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Many homeowners really don’t understand how important flood insurance is until it is too late. The most important thing to realize is that even if you are not required per your homeowners insurance policy to carry flood insurance, that dosen’t mean you are immune to flooding and flood damage claims.  The FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) states that 25-30% of flood damage actually takes place in areas that only have low to moderate risk of flooding.  Flood damage repair can cost more than a house is worth.  In order to avoid this tragic loss, consider purchasing flood insurance.

What is your risk
Virtually no home is immune from flood damage claims, but each has it’s own risk.  Some homes on the coast are at high risk with routine hurricanes and floods.  Other homes may be further inland, but dams, lakes, and rivers still provide a big risk.  There is a map available through FEMA that you can check your own risk on.  Still, although these maps are fairly correct and well researched, there is no such thing as a 10)% guarantee that your home will not be damaged by a flood.  There is always that ‘fluke of nature’ that not one person at FEMA can predict, and you will need adequate coverage beforehand.

Get Quotes
Before purchasing flood insurance from your home, you may want to consider getting multiple estimates to get the best coverage and price.  Get a variety of quotes from different providers, because they differ vastly.  Sometimes, one quote may be double the price of another for the same exact location and property.  Find out what the competition is before adding flood coverage onto your homeowners insurance policy.

Purchase the Policy
Once you have found the quote you want to go with, you have two options.  First, is talking to your insurance agent to make the final arrangements.  If you are going with the same company that has your home insurance, that would be the easiest.  You may be able to get  bulk discount, if you have several services there like homeowners and auto insurance.  You could also go with an online vendor.  Online insurance sites are growing in popularity and a great option for good coverage.  That requires filling out a form online and submitting it.  You will be notified if you are approved.  This is a great option for those who want to add flood insurance without having to take time out of your day to meet with an agent.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

Home insurance covers a variety of things that can go wrong in a home.  A fire damage claim is one of them, that can cause tragedy by losing personal belongings that are irreplaceable.  When fire damage happens, there is often not just fire damage, but water damage caused by:

1. Fireman’s efforts to put out the fire by using fire hoses
2. Broken water pipes that burst from the high temperatures

Although the loss may be from fire damage, another side effect of the water damage is that a restoration crew may be needed to clean up the mold left afterwards.  Any time there is water damage, mold can and usually does occur as a side effect. Most mold can grow in less than 24 hours.  A restoration team then needs to come in an address any mold issues associated with the loss.

The restoration crew will set up a time to come to the location to assess the fire damage first.  They would include many things in this assessment, like what type of damage has been done by the fire and water and which areas will need to have mold cleaned.  Although this is not as simple as it seems, hiring the right crew should make it a very easy job.  A very complete site inspection should be done.

Once the inspection of site has been completed and repairs that need to be completed is recognized, the next thing to do would be to find the main source of the problem.  For example, the electrical or plumbing may have been of inferior quality, or just located too closely to the fire.  The restoration team would now proceed with repairs.

Once the assessment is completed, the team would need to move on to cleaning up the damage by the water first.  This includes:

1. Removing traces of toxic airborne particles by using air filtering and fogging techniques
2. Clearing trash and debris from un-salvageable items
3. Using a pump to get standing water out of the building

There could be a heavy mold buildup if the damage was extensive or a lot of time has passed before clean up.  There is a specific set of steps that go with the clean up process for mold.  These steps include:

1. Finding heavy moisture areas in the house and determine reason for moisture
2. Finding out if rooms have enough ventilation to control moisture levels
3. Determining levels of mold to find out how intensive of a treatment is required
4. Identifying the type of mold and levels of toxicity.

Some types of mold are very dangerous and can cause illness or death. Restoration and repair for water damage can be a very time consuming and tedious task, but having a proper team with experience will make you feel much more comfortable that the damages are being assessed properly.

If you have experienced a fire and are going through a fire damage claim, we can help you.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

Natural disasters can change the face of the world. Believe it or not, the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the United States was located in Missouri, not California. This earthquake was so powerful that it actually changed the Mississippi River’s course. We do not have the power to stop them from happening, but we can do a much better job preparing ourselves from the consequences and protect ourselves from an insurance claims dispute.

