To prevent your home or building from catching fire, you’d do well to learn about the most common reasons for fire claims with public adjusters.
AmeriClaims has years of experience handling fire insurance claims; many of the house fires we’ve encountered were caused by the following sources.
Running a commercial business is already a full-time job. So what do you do when your property is damaged due to circumstances beyond your control? Your insurer will send their own claims adjuster to examine the extent of the damage. But because they work for the insurance company, their goal is to offer you the lowest settlement payout possible.
Consider hiring a public adjuster as an alternate pair of eyes on your claim. Because a public adjuster works for you, their goal is to improve your commercial claim and increase your payout. Learn about the ways in which a public insurance adjuster can help you through the claims process.
Mitigate your damages – Your insurance policy states you have a duty to protect the property from further damage. Therefore, you must take reasonable steps to protect the property including boarding up windows and doors; tarping the roof; moving items out of harm’s way; extracting water from the property and anything else that may be necessary to protect the property from additional damage.
Notice of claim – Next, you will want to notify your insurance company of the claim. You should either call your agent, or call the after-hours insurance claim reporting phone number, or file it on line with your insurance company.
Don’t disturb the scene – Be sure that you do not disturb the scene until the insurance company has had an opportunity to inspect the damages. They will want to investigate what caused the damages, so you should not move things or alter the scene until they give you permission to do so. Also, do not throw things away until your adjuster gives you permission in writing that you can do so. This is your evidence and should you throw it away, your insurance company does not have to pay you for it.
Prepare your claim – Most people think their insurance company will come out and tell them how much they have lost, and pay their claim. The fact is, the policy states that you must compile an inventory and present your claim to the insurance company in a certain period of time, usually 60 days. This means that you have to complete a full inventory of damaged contents and obtain a detailed estimate for the repairs to the building.
Do not hire the first contractor that shows up at your doorstep – A disaster attracts a crowd. While most of them want to help, sometimes hiring the first contractor can actually hurt you and your claim. Take time to sort out your claim first. Then you can interview several candidates and check references. You will be working with them for some time and you want to ensure that they will be a good fit for you.
By following the above steps, this should help you get through your claim. Remember, it will take some time to settle a large claim. This means several months of documenting damages, gathering information and eventually negotiations with the insurance company.
When a home catches on fire, no one is really prepared for what comes next. This is something that not many people plan for in their lifetime. However, homeowners’ actions after a structure fire are some of the most important ones they will make. Here is a look at the top mistakes made after house fires that homeowners should do everything in their power to avoid.
It may be tempting to throw away items damaged in a fire and start afresh. However, this fire mistake will set back your recovery and claims process immensely. You need to properly document all the damage after a house fire, including damage to any possessions. Resist the urge to trash items that have been ruined in a fire. Chances are you are going to need them to prove your claim. Throwing things away will give insurance companies an easy way out of paying what you rightfully deserve. Those items are not trash, they are proof.
There is a natural inclination among most homeowners to clean up after a fire. But there is a fine line between securing your place so that it sustains no further damage and wiping away remnants of a fire. The insurance company needs to see the damage, so it’s a good idea to put the tools away and let the damage speak for itself.
Insurance companies are looking to settle as quickly as possible and for as little money as possible. This may prompt them to ask for your signature on something you don’t fully understand. Don’t sign anything without talking to a public adjuster.
Some insurance agents will make it seem like you are their No.1 concern and priority after a fire. The harsh reality is you are not. Insurance companies are in business to make money. If they always look out for the customers, business will not be as lucrative. Remember they are not on your side no matter how nice they appear to be.
It is vitally important to your claim to compile detailed records of the items that have been damaged or lost. Taking pictures and making a list are essentials as it is a way to provide proof to your insurance company that your claim is substantiated.
After you have handled the insurance essentials, the restoration of your home should be left to the professionals. Otherwise, it will cost you more time and money. One of the biggest tips for after a house fire is to remember that you are not a professional or certified to handle a fire recovery. It is important to seek out a company that is certified in fire damage restoration and repair. This will allow your home to be properly repaired as there are certain ways to deal with fire and smoke damage.
For more information on which common mistakes are often made after house fires as well as the best ways to handle fire damage claims, contact your local AmeriClaims adjuster.
