Dealing With Insurance Companies During Restoration
If a tree falls onto a home, a storm rips up a roof
, or a fire is let loose in the house, severe damages often ensue and those damages are frequently covered by insurance policies. Middle Tennessee has just weathered such a natural disaster and homeowners across the state are turning to their insurance policies to see how much of this devastation is covered.
Once the toughest times have passed, the real work begins. Cleaning and repairing a home that has been hit by an insurable calamity can be a long, uncertain, and uncomfortable process. This brief guide to insurance restoration and remodeling is designed to give readers the basics, in terms of insurance company practices and choosing the right repair professional for the job.
Once a claim is opened, an insurance company will often suggest contractors and specialists that the insured can use to repair their property. What consumers need to know is that they are free to choose any contractor they see fit. This is an important foothold to maintain when speaking to an insurance adjuster.
The insurance adjuster is your liason with your insurance company, and more importantly, the person who will decide what needs to be repaired, what it costs, and how much of it is covered by the insurance company. Insurance companies and adjusters keep a list of businesses, contractors, electricians, etc., that they have dealt with in the past. An insurance company will always prefer you use a company off of their list of associated businesses.
Just because an insurance company trusts a particular builder does not mean you have to. Make sure to kindly take the insurance company's word for it, then ask for a little time to do your own research. There is nothing untoward about such a request, so shop around confidently for a contractor in your area with experience performing the necessary services. If the company you end up settling on happens to be on the insurance adjuster's list, just as well, but do your own homework.
When searching for a building company, be on the lookout for a contractor that supplies a range of services. The more services a contractor provides in their operation, the more speed and traceable accountability a consumer gets while working with them. The possible variability of insurance covered damage is another good reason to go with a contractor that offers many services.
Most of the time, homeowners that are undergoing an insurance restoration need the services of a dry wall contractor, a roofer, an electrician, and any number of other specialized tradesmen. By choosing and established general contractor, capable of performing and overseeing all of the jobs, you guarantee that your repair will have the qualified builders that it needs.
Find a company that is sufficiently sized, small enough to pay attention to details, yet big enough to offer competitive pricing. Make sure, of course, the builder you choose is licensed and bonded. Just as importantly, look for a contractor that is a good communicator, an experienced professional that will be realistic about plans and communicate clearly when unforeseen changes arise, because they will. Look for a building company that has worked extensively with insurance companies. The right contractor will know the ins and outs of insurance practices and the nuances of damage.
A lot of damages do not show on first inspection, either because they are subtle or because they are poorly lit. For example, insurance adjusters often miss minute damages because they do not have the trained eyes to find them the way a seasoned insurance restoration contractor would. In a situation where insurance companies are trying to economize on the repair, the right contractor will insist upon thoroughness and quality. This is why it's a good idea to find a contractor that is an old hand at dealing with insurance companies.
In the end, insurance restoration jobs are similar to any other renovation. The big difference is that rather than financing the renovation themselves, homeowners must depend on the assessment of an insurance adjuster who is in control of the money flow into your repair job. Searching independently for a trusted contractor gives the property owner an added element of leverage and advocacy when it comes to implementing the best quality restoration.
by: Matt Millsap
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