Every state that borders the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, which is twenty states including Hawaii face hurricane threats on a yearly basis. The population of the United States continues to grow exponentially, and so does the threat of facing a catastrophe. Tornado, Hurricanes, Floods, and Earthquakes happen all over the United States.

Home values have decreased in some areas that have a lot of natural disasters. Most homeowners have a large amount of their money tied up in their homes. This puts them at huge risk with their finances. Recent natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Rita and Katrina showed us that we are not prepared for natural disasters.

There are many great ideas to help Americans prepare for these natural disasters, and national coalitions like protectingamerica.org advocate these. These organizations are made up of first responders as well as emergency management officials.

One basic solution to this is the emergency of privately funded, but sponsored by government funds for catastrophe. This money would accumulate before a disaster occurred, and is a combination of insurance premiums and government money. This way, the states can fund their own restoration from natural disasters. If property owners can’t be covered by one state, then the federal government would step in. Money would be designated for this one purpose, and could grow every year it wasn’t used.

Another solution includes training and strengthening first responders, better land use policies, and better building codes. A better solution is not going to happen overnight, so here is what you can do in the meantime to prepare yourself:

1. Familiarize yourself with your town’s disaster plans and come up with a family disaster plan.
2. Create an emergency supply kit that has plenty of nonperishable food, can opener, paper plates and utensils, lots of bottled water, first-aid kids, flashlight and radio, and plenty of batteries
3. Put everything important in water and fire proof containers; wills, insurance policies, passports, birth certificates, financial information, phone numbers, etc.
4. Create a video inventory of your personal property and keep as many receipts as possible.

As stated earlier, “We do not have the power to stop Natural Disaters from happening, but we can do a much better job preparing ourselves from the consequences and protect ourselves from an insurance claims dispute.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

An increasing number of insurance policyholders have found themselves involved deeply in an insurance dispute about claim damage. Insurance disputes can be financially devastating. A common feeling of most policyholders is that insurance companies are there to actually help them in times of need. Sometimes, that is completely true, however with larger claims, it can feel like you are being taken advantage of.

A house fire, tornado, tree through the roof, or busted pipe can cause large amounts of damage to a home and it’s belongings. People often feel reassured because they have homeowners insurance coverage or business owners insurance. That relief could be premature. Yes, your damages are covered by your insurance policy, but how much will your company pay versus what you have to pay out of pocket?

The policyholder often thinks that if they have been with a company for a number of years and never submitted claim, they will get a fair settlement. It should be that easy. You pay timely premiums, you find a good contractor and submit your claim properly, and it should be paid. However, larger claims dig deeper into the insurance company’s pockets. With more to pay out, any policyholders find out that they are NOT “in good hands,” the insurance company is NOT always “on your side,” and “like a good neighbor… there NOT always there.”

Everyone wants to believe that they will be taken care of in a time of need. That is not always true with more costly claims. These large claims become a huge, costly battle over what should and shouldn’t be replaced or repaired. Many insurance companies do wish to take care of their clients and give them a fair claim settlement for the needed repairs. Unfortunately, there are just as many companies who will do everything in their power to protect themselves financially… instead of protecting and taking care of their clients.

Not many policyholders are aware that there is a clause within their policy that protects them from insurance company greed. It’s called the insurance Appraisal Clause. The clause has a set process to settle insurance disputes that involve the “amount of loss.” If the two parties have two separate estimates and different opinions on how much money it will take to complete repairs or replacement, appraisal is the next step.

Appraisal settles disputes about damage to your home or property. If you suffer a natural disaster that destroys your home, the insurance company will send an adjuster. Disputes begin for many reasons. However, as an example, let’s say the adjuster estimates a fire damage claim at $300,000. Your contractor gives an estimate to repair the damage for $450,000. Obviously there is a dispute on the “amount of loss.” This results in a dispute between the two parties for both repairs and damages. An agreement can not be reached, as neither party is willing to budge. At that time, either party can demand appraisal in writing. Each party must appoint an Independent Appraiser to settle the insurance dispute.

For a more detailed breakdown of the Insurance Appraisal Process policyholders can educate themselves and obtain insurance dispute assistance from Insurance Claims Group.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

More and more policyholders have been finding themselves involved with an insurance dispute over their claim damage. A settlement dispute from an insurance claim can be devestating. Most people believe that their insurance company will be there to help them. In many cases that is 100% acurate. However, with larger, more complex, and more costly claims it can feel like you have your pants down around your ankles.

