The Storm Ended – Now What? Know your first steps.
Posted on May 20th, 2012
Going through a storm can be a traumatic experience. High winds may have knocked over trees causing extensive damage to property and homes. Power lines may be down causing electrical outages that may take the electric company some time to restore. Hurricane preparedness teaches what to do after the storm in order to survive. However if you have experienced property damage one of the most important things that you need to do after a storm is to file an insurance claim. Here are a few things that you can do to help you file an insurance claim after a major storm.
Carefully document all damage to your home and personal property. Take pictures or video and submit them with images of the affected areas in pre-storm condition. Try not move anything before the claim adjuster arrives from the insurance company. Be meticulous and do your best to not miss any damage that a claim would need to be filed for. Include damage such as cracks in the wall, missing roof tiles, damaged furniture and electronics.
Remember that claim payments for temporary repairs are included as part of the total settlement, so it’s important to keep cost down to a minimum and if possible to not make them at all. In some cases temporary repairs are unavoidable. A leaky roof can cause water to drip into the interior of the property long after the storm has past and it may be necessary to find a temporary solution to prevent further damage. Make you keep track of all receipts for any materials purchased for temporary repairs. If you do not have all receipts the insurance company will not reimburse you for them.
Contact a Public insurance Adjuster to help you file your claim. Filing an insurance claim after suffering from damage due to a major storm can be difficult. If you file your claim with no assistance from a Public Insurance Adjuster it is likely that the settlement that you receive will not be enough to cover all losses. After you have experienced property damage contact a Public Insurance Adjuster before the insurance company to help you from start to finish with your claim. A Public Insurance Adjuster will help you to qualify your financial claims, arrange repair services and make sure you are getting what your policy states that you need in order recover. Contacting a Public Insurance Adjuster is one of the most important things you can do to help you recover after a major storm.
Tags: after the storm, storm damage, what to do after a storm
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Floods – A serious enemy, stay prepared
Posted on May 18th, 2012
According to the American Red Cross floods are one of the most common natural disasters in the United States. When too much water collects in a concentrated area flooding occurs. Rain from a Hurricane or Tropical Storm can cause waters to rise and since Florida is at a low elevation, floods are even more common. They can be deadly, destructive, and life- altering so it’s important to put a plan in place to keep you and your family safe during a flood.
Watch this great video by the National Geographic entitled Floods 101 to learn more about floods.
Although floods are by nature difficult to deal with and recover from, there are some things you can do. Here are some tips on what you can do to prepare to for the next big flood.
Understand the area you live in. Find out if your home is in a flood zone and if the area has a history of flooding. When the heavy rains come what happens? Where does the water collect? Are there any big trees or other debris that could potentially do harm. If you know the impact of a heavy rain you can figure out what kind of flood damage you may be up against. Become familiar with the flood warning signs in your community so you can better prepare for the flood you will most likely experience.
Once you understand your area find a safe dry meeting spot where you can meet your loved ones in case of evacuation or separation during a flood. When a flood occurs thing can get pretty chaotic and often times power lines are down which can make communication difficult. Locating a place to re-connect with your friends and family is really important. Talk with them ahead of time so everyone will know where to go in case of a flood.
Find out if you have flood insurance. Many homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Contact a Public Insurance Adjuster to go over your homeowners’ insurance policy and find out if you need to purchase additional flood insurance. A Public Insurance Adjuster can help you to understand what kind of damage is covered and what is not. If you find that your home is a victim of rising waters and you do have flood insurance a Public Insurance Adjuster can connect you with Flood Remediation Professionals, Structural Drying Companies and many other services to help you to recover from a flood. A Public Insurance Adjuster is an important ally when filing flood and all other homeowner insurance claims. Contact one at Stellar Public Insurance Adjusters today. They are here to help.
Tags: flood damage, flood insurance, florida flood insurance, insurance claim
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Did you know roof damage takes many forms?
Posted on May 16th, 2012
All roofing materials will age and weaken over time. No matter what type of roof you have on your home or business, you can expect to deal with roof leaks or roof damage during the lifetime of the roof.
Cracks are the most common among different types of roof damage on many homes. Cracking typically occurs in wood or asphalt shingles as they age. Continued exposure to the elements causes the cracks to become larger and deeper. This allows water from rain or snow to leak into an attic or crawl space.
Weather related damage is also a common problem for older roofs. Hailstorms, rainstorms and heat waves can all be problematic for the health of your roof. Hail can compromise shingle integrity through splitting or cracking shingles or causing granule loss on asphalt shingles. Wind gusts can loosen fasteners that hold the roof to the roof assembly. Heat can cause shingles to warp and break down the protective sealant that prevents water from soaking into the roof.
Asphalt shingles can suffer from additional problems such as bubbling or extreme granule loss. Both problems expose the felt matting to moisture build up.
Miami residents, who have suffered property damage from a roof leak caused by damaged shingles, should contact a Public Insurance Adjuster. A Public Insurance Adjuster will help you file a claim and ensure that you get the proper compensation for the damage.
Tags: insurance claim, roof damage, shingle roof damage, wind damage
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Roof Leaks – Do’s and Don’ts
Posted on May 14th, 2012
Roofs are an essential part of a buildings construction. A roof helps to keep climate controlled air from escaping out and protects from weather and other elements that are better to remain outside. This being the case a leaky roof can be one of the more frustrating challenges a homeowner can face. When a roof leaks, more problems can follow. Water damage can affect the structure and foundation of the house and inspire a mold outbreak which can cause serious health problems in addition to contaminating whatever it touches.
The major cause of roof damage is the severe weather of Florida. High winds can lift up the edges of tiles and other roofing materials can be blown right off of the house. During tropical storms and hurricanes, debris is blown around and it is not uncommon for trees and other large objects to fall onto the roof.
The moment you discover a leaky roof it is important to take immediate action. Remove all items that could get damaged from water from the site of the leak. Be sure to re-locate any electronic equipment such as a TV or computer, when dealing with electronics be extra careful unplugging them. Place a bucket or water tray underneath the leak to catch the water and make sure you empty it when it gets full. The most important thing to remember is DO NOT TRY TO FIX THE ROOF LEAK YOURSELF. You could possibly do more damage to the roof and as well as be denied your insurance claim.
Check out this video by The Sun Sentinel where a homeowner was getting turned down by her insurance company, even though she had several roofers tell her it needed to be replaced…
Damaged Roof Replaced
Before you call the insurance company to make your insurance claim for your roof damage it’s important to call a Public Insurance Adjuster to help you file the claim. An adjuster from the insurance company will have to come out to inspect the damage and verify the claim, so it’s important that you get licensed roofing professional that does not work for the insurance company to do an inspection as well. Stellar Public Insurance Adjusters has a vast network of Roofing Professional to help you. Insurance companies can be tricky when it comes to claims and a Public Insurance Adjuster will ensure that you are getting what your policy states. Contact a Public Insurance Adjuster today and get help with filing all your insurance claims.
Tags: find a roofer, fix roof, leaky roof, roof damage
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