Invoking an Appraisal Clause
An insurance company will never voluntarily pay more than an amount claimed by a policyholder. So if you suffer a loss, the scope of damages needs to account for everything needed to restore the property to “uniform and consistent” appearance. That’s where licensed public adjusters can really prove their worth—using their extensive knowledge and experience to include claim elements that may not appear obvious to the untrained eye.
According to Insurance Services Office (ISO), water damage claims are the second most frequent insurance claims after wind and hail damage. Most water damage claims this time of year are caused by frozen pipe bursts, and this year’s winter has been especially brutal, affecting areas as far south as Texas and Florida.
Here is a scenario that occurs more often than you might think.
If you’re a property manager, real estate developer, attorney or commercial property owner, dealing with a rental property fire claim can be overwhelming. So can navigating the claims process with your insurance company. But knowing what to do in that process and when will surely help ease some stress. Here are some of the things you need to address as a landlord when there is a rental property fire claim.
When a hailstorm strikes, it can batter roofs, shred screens and siding, and smash windows. Getting fully compensated for even glaring hail damage from your commercial, BOP or homeowners insurance policy is a challenge. Achieving a fair settlement for anything less than glaring damages can be a nightmare.
Major rain events — like the ones that have been plaguing Wisconsin this summer — get insurance companies busy denying homeowners insurance claims based on water-related policy exclusions.
Continuing the discussion about water damage insurance claims, Attorney Edward Beckmann, of Helmuth and Johnson, contributed the following guest posting about his favorite insurance law tongue twister: the anti-concurrent cause clause.
Hurricane Irma will go down as one of the most damaging storms in U.S. history. After leveling several islands in the Northern Caribbean, the powerful storm struck the Florida Keys and Gulf Coast. While significant damage also occurred in other states such as Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama, the lion's hare took place in the Sunshine State.
What started out as a tropical storm in the Atlantic quickly grew into a monstrous category 5 hurricane. With wind speed over 180 mph and powerful storm surges, Hurricane Irma hit Florida Friday, August 25, 2017. Only a few days before Hurricane Irma hit, Hurricane Harvey made landfall on Texas. More than a trillion gallons of rain fell in Harris County, Texas in just four days. Some places have reached more than 50 inches of rain, setting a record for the continental United States. The storm has left tens of thousands of people in shelters, wrecked homes and businesses, and has caused unbelievable flooding. The damage these storms have done is devastating, but there are ways that you can help the victims in these areas.
When is The Right Time for the Appraisal Clause?
There’s more to fire damage than meets the eye. Fire can also cause hidden damages that can be hard to detect. The two main culprits: smoke/soot damage, and water damage. Knowing about these additional impacts on your property, and how to take care of them, helps ensure you’re reimbursed appropriately for your claim.
Building codes are in a constant state of evolution. Advancements in engineering, technology, safety, building materials and methods, and changes in the physical environment all drive changes in building codes. If your fire-damaged home is 10 or more years old, complying with the current building codes may add substantial cost to your reconstruction. Will you be stuck with the bill?
This expert’s guide will take you through the steps to manage your insurance claim from start to finish and help you maximize the settlement.
If I could provide one crucial piece of advice to anyone dealing with a major loss due to fire, water damage, etc. – it would be to contact Miller Public Adjusters!
“Excellent experience. I had a major fire which destroyed my business. My Insurance company was hostile and adversarial at best. I hired Miller Public Adjusters. They did everything. I never had to have another conversation with a elusive and hostile insurance company. If I hadn’t hired Miller Public Adjusters to represent me, I would’ve lost everything.”
“Dave is super knowledgable on the process as he’s not only been in the industry for years but he has also had personal experience with his own fire-damaged home. No matter how trivial you may think your question is Dave and his staff will take the time to make sure your questions get answered and you understand the ramifications. His expertise on the matter quickly turned what seemed to be a hopeless uphill battle into a more manageable playing field.
“Top-notch service would recommend Miller Public Adjusters service to anyone. Dave thank you much. The process was great.”
“David and his staff are outstanding and worth their weight in gold. If you need help with any insurance claim, hire them; you’ll be glad you did! If I could rate them 100 stars, I would!”
"Champions. Warriors. Heroes. Lifesavers! That’s exactly what David Miller and his fantastic team at Miller Public Adjusters are! There really are no words to describe what his team has done for me and my family. We are extremely grateful, and they are WORTH EVERY SINGLE PENNY you pay them for their services and then some!"
“Thankfully, the restoration company referred us here. From that point on, David at Miller Public Adjusters reassured us that he would do everything in his power and knowledge to prove that our homeowners insurance should cover the damages. In the end, we won the case and the claim was paid. I can’t thank David at Miller Public Adjusters enough!”
We never would have been able to navigate the confusing world of a total loss claim without their help, guidance and expertise,” Todd stressed. “I would recommend Miller Public Adjusters to anyone who is faced with a traumatic claim that involves dealing with ‘Big Insurance.’ They will absolutely help to alleviate much of the pain.
They were successful at getting the maximum settlement from the insurance company. My family and I are always praising Miller Public Adjusters to people who ask us about the fire. We can’t thank them enough.
“Miller Public Adjusters knows what they are doing and stood firm against the insurance company. Miller Public Adjusters got us everything we were entitled to, and even more than we thought, in a matter of months. We did not have to deal with our insurance company and also did not have to purchase anything and turn in receipts for reimbursement. What a time-saving relief. Miller Public Adjusters are knowledgeable, understanding professionals, and we highly recommend them to all our friends and family.”
At just a month into Fall, some Wisconsinites already shoveled snow, many are past the first frost,
At just a month into Fall, some Wisconsinites already shoveled snow, many are past the first frost,
At just a month into Fall, some Wisconsinites already shoveled snow, many are past the first frost,
E-mail address
Contact us
Money-back