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Benefits of a Public Adjuster
In addition to the physical damage done to the property, normal operation of your business or personal life at home are often entirely disrupted.
Even the most organized or pro-active business or family find themselves overwhelmed with the paperwork, requirements, and burdens put on them by their insurance carrier and other agencies.
Without the property claims specific knowledge or experience of these complex claims, you may be unprepared or simply do not have the time. This is where a public adjuster working for you can make the difference and more than earn our fee.
Water, Mold, and Flooding
National Flood Insurance Program Claims – NFIP
Prior to the 1970’s, damage caused by floods were not typically covered by the private insurance market. The devastation and extent of the damage that a flood can cause is severe and high risk for insurance carriers. Today, homeowners or commercial property owners are able to purchase a flood policy – these policies are entirely separate from your primary property insurance plans. Your property insurance does NOT normally cover flooding.
For residents of Florida, flooding is common reality, so it is almost always advisable to purchase a flood insurance policy for your home or business. You also need to be familiar with the terms of your policy. That means reading, reviewing and making sure you understand the limitations of it.
If you experience flooding and must call a damage restoration company to dry out your property, you must also be familiar with the rules that FEMA uses to pay you back. You don’t want to get stuck with a massive bill, since these restrictions are extremely strict and demanding.
We are adept at the handling of these losses and stand ready to assist you.
Plumbing and Roof Leak Claims
Good Claim Public Adjusters has dealt extensively with roof leak and plumbing leak claims over the last 3 decades. We understand current drying, and mold assessment, and build back repair protocols and common issues that come with these.
In the face of all of the stress during and after a water loss, most policyholders are not prepared for potential coverage pitfalls, proper and necessary decisions and preparation the claim, and the time necessary to properly handle the claim.
We will organize and manage your entire claim from start to finish, so you don’t have to. We understand and are familiar with what the insurance carriers expect, as well as the ways they manage claims which does equate to a more thorough claim resolution.
Good Claim is prepared to advocate for your you as your representative, and we can help you take control of your claim.
Mold
Mold contamination is a serious side-effect of water and flooding damage. Mold is not covered in NFIP Flood Claims, but drying is covered. In Homeowners Policies Mold Coverage will only be granted if damages from a covered water loss occurs first.
Mold resulting from a water leak is covered but often there will be time limits associated with the timeframe of the leaking. Accordingly, Insurance Coverage can be subject to whether it is visible, or hidden, and also how long it has leaked.
You should be vigilant of water leaks, and not assume waiting is in your best interest. Action to complete plumbing repairs or roofing temporary repairs is considered a duty owed to your insurance contract and can weigh on the determination of coverage by an insurance company.
Good Claim Public Adjusters can assess your water or mold damage claim and advise the necessary course of action, and assist in the handling of your claim with skill and experience.
Fire and Smoke
When fire happens and causes damage to property the extent of damage is not always clear. Fire in most all cases is covered unless specifically excluded.
A proper claim investigation process begins with preserving the scene of the fire. Take photos of the fire just like it happened, and do not move or clean up until the fire investigator has completed their investigation.
Enable the insurance company to inspect and gather necessary data for their claim file and allow free access to the property to obtain a full scope of the damages and inventory of any personal property damaged in the fire.
We look at the degree of structural damage and the extent of damage to personal or business property – what is salvageable and what is destroyed and repairability.
It is not uncommon for disputes to occur between the insurance carrier and policyholder over what is damaged, what can be cleaned, and how the property is indemnified.
In the case of a severe fire, all of these components combine to make a residence or business uninhabitable and unusable.
Typical Damages Following a Fire Loss:
- Smoke and soot damage
- Damage from extreme heat
- Damage from water used to extinguish the fire
- Destruction by the fire itself
- Smoke Odor
Good Claim Public Adjusters has substantial experience in the handling of Fire claims, and can advise you after your fire loss so you are able to recover financially, and enable you to resume your normal life as soon as is possible.
Lightning Claims
Lightning Claims can be curiously complex and time consuming to the policyholder. Insurance Carriers require a substantial amount of documentation from electricians, appliance technicians or other technicians such as security or sprinkler technicians to determine the extent of damages, and this burden is placed on the policyholder to meet these professionals and obtain their reports to submit them to the carrier. Often the claim must be organized in industry specific manner to be accepted by the insurance carrier.
The most obvious damage caused by a lightning strike on your home or property is a fire. However, the most common damage is actually caused by the electrical surge produced by the strike. Anything connected to your electrical system can be destroyed or sensitive components burned in the strike, including appliances, electronics, computers, phone systems, fixtures, and the electrical infrastructure of your home or business itself. These types of damages can be costly, and add up to far more than what you might believe. This all must be documented
Good Claim Public Adjusters will advise you from start to finish on your lightning claim whether it is to your home or business, whether you are a restaurant or convenience store, or a tenant in an apartment, we have handled high numbers of these complex claims and stand ready to assist you with confidence.
