Top Property Insurance Claims That Occur in the Winter

In the Chicago metropolitan area, roof damage is a common occurrence when temperatures when the winter weather sets in with snow, ice, and cold. A Midwest winter presents exceptional challenges that that can prove costly, so it pays to have a local Chicago Public Adjuster on your side when Mother Nature makes the decision to throw a one-two combo. Property damage claims on average are escalated through the winter.

Is your insurance company really looking out for your best interest? What are your options after suffering a loss and filing an insurance claim? Do you understand your insurance policy? Check out this video where FOX 11 Investigates insurance companies in Wisconsin and why paying good money to insure your property doesn’t mean they will have you back. FOX 11 also highlights why hiring a Public Adjuster may give you the representation you need to ensure you are getting the most out of your insurance claim.

Disputes over a property settlement claim are not uncommon. Insurers often turn down a homeowner’s first submission. One of the most common areas of dispute is the overhead and profit portion of your contractor’s bill. Insurers will question whether overhead and profit is owed at all on your claim, and whether initial payments should include this up-front expense. If your insurance company won’t pay, there are ways to negotiate this difference of opinion.

Personalizing your home into a comfortable, enjoyable space takes a lot of time and effort. When a fire or other insured peril causes damage, you want the repairs to restore your home back to its pre-loss condition. To accomplish this goal, you need uniform and consistent repairs with no mismatched colors or contrasting textures across repaired and undamaged surfaces.

Saying haste makes waste can be aptly applied when you decide to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance provider. Filing a claim before you take certain steps often results in delays or denials. The best way to avoid having that happen is by not filing your claim haphazardly. Here are five steps you can take to can avoid having a delay hold up your claim.

It’s devastating for homeowners to suffer a major property loss. And it’s perfectly natural to feel overwhelmed and at a loss as to what to do next. But time is of the essence for filing a claim with your insurance company, as there are deadlines that must be met if you hope to be reimbursed. If this is your family’s first experience with a large claim, keep in mind that the process is basically a business negotiation.

Household mold is insidious, whether the byproduct of a poorly ventilated bathroom or the silent reminder of a burst plumbing pipe or rising flood waters entering your home. While not always immediately apparent, if a situation occurs where mold growth is suspected it should be identified and eliminated as soon as possible. If the cause is something not covered by homeowners insurance, such as a leaking basement faucet that's gone unnoticed for too long, you may want to take care of the problem yourself. There's plenty of online help available for how to best accomplish this. Here's a good resource.

You’ve suffered a loss due to fire, and while it’s a stressful and traumatizing time, it’s also a time when you need help to recover and rebuild your home. Smoke odor is a lingering problem when you’ve experienced a fire. While not visible, it can still be costly to remove. Your clothing, furniture upholstery, curtains, and bedding can all be affected by smoke odors.

When you purchased your insurance policy, your agent and insurance company probably didn’t cover all the details about what may or may not be covered. Many insureds find out only after they've suffered a loss. Agents often focus only on exchanging enough information to get underwriter approval and keeping the premiums down. They also know you are not an insurance professional and don't have the time, energy, or expertise to sort through insurance policy lingo to figure coverage issues out for yourself.

You’ve suffered a loss on your home, such as fire, storm damage, or flooding. Repairs are needed and a homeowner’s insurance claim is necessary. Your insurance company pays the claim and funds the repairs. It’s important to understand when you have a mortgage on your home or property, your mortgage company will be fully involved in the claim.