips, advice, and feedback from people who have gone through a similar experience.

Want to hear from people who are going through your exact same situation? Want to learn about insurance tips, tricks, and strategies to maximize compensation? These subreddits are valuable resources – and they’re completely free.

Both subreddits are very active, showing just how many millions of Americans struggle with insurance claims every year. You can post questions, answer insurance questions from other Redditors, or view resources for all types of insurance issues.

Ultimately, Reddit can be as useful or as useless as you want it to be, but r/insurance and r/publicadjusters are two of the best online resources for insurance help.

Merlin Law Group

Merlin Law Group has a dedicated property insurance claims blog. You can find thousands of similar pages with law firms across the United States, although Merlin’s blog is particularly helpful.

Merlin Law Group specializes in insurance issues. The law firm has a team of attorneys who have been handling insurance claims since 1985. Some of the specific topics tackled by Merlin Law Group include:

• Bad faith insurance claims
• Business interruption claims
• Commercial property insurance claims
• Hurricane, wildfire, hail, tornado, or water damage claims

In some states, public adjusters handle insurance disputes. In other states, attorneys fulfill the same role. It depends on state insurance law.

Whether looking for free online help for insurance claims or professional assistance for bad faith insurers, Merlin Law Group’s insurance website has a wealth of information on property insurance claims.

ClaimsMate Public Adjusters & Insurance Claim Help

ClaimsMate is one of the internet’s leading free insurance resources. The company offers a range of insurance adjuster guides, free insurance resources, and other information. You can find helpful information for any type of specific insurance claim situation in the Insurance Claim Tips section.

For more personalized insurance claim help, request a free consultation from a qualified public adjuster through the ClaimsMate website. Or read the leading tips on how to find a local public adjuster near you for your specific situation.

Based in the United States, ClaimsMate works to connect policyholders with public adjusters throughout the country with decades of proven experience helping with insurance claims.

Whether looking for free insurance advice, real experiences from other insurance policyholders, or a basic explanation of how typical fire damage and water damage insurance claims work, ClaimsMate is one of the internet’s leading resources for insurance help.

Need more personalized assistance? ClaimsMate can help with that too, offering free consultations from public adjusters to customers across the United States.

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Disclaimer: Be Careful Who You Trust For Help With Insurance Claims

Some contractors offer to handle your insurance claim. They offer to handle your claim from beginning to end, making repairs and working with your insurance company for payment.

You need to be careful who you trust with your insurance claim: only public adjusters and lawyers are licensed to determine policy coverage and negotiate claims.

Contractors might mean well – but they don’t have the experience or certifications to handle insurance claims.

Or, some contractors might try to take advantage of homeowners in vulnerable situations. After a disaster, many low-quality contractors flock to a region hoping to make quick, easy money. Many of these contractors go door-to-door offering to help with your insurance claim. Just sign your insurance paperwork to the contractor, and the contractor takes care of everything.

Whether a contractor means well or not, you need to be careful with who you trust for insurance claims.

Final Word: Contact ClaimsMate for Insurance Claim Help

ClaimsMate can answer your insurance questions over the phone in a hassle-free, no-pressure environment. Just contact ClaimsMate and explain your situation.

During a free consultation, public adjusters can explain how they can help – including how much more money you could receive from your insurance claim.

Contact ClaimsMate today for help with your insurance claim.

See More Here: The Top Sources for Help with an Insurance Claim

How Fire Insurance Adjusters Help With Fire Damage Estimates & Restoration Costs

Fire damage insurance claims can be complicated and messy. All home insurance policies cover fire damage. However, with so much destruction, calculating losses is tough.
Depending on your policy, your insurer may calculate fire damage and restoration costs in different ways. Some insurance companies reduce your claim – or even deny it entirely. Others approve all damage restoration and item replacements.

Confused about fire damage insurance claims? How can you estimate fire damage and restoration costs? Today, we’re explaining how much it costs to repair fire damage, restore a property after a fire, and maximize compensation from your insurance company.

How a Fire Insurance Claim Works

No two house fires are alike. However, most fire damage insurance claims go through a similar process.