Civil Authority Claims
Property Insurance policies often provide provisions that provide loss of income or use coverage for periods when a government entity denies access to the insured property.
What seems initially like an inconvenience can quickly become a widespread disruption of Hurricane, or any number of natural events. Loss of power or utility services like gas or water is often unpredictable as to when they will be restored.
In a severe storm, the restoration of power and utilities can take weeks. This situation is not uncommon after a hurricane, an event which Florida is familiar with. A homeowner or business owner needs to know whether they have insurance coverage for these types of situations.
Should your insurance cover your temporary relocation expenses or the damage from the outage itself? Good Claim can help you to determine what reimbursement you might be due, and assist with your Civil Authority claim.
Hurricane Claims
The physical and direct damage to your home or business is the most obvious part of the insurance claim. Roofing, walls and other physical damage are considered. However, the major concern of policyholders is the value – what value of repair or replacement will fully fix the problem? It is often a point of stress between the insurer and the insured. In addition, there are other considerations as part of the claim which can be harder to quantify. Business owners suffer loss of income and interruptions that need to be documented, as well as loss of inventory. Homeowners must relocate until their home is safe to live in, and they must replace personal property. These things are often an additional major part of the hurricane insurance claim.
Good Claim Public Adjusters have handled hundreds of hurricane claims successfully, getting our clients full compensation for what their policies will cover. It is not easy to deal with the insurance carrier – our clients often feel powerless against their rules, deadlines, and minimal communication. We know how to handle these companies and what they require. Let us help you!
Water Damage Resulting from a Hurricane or Wind Storm Damage to property is not limited to the structure itself (roof or walls) – rain and wind can cause extensive damage to the interior of the property as well, especially if the roof caves in, or walls are knocked down. Water can cause an enormous amount of damage in a very short time, including damage to drywall, electrical systems, contents, appliances, and utilities. Mold also becomes a problem after a hurricane, as water is allowed to sit for extended periods of time, and the moisture in the air is a perfect breeding ground for mold.
If you have experienced hurricane damage, Good Claim Public Adjusters can assist you in navigating the entire process. Some insurance policies will cover only certain types of damage, or damage caused by a breach in your structure, so it is important to have someone on your side to figure out what is required. We know the ins and outs of insurance claims, and we can help you be fairly compensated.
Theft or Vandalism
These are just a few of the most common questions that your insurance company might ask after you file your theft or vandalism insurance claim.
- Can you prove or substantiate that the incident occurred?
- Did you own or possess the items being claimed stolen, and can proof be provided?
- What is the value of the item or items being claimed?
- Was there any related property damage such as broken windows, doors, locks, or equipment related to the theft or vandalism?
What To Do After Theft?
It is critical that you file a police report after theft or vandalism to your property. Be sure that the items being claimed in the police report are fully and accurately listed, and if other stolen or missing items are discovered at a later time you just update the police report and notify your insurance carrier of this. The police report is used by the carrier to verify the claim, so it is important that it be as accurate as possible.
Documentation Needed
Insurance companies rely heavily on documentation provided by the policyholder to prove ownership and to determine the items’ values. This documentation may include:
- Matterport Virtual Reporting
- Expert Xactimate Estimates
- Detailed Contents Inventory
- Photographic Evidence
- Receipts
- Credit card statements
- Property Appraisals
- Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss – Assistance
By providing as much documentation as possible to assist the insurance company, your claim can be handled thoroughly and fairly in the least amount of time. Good Claim Public Adjusters is skilled at handling theft and vandalism claims, so contact us now if you find yourself struggling to be paid by your insurance carrier.
Roof – Inspection Service
We are happy to meet with you and inspect your roof on foot and or by drone, before for documentation or after a storm event for damages. We hold an FAA Drone Pilot License and can provide no touch inspections.
Your roof is your first line of defense when a storm hits, and because of that it it can be vulnerable to damage from wind, hail, fire, trees, and more. Often roofing can be repaired and sometimes it cannot be repaired and a homeowner will be faced with a full roof replacement. In any of these cases, you also run the risk of damage to your building’s interior and contents. Roof damage of all kinds each has it’s own circumstances and considerations in the eyes of the insurance carrier. Good Claim Public Adjusters is licensed to assist you in the inspection and representation of any covered damages to your roof and stand ready to assist you and if necessary, properly handle your claim.
We assist you by making these determinations:
- We can determine if your roof is in great shape or needs work.
- If your roof needs work, we will show you photos to confirm.
- Application of area building codes and insurance coverages.
- Evidence and documentation of what caused the damage.
- Current condition and age of the roof itself.
- Type and cost of the roofing system
- If the roofing system can be repaired.