The aftermath of any disaster is never a pleasant time, and when your home or business is damaged, it can really take a toll. People often find themselves very down after experiencing such a loss. That could leave them vulnerable to insurance companies who are looking to pay out as little as possible.
Some people assume that insurance companies will automatically give you the most generous payout they can to compensate all your losses. Unfortunately, this is not usually the case. It is not their business to lose money, so they will respond by trying to pay out as little as possible. Thankfully, filing a property damage claim doesn’t have to go this way. With the right public adjusters on your side, like the public adjusters at AmeriClaims, you can fight the insurance company and combat their insurance company tricks to get what you’re entitled to.
Insurance companies could try and scrutinize everything about your claim. Don’t take it personally. That is their business and it is the same for the majority of people who file insurance claims. Just realize that your insurance company is not always your friend, and when you file a property damage claim, they often become your enemy.
There are certain steps you should take right after your home or business sustains damage. That is simply the beginning of what can be a long fight between you and your insurance company.
Hiring a North Carolina, South Carolina. Virginia or Georgia public adjuster will provide you with help in that fight. It is the business of a public adjuster to know the ins and outs of all the games that insurance companies will attempt to play in an attempt to pay you as little as possible. Here are some helpful hints you can do to help in that fight:
• Make records of all communication with insurance company
• Gather receipts of all damaged items
• Follow the advice of your South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia or Georgia public adjuster
• Save all receipts of expenses incurred while waiting for repairs
• Pay for all contract work with credit card or check
AmeriClaims will stand by you through the claims process and advise you on how to handle each step. It pays to have a professional in your corner and AmeriClaims Public Adjusters are ready to take on insurance companies and start fighting for you. Natural disaster insurance claims can be a complicated and lengthy process, but with AmeriClaims on your side, you can quickly get yourself back on the road to recovery.
Disaster can strike at any time and no home is immune to fire, vandalism, storms, or other acts of destruction and nature. When your home sustains damage, there are several steps that will get you compensated for your loss. It is important to follow these steps in order to be compensated fully by your insurance provider. However, you may not know exactly what these steps are. It’s important to learn what to do after a disaster so that you can make the right choices for post-disaster recovery.
Within your insurance policy, it clearly states that you have the right to protect your property from incurring any more damage. That does not mean you need to take excessive measures. However, it is important to take steps to protect your home that are within reason. The following measures should be taken in the event of damage so that you can quickly and effectively recover from a disaster:
• Board up broken windows
• Cover holes in roof with a tarp
• Remove excess water from home
• Move valuable items out of harm’s way
Following a disaster, there is usually an instinct to clean things up. Avoid that instinct. An insurance company will want to come over to your home and inspect the property damage. The only way that can be done accurately is to leave the damage as it is. Also, do not move things around unless they pose a danger or threat. This includes throwing any items in the trash. The first response for many when wondering what to do after a natural disaster is to clean up, but this hurts you, your home, and your case.
Remember that after a disaster, everything in your home is evidence. The way to get paid for your damages is to provide actual evidence. Anything that is thrown away is lost evidence that might have otherwise proven your claim to be true. Being short on evidence makes any claim a very weak one, with little chance of getting any reimbursement.
After a disaster, contractors will contact you. The first contractor who contacts you may not necessarily be the best match. It is important to first sort through the details of your claim. Once that is done, it is a good idea to interview more than one candidate. You will want to check references, and their better business bureau rating. You do not need to hire a contractor right away.
When disaster strikes your home, AmeriClaims will send out a professional public adjuster who will make sure you get every cent you deserve. AmeriClaims knows what to do after a disaster and how to help. For the top public adjuster in the Southeast US, contact AmeriClaims today.
The aftermath of a fire can leave a lot of your items damaged, but that does not mean everything is lost. Some items that are damaged by smoke can be repaired. However, this is not a typical household cleaning job as there are experts to turn to when it comes to fire damage restoration as well as the repair or replacing of smoke damaged items.
It should be noted that the soot and smoke left by a fire can be nearly impossible for homeowners to clean without the use of professional equipment. A simple Google search of “how to clean smoke damaged items” won’t do you too much good. That is because much of the stains left by smoke penetrate items beneath the surface. That could require a deep scrub accompanied by sanding and potential refinishing. You should instead be wondering what can be saved from smoke damage. Here are some more helpful hints when repairing or replacing smoke damaged items.