Here is a typical fire claim settlement procedure, including a fire damage estimate for homes and businesses and how much it costs to fix a fire damaged property:

1. A fire starts in your home or nearby. An appliance may malfunction and catch on fire. Your faulty home wiring may create a spark. Or, a neighboring wildfire or house fire could spread fire damage or smoke damage to your property.
2. After securing the scene, you report the loss to your insurance company. All home insurance policies cover fire damage. Your insurance company will likely recommend hiring an emergency restoration company to secure the scene. These 24/7 emergency restoration companies can arrive any time of day or night to protect your property from further damage if necessary. It is very important to realize the extent of dangerous chemicals that are now present in your home, and to leave the clean up and restoration to professionals. Research has shown that many premature deaths are directly related to soot in the environment. Particle exposure leads to around 20,000 premature deaths in America each year. Many of these deaths were caused by soot-related diseases. Data also shows that soot annually causes almost 300,000 asthma attacks and 2 million lost workdays due to respiratory problems.
3. Your insurance company’s adjuster assesses the damage. The insurance company sends one of their employees, an adjuster, to check the damage. The adjuster investigates the claim and inspects the property. Based on this analysis, the adjuster may recommend further investigation – say, by law enforcement. Or, the adjuster may proceed with fire damage restoration and repairs. Because the adjuster is a salaried employee of your insurance company, the adjuster’s goal is to pay you as little for your claim as legally possible, saving money for your insurance company.
4. A contractor completes the fire damage repairs. Repairing fire damage is costly. In many cases, fire damage leads to a total loss: it costs more to repair your property than the property is worth. Or, the fire damage exceeds your policy’s limits. Your insurance company could pay to repair or rebuild your home. Or, you might receive a lump sum payment as part of a total loss settlement.

Ideally, your fire damage insurance claim proceeds without issue. You get fair compensation from your insurance company. Your adjuster treats you with compassion at a difficult time. And you’re happy with the outcome of the insurance claim.

Unfortunately, fire damage insurance claims are rarely straightforward, and many property owners are left unsatisfied. That’s where hiring your own private fire claims adjuster can become hugely beneficial. Many Public Adjusters specialize in fire insurance claims and provide assistance and expertise with estimating fire damage costs and guiding the entire fire claim settlement procedure to ensure policyholders obtain an adequate claim settlement after a fire damages their property.

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How Much Does Fire Damage Restoration Cost?

The more you know about fire damage restoration costs, the better equipped you will be to negotiate with your insurance company.

There are two major parts of a fire damage insurance claim:

• Cleanup costs
• Repair and restoration costs

Estimating Fire Cleanup Costs

Angie’s List estimates that fire damage cleanup costs range from $800 to $93,000, with most property owners paying somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000.

Homeowners insurance should cover all or part of these costs. You hire licensed professionals to handle the repairs. Your insurance company pays these professionals directly. Or, your insurance company compensates you for any money paid to contractors.

Estimating Restoration Costs

Fire damage restoration costs vary widely based on several factors, including:

• Square footage of your home
• Number of rooms
• Extent of smoke and fire damage
• Repairs needed

A massive fire across a 4,000 square foot home will cause more damage than a kitchen fire in a one-bedroom, 1,000 square foot home.

Ideally, however, you put out the fire quickly. The fire directly caused damage to one or two rooms of your home, with smoke and water damage throughout the rest of your home.

Generally, fire and smoke damage restoration costs about $9.60 per square foot when restoring a medium or large-sized (2,600 square foot) home, or around $25,000 per restoration claim.

Some of the things involved in fire damage restoration include:

• $12,000 to $24,000 for water damage cleanup. Maybe you used water to put out the fire. Maybe the firefighters sprayed water all over your home. Water can damage walls, floors, and furniture. When left in your home, water can quickly lead to mold.
• $4,000 to $16,000 for soot removal and cleanup. Soot damage represents a large portion of fire damage restorations and repairs. Soot can collect on fabrics throughout your home, including on curtains, carpets, and walls.
• $50 to $100 per pound for fire damaged material restoration or cleanup. Typically, you remove any burnt items from your property, although some items could be repaired or restored.

How Much Does Smoke Damage Restoration Cost?

