Knowing how to navigate the claims process can help ease you through the recovery and rebuilding process with your insurance company. TSMG offers this guide to handling a claim following a disaster.
Insurance Adjusters are not on your side. They are on the insurance company’s side and will try to get the cost down as much as possible.
Insurance Adjusters are well educated in insurance laws and will talk circles around homeowners and confuse them in order to get them to agree to a much lower claim settlement.
Insurance companies do not have free reign over the homeowners or policies. They are obligated to follow the laws and regulations set forth by the insurance commissioner.
Homeowners also need to be weary that every time they talk to an insurance adjuster, they may be seeking to talk them out of coverage.
Remember the insurance company or insurance adjusters first priority is to find a way to deny your claim.
Homeowners should as much as possible, allow themselves to be represented by a general contractor, public adjuster or both who are experienced in the home restoration and reconstruction process.
Your insurance agent, the person who sold your policy, who may be collecting commission off your claim, may not always be on the same side at your insurance adjuster.
Immediately After a Residential or Commercial Disaster
You may immediately want to begin making repairs and cleaning up the mess, but there are other steps you should take first.
BEFORE DOING ANYTHING:
Call Tri-State Maintenance Group FIRST!
Document all losses.
Take photos or videos and make a list of all damages to the property and damaged items.
If possible, save damaged items so your insurance adjuster can inspect.
After documenting your damage, make temporary repairs, such as covering holes in your roof or broken windows. Insurance will typically reimburse the cost of these repairs as part of your claim if your insurance policy covers the loss. Ask your agent or insurance company what your policy covers. Keep a record of all receipts.
Top Three Things to Remember
Document your losses. Make a list of damaged items. Take photos and videos of the items and save any damaged items for inspection by your adjuster, if possible.
Make temporary repairs. If you have damage to the exterior of the home allowing the elements in, use tarps or boards to make temporary repairs and prevent further damage.
Beware of fraud. Don't be pressured into signing documents you don’t understand, and don’t pay for work upfront or in full until you are satisfied with the repairs.
At Tri-State Maintenance Group, we provide professional and timely Insurance restoration and reconstruction services to Blue Ridge, Helen, Dahlonega, Jasper, Ellijay, Gainesville, Buford, Cumming, Lawrenceville, Roswell, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Riverdale, Douglasville, Villa Rica, Carrolton, Peachtree City, Griffin, Stone Mountain, Northwest GA and Metro Atlanta Areas. Contact us today if you need have sustained damage to your home or business and need a qualified general contractor to help restore your property.
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