It takes a matter of minutes for smoke to discolor items. Within hours, smoke can residue can begin to stain bathroom floors, porcelain, countertops, appliances and furniture. Waiting for days can do even more damage as that could lead to a permanent yellowing of the walls, staining of upholstery, and corroding metal. Needless to say, smoke damage repairs should be addressed as soon as possible. The longer you leave items alone, the quicker they’ll fall into disrepair, at which point you’ll need to replace them entirely. However, before cleaning, be sure to completely document the damage so that you can file the proper claim with your insurance company. Cleaning before documenting this damage is going to hurt you during the claims process.
To repair wood items with smoke damage, there are a couple of options. Unfinished wood can sometimes be fixed by applying a sealant that will attempt to conceal the odor of smoke. Finished wood is often more salvageable. Stripping the surface layer before sanding and finishing can repair those items. This also applies to wood floors. While it may sound simple, it is a job that is best handled by professionals.
Re-grouting tile counters that are unable to be cleaned is a painstaking process. At that point, it is best to replace the stained countertops. Carpets can be cleaned if they have been affected by just a light amount of smoke. But when the smoke is heavy, it’s time for a new carpet. If you have a laminate floor, it is important to check the foam layer underneath. If that has been damaged by smoke, replacement is in your future.
Items that are damaged by smoke should be removed from the home, even if you are trying to repair them. Removal will serve the function of mitigating the smoke damage. The longer those items remain in your home, the more damage they could do framing, walls and other structural components.
Making decisions on whether or not an item or structure is best repaired or replaced can be difficult, even with the information provided above. That is why a good first step to recovery is to call your local public adjuster. They will perform a professional assessment of the damage and work with the insured to make the repair vs. replace decision as well as determine the next steps in their best interest.
Remember, public adjusters work for claimants, not the insurance companies, and AmeriClaims’ clients routinely get significantly larger cash settlements than what their insurance companies originally offer. Tough times are made a bit easier with a AmeriClaims public adjuster on your side.
Home insurance policies are designed to cover costs that would normally cause a severe dent in people’s bank accounts. But when it comes to reporting smaller claims, there are some important things to remember.
Minor damage to a home during a thunderstorm or other act of nature often compels people to call on their insurance company to help pay the cost of repair. A common deductible on home insurance policies is $500. Before filing a claim, consider just how much the cost of repair will be. If it is a mere $50 to $100 over the deductible, then it is not always worth filing the claim. It will return you that extra $50 or $100, but it could also have an effect on your policy moving forward. Remember that the more claims you file, the more it may affect your insurance policy. Similarly, you may ask yourself, “What if the damage is less than the deductible?” In those instances, if you file a claim, you’ll pay for everything, and likely negatively affect your policy.
Continual claims could cause your insurance company to negate your renewal. Quite often, insurance companies consider a series of small claims a precursor to a bigger one that is all but inevitable. However, negating a renewal is not the only move insurance companies will make.
In the wake of a small claim, insurance companies can add a surcharge to a home insurance policy. That means an increase in your premium. So while it may seem favorable to file a claim that would get you $50 to $100 over your deductible, the increase in premium will actually cost more than that in the long run.
A home or auto insurance policy that costs $600 per year might then be raised by 20% over the next three years. That is an additional $360 over three years, which far exceeds that $50 or $100 that was saved by filing that small claim.
Another way to save money is to raise your deductible. You will have to pay less on your premium and you will still be covered for that big disaster in which insurance is definitely needed.
One thing to remember is that insurance companies do not consider homeowner’s policies as a type of maintenance. It is viewed as a policy that attends to damage on a much greater scale. If and when that happens, homeowners should be prepared for that big one with an insurance policy that has not been compromised by a bunch of smaller claims. There are both pros and cons to filing a homeowner’s insurance claim, but with smaller claims, it’s mostly cons. If you’re wondering whether it is worth it to file a home insurance claim, you should carefully evaluate these variables. If you’re still unsure when to use homeowner’s insurance, it may be time to get AmeriClaim’s public adjusters on your side.