Restoration companies use two types of smoke damage restoration, including:

• Thermal Fogging
• Ozone Treatment

Thermal Fogging ($350 to $700)

With thermal fogging, the restoration company removes smoke from different types of fabric. The restoration company uses thermal fogging machines and chemicals. These machines create thermal fog particles through a thermal process – not mechanical action. The machines increase the temperature of the liquid, turning it into a fog or vapor. Then, this vapor condenses when it enters the cooler air. The machines generate thermal fogging particles as small as 0.5 microns, similar to the particle size of smoke and soot created during a fire. The particles remove smoke odors from the air.

Ozone Treatment ($300 to $600)

With ozone treatment, the restoration company installs air purification machines that create ozone in a room in your home. The restoration company sets up these machines for hours, then re-enters the room when the cycle is complete. Ozone molecules break down soot and smoke odors at the source.

Other Fire Damage Restoration and Repair Costs

Smoke, soot, water, and fire damage cleanup are all part of a typical home insurance claim. However, even a small property fire can lead to other costs, including:

Fire reconstruction costs. Your kitchen cabinets may require refinishing. You may need new carpets. Your drywall may be scorched in certain places and require replacement. This damage can cost anywhere from $5000 to $500,000, depending on the extent.

HVAC cleanup. Smoke, soot, and fire damage can spread throughout your heating, vacuuming, and air conditioning systems. Removing this damage can be expensive, and your entire HVAC system needs to be cleaned and deodorized to prevent toxins from flowing back into your home.

Miscellaneous cleanup. Fire damage restoration claims can be messy. Many property owners continue discovering new damage for days or even weeks after the fire. Miscellaneous cleanup costs can add up to big claims.

Overall Cost of a Fire Damage Insurance Claim

There’s no specific number for the “average” cost of a fire damage insurance claim. The number varies widely depending on your state, the size of your home, the extent of damage, and hundreds of other factors. When a large fire cannot be extinguished and causes more damage to a structure than that structure is worth, the insurance claim is considered a total loss.

Generally, however, here’s how much it costs to recover and restore a property after a fire:

• Small Fires: $23,500 to $55,000
• Medium Fires: $30,000 to $70,000
• Large Fires: $75,000+
• Total Loss: Your policy limits, depending upon your policy language

Other Tips for Handling Fire Damage Insurance Claims

Fire damage insurance claims can be tricky, and most homeowners only go through one fire damage claim in their life, if at all. Here are some tips to get you through the claim:

Document Everything: It is best to make sure that you take regular videos or photos of your entire house to prove what items were in the home. Be sure to document model and serial numbers for any electronic items. Once a fire has taken place,take photos and videos again of all damage to your property and every damaged item. Ideally, you have receipts proving the value of any high-value item (over $500) damaged in your home. The more evidence you have, the smoother your claim will be.

Check All Parts of Your Home: It may have seemed like a minor fire in your kitchen, but even a small fire can cause big damage. Smoke and soot can travel through your HVAC system to other parts of your home. You might notice fire damage in your attic from a fire in a separate part of your home.

Document All Communication with your Insurance Company: Whether it’s a text message, phone call, email, or letter, you need to document all communication with your insurance company. Ask that any phone calls be followed up with a recap of your conversations by email. You will not have access to their “recorded calls”.

Understand Replacement Value vs. Actual Cash Value: A home insurance policy protects your home and anything inside your home. If the fire destroyed your $1,500 TV, then your insurer will compensate you for this loss. However, policies either use replacement value or actual cash value to calculate loss:

• Replacement Value: This is the cost of replacing the lost item with a similar item today. If you lost a 45-inch HDTV in the fire, for example, then insurance will give you enough money to buy a similar 45-inch HDTV today.
• Actual Cash Value: This is the value of the item you lost, minus depreciation. You might have paid $1,500 for your TV five years ago. Unfortunately, due to depreciation, that TV is only worth $300 today, so that’s what your insurer pays.
• Most policies use actual cash value as the default option for the initial payment. For homeowners that pay extra for replacement cost value, they will withhold “depreciation” until you replace your items with like and kind quality.
• To receive replacement value for your items, you need to actually replace those items. You will buy a new TV, for example, and submit the receipt to your insurance company, which then compensates you for the TV.

Learn What Can Be Salvaged After a House Fire: Some items can be salvaged, while other items need to be disposed of. Your restoration company or adjuster can help explain what can be salvaged.

Hire a Public Adjuster: Fire damage insurance claims can be messy. We’ve barely touched upon some of the issues faced by homeowners and business owners after a fire. If you want to avoid all of this hassle while securing the highest possible payout from your insurer, then consider hiring a public adjuster.

How Public Fire Insurance Adjusters Help

Public Adjusters that work as fire insurance adjusters work on your behalf to maximize claim settlements and ensure a smooth claim. They don’t represent your insurance company:

Your Insurance Company’s Adjuster (Works for Your Insurer): Your insurance company has its own adjuster. This adjuster represents your insurance company. This means that quite often the adjuster’s goal is to pay the lowest amount for your claim as legally possible.

Your Public Fire Insurance Adjuster (Works For You): When you hire a public adjuster, you get a trusted professional who represents you against your insurance company.

Some of the services provided by a private fire insurance adjuster include:

• Negotiation with your insurance company to overturn a denied claim
• Negotiation with your insurance company to maximize payout and ensure you receive every penny legally owed
• Step-by-step walkthrough of the entire claims process from beginning to end
• Expert assistance with every part of your fire damage claim to ensure a smooth process

Many fire insurance adjusters are former insurance professionals. Many previously worked for insurance companies and now work for ‘the good guys’, representing the public against the insurance company.

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Skip Complex Negotiations and Hire a Public Adjuster

ClaimsMate public adjusters have a proven ability to increase claim settlements from insurance companies. Public adjusters negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf to secure a higher payout.

If your insurance company has disputed, denied, or reduced your claim, then you may want to hire an experienced public adjuster.

A public adjuster works on your behalf. The public adjuster does not work for the insurance company. A good public adjuster fights to secure the highest possible amount of compensation from your insurance company after a fire damage claim.

The public adjuster applies his or her expertise to your claim, then decides how much you should be owed. The adjuster negotiates with the insurance company until you receive the amount you are owed. It’s that simple.

Talk to a fire damage public adjuster today for free. ClaimsMate offers free consultations. Tell us about your situation. We’ll explain how we help. Then you decide whether you want to hire a public adjuster for your fire damage insurance claim.

Contact ClaimsMate today for a free fire damage insurance claim consultation.

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Tips For House Fire Insurance Claims

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Fire Insurance Adjusters Help With Fire Claims

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Fire Insurance Claim Tips

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Fire Insurance Claims: Tips & What to Expect for Fire Damage Insurance Claims

You buy homeowners insurance to protect against unexpected events – including house fires.

House fires are devastating. However, insurance protects you. Your home insurance policy should compensate you for the cost of repairing or replacing your home – and anything inside your home – after fire damage.

House fire insurance claims can be messy and expensive. Most homeowners have zero experience with fire insurance claims – and insurers may try to take advantage.

We’re covering the best fire insurance claim tips, examples and more.

How a Fire Insurance Claim Works

Fire can cause different types of damage to a property. Some fires totally destroy a property, leading to a total loss insurance claim. Others fire only damage one or two rooms or an outdoor area – but cause smoke or soot damage throughout the property.

Fire damage insurance claims come in different varieties, but insurance claims tend to proceed in a similar way. Below, we’ll list the typical progression of a fire insurance claim – from the first steps to the last.