Policyholders in the Southeastern U.S. are not alone when it comes to disaster recovery. They have AmeriClaims Public Adjusters to turn to for expert knowledge and experience. AmeriClaims knows when to use homeowner’s insurance and has everything you need to help with the homeowners insurance claims process and get the cash settlements you desire. Take the first step by contacting one of our Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia public adjusters today for a free claims consultation.
Buying a home and making it your primary residence comes with the task of purchasing homeowners insurance. However, insurance is a bit different when a home is used as a rental property. Here are some important things to know about insuring a rental property.
Since people will be coming and going in and out of a rental property, it pays to have liability insurance. If someone gets injured on the property, this will protect the owner. This applies to renters and even contractors who may occasionally do some maintenance. Slip and falls are common, but liability insurance will also provide protection in case of a fire. It also does not pay to be cheap when purchasing liability insurance for your rental property. Think of it as an investment that serves to protect your investment. Liability insurance is not very expensive, which makes it wise to load up.
It is common to assume a homeowner’s policy is needed when you own a rental property, but there are differences within the specifics of that policy. For example, a homeowner’s policy protects possessions within the home. Owning a rental property does not always mean owners have to use a policy to protect their valuable possessions. However, the building itself still needs insurance. This is where purchasing dwelling insurance comes into play. This type of insurance will cover the actual building in the event of any damage.
Not every rental property is always going to be rented. There are some spans of time when those properties are vacant. That provides the chance of vandals going in and causing damage to the place. Insurance companies will attempt to deny claims that are filed without vacancy coverage. One way to ensure that does not happen is to prepare for any unexpected damage while no one is occupying the rental property.
If vandalism or an act of nature forces tenants to move out, the right rental loss insurance coverage will see to it that you still receive the equivalent of rental income. This is one more way to get as much money as possible from your insurance company should an unavoidable occurrence force your tenants to move out.
AmeriClaims is ready to stand by your side when you file a claim as we maintain our status as the top public adjuster North Carolina has to offer. We are also considered to be an experienced, top-quality public adjuster throughout Florida, Georgia, Virginia and South Carolina who can help with every detail of your claim.
We all say we hope for the best yet must expect the worst, when it comes to storm damage. But it isn’t something we often practice. After all, the number of homeowners who actually expect storm damage are very few – even during the peak of the hurricane season.
Therefore, when homeowners suddenly find themselves in such a situation, they might not know what to do. This may lead to insurance companies taking advantage of the situation to get out of a bigger paycheck.
Here are 5 key steps you should take when dealing with storm damage:
When the storm has passed and it is okay to come outside, make sure to inspect the entire property to assess any damage. Make sure to do this in broad daylight, and be on the lookout for potential hazards such as exposed electrical wires, downed power lines, broken glass or standing water. Make sure to document all the damage by taking pictures and videos.
Storm damage is covered in most insurance policies, making it essential for you to contact your insurer as soon as possible. The sooner you reach out, the faster the insurance adjuster will arrive at the scene. Make sure to also review your policy prior to filing your claim. In case you lost your policy during the storm, ask your insurer to send you another one.
Once the aforementioned is done, it is time to get the storm damage cleaned up. Since you have no idea about the extent of the damage, it is best to hire a restoration company to get the cleanup done. Make sure that you have documented all items before, during and post-restoration. This will help you when you file your claim.
As a general rule, insurers visit the homes of those policyholders whose homes have incurred the larger share of storm damage. This means that your insurance adjuster might take days or even weeks to reach you. If this is your situation, you can contact us – we will arrive at the earliest and get the claims process started at the earliest.
Regardless of where your adjuster is from (i.e., a public adjuster or one coming from your insurance company), it is very important that you fully understand your policy and its implications. Remember, even the smallest of mistakes can result in shorter payment, delayed payment or the dismissal of your claim. Of course, having a public adjuster simplifies things for policyholders by guiding the latter through the claims process personally. They will help you gather essential information, such as taking pictures of the initial damage, and get you the settlement you deserve.
There are three key benefits to hiring public adjusters:
Always remember to return to your home only once you have the approval from your insurance and your restoration company. This is both for your safety and for legal reasons. While your claims process might not have been completed when you move in (which is usually the case) – returning to where you live will give you a great sense of peace.
Contact us today for a FREE consultation and claim analysis.
305 Post Office Dr. Suite #4
Indian Trail, NC 28079
Local: (704) 430-1013
info@americlaims.com
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