1. Secure the Scene: Put out the fire. Contact emergency services. Make sure every person and pet in your household is safe. Take steps to limit further damage. Place a tarp over the hole in your roof, for example, to prevent water from flowing in.
2. Contact your Insurer and Start the Claim: All insurers have a 24/7 claims hotline. Contact your insurer to start the claim process. Your insurer will give your claim a number, then explain the next steps to take.
3. Wait for the Adjuster: Typically, your insurer sends one of their adjusters to your property to inspect and verify the damage. The adjuster may tell you to hire an emergency restoration contractor to further secure the scene and begin repairing damage.
4. Accept Emergency Funds: At this point, your adjuster may wire emergency funds to your bank account. These funds can cover accommodations (if you’re unable to live in your home), meals, and similar expenses. These funds will be deducted from any final settlement.
5. Get Multiple Estimates: Your insurance company may provide an estimate on how much repairs should cost. This estimate may be ideal – or it may be too low based on the prices charged by local contractors. Get multiple estimates for repairing or restoring your property.
6. Restore or Repair Damage: For severe fire damage insurance claims, emergency restoration contractors may arrive on scene immediately to begin repairing damage. Restoration contactors will repair or restore your property to its pre-loss condition. The contractors will also identify items that can be salvaged – and items that need to be thrown away.
7. Keep All Receipts: Throughout this process, it’s crucial to document everything. Keep all receipts for hotel accommodations, meals, and other expenses. Anything you pay while living away from your home should be covered by insurance (within reason). You buy insurance to cover these expenses.
8. Document Everything: You should also document everything throughout this process. In addition to keeping receipts, keep photos or videos of all damaged items, all property damage, and other things affected by the fire.
9. Inspect your Entire Property for Damage: Fire damage insurance claims can get messy. It may seem like a minor fire only in one corner of your home – but soot and smoke damage can spread throughout your property to affect multiple rooms of your home. Carefully inspect your property or hire experts who can inspect your property. Your HVAC system may be filled with smoke and soot, for example, that will spread throughout your home if not cleaned.
10. Consider Hiring a Public Adjuster: If you encounter issues at any of the steps above, then consider hiring a public adjuster. A public adjuster works on your behalf to maximize fire damage insurance claim compensation. Some people hire a public adjuster immediately after a loss to ensure a smooth claim process. Others hire a public adjuster after a claim is denied – or after the insurer offers a low payout. A good public adjuster specializing in fire damage claims can easily be worth the small fee, and some property owners double or even triple their payout.

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Fire Insurance Claims Examples

Some fire damage insurance claims are million-dollar claims with total loss of property. Other claims are relatively minor, causing a few thousand dollars of smoke and soot damage.

Below, we’ve highlighted some examples of fire damage insurance claims, including fire damage claims at homes and commercial fire damage claims for businesses.

Historic House in Dallas

A historic home in Dallas was insured for $421,000 and destroyed by a large fire. It was a total loss, although the homeowner and insurance company disagreed on the amount required to pay. Although the home was insured for $421,000, the insurer valued the property at $365,000. According to the insurer, they only had to pay $365,000 to cover the actual cash value of the property – the exact value of the property at the time the loss occurred. The homeowner hired a public adjuster. The public adjuster identified features and fixtures in the home that increased the value significantly. Ultimately, the insurer paid the full $421,000 value of the policy, including additional coverage for debris removal, damaged landscaping, and other expenses.

Lumber Company in Tennessee

A lumber company in Tennessee experienced a fire that led to the loss of $5 million of inventory. The insurer delayed and denied the claim at first, demanding evidence of the $5 million of lost inventory. After hiring a public adjuster, the lumber company was able to receive the full amount owed for the loss of inventory. The public adjuster also argued for the coverage of moving expenses, as the lumber company needed to adjust operations during the fire damage restoration process. Overall, the company significantly improved its payout by hiring a public adjuster.

House Fire in the Suburbs of San Antonio

A homeowner in suburban San Antonio received a call at work that her house was on fire. An electrical surge had sparked a fire within the kitchen. A neighbor spotted the fire and alerted emergency services quickly, and firefighters stopped damage from spreading to other parts of the home. The insurance company’s adjuster initially offered a payout of $34,000 to cover the cost of repairing and restoring damage in the kitchen. The homeowner disagreed with that valuation, however, and hired a public adjuster to get added compensation. The public adjuster identified smoke and soot damage throughout the property, ultimately arguing for additional coverage. The overall, final cost of the fire damage insurance claim was close to $70,000, and the homeowner received this amount with help from a public adjuster.

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How to Deal with an Insurance Adjuster After a House Fire: The Best Tips & Strategies

Your insurance company’s adjuster is a salaried employee of your insurance company. That adjuster’s goal is to minimize payout – not provide you with as much money as you like.

Remember: insurance companies are for-profit businesses. They want to make as much money as possible while paying as little for your claim as they’re legally obligated to pay.

Unfortunately, most homeowners have zero fire damage insurance claim experience. Your insurance company’s adjuster may take advantage of this naivety to offer low payouts or deny your claim based on hidden contract terms.

We want to help. You can hire a public adjuster to ensure complete coverage for your fire damage insurance claim. See tips for dealing with insurance adjusters along with the tips below for dealing with fire insurance claims:

Document All Additional Costs from the Fire: Your homeowners insurance policy covers additional living expenses (labeled as ‘ALE’ on most policies). If a house fire destroys your home and forces you to move out, then you may need to pay ALE in the form of hotels, meals, a rental car, cleaning supplies, and other expenses. Track all of these costs and keep receipts. Your insurer is obligated to cover most costs incurred as a result of your house fire.

Take Photos and Videos: Many homeowners are surprised by how much evidence insurers request after a house fire. The more photos and videos you have of damage, the better. Take photos and videos of damaged property, damaged items, and anything else. Make sure you take these photos before cleanups or repairs start. Otherwise, it may be too late.

Create a Home Inventory Today: Most homeowners don’t keep an inventory of everything in the home – but you should. Proactive homeowners keep an inventory of everything in the house, and they update this inventory regularly. If a house fire occurs, you have specific information about what was damaged and what your insurer needs to cover.

Review Your Policy Regularly: By reviewing your homeowners insurance policy regularly, you can avoid being underinsured.

How Commercial Fire Damage Claims Work

Commercial fire damage insurance claims work in a similar way. Every year, businesses across the United States suffer $3 billion in commercial and industrial property damage due to fire.

One of the major differences between a residential and commercial fire damage claim is with the value of the claim. Businesses could lose millions in a fire, which means a more complicated insurance claim process.

Fortunately, public adjusters can help with commercial fire damage claims as well. Many public adjusters specialize in fire damage insurance claims for businesses, fighting on behalf of business owners to secure maximum compensation.

Total Loss Fire Claims

With a total loss fire claim, the cost of fire damage exceeds your policy’s value. You might have lost $500,000 worth of property and possessions in a devastating house fire, for example, but you only have $300,000 of insurance coverage.

In a total loss fire damage insurance claim, your insurer pays up to the limits of your policy. You cover remaining costs out of pocket.
Many homeowners who experience a total loss are underinsured, which means you have too little insurance to cover your property and possessions.

Review your insurance policy, property value, and possession value regularly to ensure they line up. Otherwise, you could be left dangerously underinsured after a house fire.

How a Public Adjuster Helps with a Fire Insurance Claim

Many people hire a public adjuster to help with a fire damage insurance claim. When you hire a public adjuster, you’re getting a genuine insurance expert to support your claim, maximize compensation, and ensure a smooth settlement process.

Perks of hiring a public adjuster include:

• Obtain a fair claim settlement payout much higher than the initial offer
• Get expert assistance at every step of the fire damage insurance claim process
• Let a specialist negotiate with the insurer on your behalf for the highest possible compensation
• Complete management of the fire damage insurance claim, repairs, and restorations from beginning to end
• Get a second opinion from an expert on home valuation, policy coverage, and repair costs
• Get an insurance specialist who represents your best interests – not your insurer’s best interests

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Most public adjusters only charge a fee after you accept the final payout from your insurer, at which point they take a pre-arranged cut of the payout. Public adjusters charge between 5% and 25% fees, based on their experience, the size of the claim, and other factors.
After hiring a public adjuster, many of our customers agree: it feels like a weight has been lifted off your back, and you can relax knowing an expert is supporting your claim at very step.

Final Word On Fire Insurance Claims

House fire insurance claims are tricky. Fortunately, with preparation and expert assistance, you can maximize compensation.
After a house fire, your insurance company needs to compensate you for the cost of repairing or replacing any damage, including damage to your property and possessions. If your insurance company fails to live up to this agreement, then your insurer may be acting in bad faith.

For expert assistance with your fire damage insurance claim, contact ClaimsMate today for a free consultation.

Our public adjusters have decades of proven experience maximizing compensation with fire insurance claims.

Article Source Here: Fire Insurance Claims: Tips & What to Expect for Fire Damage Insurance Claims

How Do Insurance Companies Pay Out Claims? How Are Homeowners Insurance Claims Paid?

Many homeowners are unfamiliar with the home insurance claim process – and that’s okay. Some homeowners never file a claim.

Insurance companies pay claims in different ways. Depending on the type of claim, the amount owed, the work required, and other factors, insurance companies pay claims differently.

Some insurers directly pay a contractor, for example, and that contractor performs the required work on your home. Other insurers send you a check for the owed amount, and you can spend that check however you like.

Today, we’re explaining how insurance companies pay out claims, including how homeowners insurance claims are paid.

How a Homeowners Insurance Claim Works

No two homeowners insurance claims are alike. However, most homeowners insurance claims follow a similar claim process:

1. You File the Claim: You contact your insurance company to notify them of the loss. The insurance company starts your claim and gives you a claim number.
2. Your Insurer Evaluates the Claim: The insurer evaluates your claim. The insurer will verify any documentation you provided. The insurer dispatches an adjuster to evaluate the damage. If you have a complex claim, then it could take weeks to evaluate damages. For simpler claims, the insurer could check your paperwork and pay the claim immediately.
3. Your Insurer Approves or Denies the Claim: Based on their evaluation, the insurer will either approve or deny your claim. If the insurer approves your claim, you will receive payout (or move forward with repairs). If the insurer denies your claim, then you might need to send additional evidence, hire a public adjuster, or hire an insurance attorney. If your claim is denied, see Reason Insurance Claims Are Denied and How To Dispute Claim Denials.
4. You Receive your Payment: Finally, if the insurer approves your claim and there are no other issues, then you will receive your payment.

How An Insurance Company Pays You

If your homeowners insurance claim is approved, then the insurance company will pay your claim. The insurance company agrees to cover your damages, and you will receive compensation for those damages.

Depending on the type of claim and the extent of damages, an insurance company could pay you in different ways.

 

The two most common ways to receive payment for a homeowners include claim include:

• By check
• By paying vendors or contractors on your behalf

How Much Money Will You Receive For Your Claim?

The amount of money you receive for your insurance claim is based on two factors:

• The amount of coverage you have
• The value of the covered damage

If your home suffered $150,000 of damage during a hurricane, for example, but you only have $100,000 of homeowners insurance coverage, then your insurance will pay you up to the limits of your policy, then you cover the remaining amount out of pocket. In this case, you receive a payment from your insurance company for $100,000, and then you cover the remaining $50,000 out of pocket.

You Could Receive Multiple Payments

For larger insurance claims, you could receive multiple payments. Instead of receiving a single check for $100,000, for example, you might receive an initial check for $20,000 and then a final check for $80,000.

Insurers could send an initial check to cover emergency expenses. If your house burns down, for example, then you might be forced to live in a hotel for the near future. You might need to pay emergency contractors to repair the damage and secure the scene. Your insurer sends you an initial payment to cover these expenses.

Then, once the insurance claim is complete, the insurer sends a second or third check to cover any remaining costs. If the insurer assesses the total damage to be worth $100,000, for example, then you receive a final check for $80,000 (in addition to the initial check of $20,000).

You Might Not Have Full Control Over Payment

Many homeowners are surprised to discover they don’t have full control over payment. A lender or management company might control your payment.

If you have a mortgage on your home, for example, then the check for home repairs will be made out to you and the mortgage lender (like your bank). Most lenders require this on your homeowners insurance policy. As part of your lending agreement, you are required to name your insurer on any homeowners insurance policy, which means they are a party to any insurance payments made under that policy.

Or, if you live in a condo or apartment complex, your management company might need to be named on the policy. Your building’s management company (or the building’s owner) must be named as a co-insured.

Why does the lender or owner need to be named on the policy? The lender needs to ensure the necessary repairs are made. You do not completely own your home: your lender partly owns your home, and your home is the collateral that secures the loan.

In these cases, you cannot make a $100,000 insurance claim, then simply pocket the money and avoid repairing the property. You must use the insurance money to repair the property.

If an owner or financial company is named as a co-insured, then that entity needs to endorse the claims payment check before you cash or deposit it.

Depending on the situation, lenders could also put the insurance money into an escrow account. This escrow account pays for repairs as the work is completed.

In co-insured situations, the mortgage lender may need to know about certain repairs. Your mortgage lender may need to see the contractor’s bid, for example, and determine how much the contractor wants upfront to start the job. Then, the lender may want to inspect the finished job after the work is complete. If the work is satisfactory, the lender releases the funds to the contractor.

Total Loss Insurance Claim Payouts

After a serious incident, your home might be a total loss. The covered event may have caused more damage to your home than your home is worth. In this case, your home is declared a total loss. You can read tips about dealing with total loss insurance claims in this article.

If your home has extensive fire or water damage, for example, then it could be a total loss. Your home may need to be demolished.

In this situation, your insurer works through the same step-by-step payment process mentioned above. However, there are slight differences with a total loss claim.

With a total loss claim, you can decide how to spend your insurance payout. You might use a portion of the payout to pay the balance of your mortgage, for example. You could use remaining funds to rebuild your home, buy a different lot, or move to a different neighborhood entirely.

In some cases, state law dictates how a total loss insurance claim works. State law may stipulate who gets paid and how you spend your total loss insurance payout.

With most total loss insurance claims, the entire house and its contents are damaged beyond repair. In this situation, your insurer might pay to the limits of your policy, giving you a check for the full value of your policy.

When Insurance Pays a Contractor Directly

In some cases, insurers send you a check for the covered amount. In other cases, insurers work directly with a contractor. The insurance company sends money to the contractor, the contractor completes repairs on your home, and your insurance claim is closed.

Some contractors may ask you to sign a ‘direction to pay’ form. This form allows the insurance company to pay the contractor directly.

With a direction to pay form, you authorize the contractor to manage your insurance payout. This form is a legal document. You need to read it carefully to ensure you understand everything it means.

Some shady contractors are caught with malicious direction to pay forms. These forms authorize the contractor to handle the entire claim, for example. Other contractors obtain a direction to pay form, then disappear with your insurance money without performing repairs (or after performing low-quality repairs). Find more tips on what to look out for with insurance claim contractor scams.

All ALE Checks Are Sent Directly to You

Your homeowners insurance should cover additional living expenses (ALE). If you are forced out of your home due to a covered incident, then you might have additional living expenses – like hotels, meals, and rental cars.

Your insurance company sends ALE checks directly to you. These payments have nothing to do with home repairs, and they will not be sent to your contractor or a lender.

You Receive Payment for Possessions Based on Cash Value

Your home is filled with your possessions. Your homeowners insurance covers most of these possessions.

If your TV is worth $2,000, for example, and your laptop is worth $1,500, then your homeowners insurance will pay you $3,500 to compensate for the loss of these items.

Your insurance covers items based on their cash value. You might have paid $1,500 for your laptop two years ago, although that laptop is only worth $800 today. This is the cash value of your laptop: it’s the cost of the item minus depreciation.

To claim your damaged belongings, you need to submit a list of items to your insurance company. Some experts recommend keeping a home inventory to make this process easier.

Even if you have a replacement cost policy (which is more expensive), your insurer covers the cash value of items first. Your insurer verifies the value of each item, then subtracts depreciation.

If You Want Replacement Value for Possessions, You Must Replace Them

Your insurance company could fully reimburse you for damaged items. However, to receive the full replacement value for your items, you need to actually replace those items.
If you lost your $1,500 laptop in a house fire, for example, then you might replace that item with a $1,500 laptop purchased brand new. Your insurer requires proof that you replaced the item (like a receipt). Then, the insurer pays the difference between the cash value you initially received for the lost item and the full cost of the replacement item.

You receive payment based on the value of the replaced item – not the value of buying a newer item. Your laptop cost $1,500 two years ago, but it does not cost $1,500 today. You can buy the same laptop brand new for $1,000 today. Your insurance company compensates you for that value – not the value of buying a better item.

Most insurers give you several months to purchase replacement items. Ask your insurance agent about any timeframe requirements.

Claim Payment Problems? What Happens Next

In a perfect world, your insurance company accepts your claim, sends payment, and closes your claim.

Unfortunately, insurance claims don’t always work that way. Insurance claims can get messy. Insurers can deny your claim or reduce your payout.

Sometimes, insurers need more evidence. You might need to submit more receipts, photographs, and other documentation.

In other cases, insurers are acting maliciously. They demand too much evidence. They deny your claim without sufficient reason. They drag their feet, take too long to contact you, and operate in bad faith.

When insurers operate in bad faith with homeowners insurance payouts, consider hiring a public adjuster or insurance attorney.

These professionals represent you against your insurance company. They tell your insurer you are taking the claim seriously. They fight to ensure you get every penny legally owed to you.

Schedule a free consultation with a public adjuster today. Discover your options for maximizing homeowners insurance payouts.

Original Post Here: How Do Insurance Companies Pay Out Claims? How Are Homeowners Insurance Claims Paid?