A large fire, water from a boken pipe, tornado, or tree on the house can cause severe, high dollar damages to a building and its contents. Policyholders immidiatley think, “Thank the lord we’re covered.” Well, not so fast. Sure, you have a policy, and you’re covered for the damages, but, how much will the insurance company pay compared to what the damages will cost to repair. Most policyholder’s often say, “I’ve been with this insurance company for 45-years and never once submitted a claim.” It should be simple, right? You’ve paid your bills all this time, you submit a bid from a reputable contractor, now the insurance company should pay it!

Hmmmm, more and more on larger, more costly claims, that begin to dig deep into the insurance companies bottom line, it doesn’t seem to be that easy. We’d like to believe that our insurance company will be there to take care of us in our time of need. However, many are not, especially with larger claims. Larger claims can become a battle over what should be replaced and what the insurance company believes can be saved and repaired. In my career as a claims professonal I have found that many insurance companies truly wish to take care of their policyholders and provide them with the maximum amount of money their policy will allow.

I’ve also found that there are just as many insurance companies that go out of their way to find ways not to pay policyholders all that they deserve on their claims. The Insurance Appraisal Process can be complicated unless you choose a competent, experienced appraiser that understands all aspects of the insurance appraisal clause, as well as all aspects of Insurance Appraisal Services. First, a brief overview of the insurance appraisal clause. Appraisal is a clause within most insurance policies that allows a process to settle insurance claim disputes. The claim disputes may be about damage to buildings or property.

Let’s say that a policyholder suffers a flood, fire, or tornado to their structure. The insurance company sends an adjuster who determines the damages to be $200,000. However, the policyholder has a contractor that has provided an estimate for $325,000. A dispute between the two parties has begun in both the cost of repairs and the scope of damages. An agreement on the costs cannot be reached. Either the insurance company or the policyholder now has the right to demand appraisal via written request. To resolve such disputes, each party must choose an insurance appraiser. Insurance Appraisal Services is what we do.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

The global temperature is increasing and people are seeing more erratic weather patterns.  It may be possible in the future to see year-round flooding on a global scale.  In addition to the flooding, bush and scrub fires are becoming more severe.  We can no longer ignore these world events, nor the proof that we can wee with our own eyes, because thanks to the Internet, we see this devastation everywhere.

The good news is most people carry insurance to protect them in the event of a disaster.  They expect that in those circumstances, their claim will be handled efficiently and reasonably by their insurer.  Many families are forced to evacuate their homes due to these natural disasters.  In this situation, most people initially are overwhelmed with relief that they and their family members survived this ordeal, but as time goes on, their patience runs out.

The problem policyholders with claims are running into is that these insurance companies are overloaded with claims.  The adjusters hired by insurance companies are constantly faced with the pressure to produce high levels of service.  This level of service must be maintained on a very low budget and within limited time frames.  The people who suffer from this pressure on adjusters is the policyholder.

In Cumbria, NW England, approximately 270 families have been evacuated into temporary housing as a result of flooding.  The areas around Sydney, Australia as well as several places in the United States have suffered disastrous bush and scrub fires, and many other types of natural disasters occur all of the time.  Perhaps the most famous example of this is Hurricane Katrina, and of course South East Asia.  As global warming increases, so will the frequency of these natural disasters.

There are research figures that suggest that 40,000 families have had to leave their homes due to natural disasters.

How do you make sure your flood insurance claim is accepted?
This process begins with the selection of a policy. There are so man insurance companies to choose from, it’s hard to know the right one to pick for flood insurance.  Some may offer you incentives to buy from them, some may seem cheaper to purchase.  When it comes to insurance, the quality and value are much more important than the monthly cost.  Make a list of what you feel are the important issues and shop around until all of those issues are addressed.  Check out your current insurer as well, they may not be equipped to protect you in the event of a natural disaster or a flood.
You must be able to control and trust each of the supply chain contractors.  These include a variety of people who may be repairint different parts of your home.  Do not forget that even if you have had to evacuate or it is totally destroyed, it is still your home and you are in charge.

What is a loss adjuster?  Can I trust them with my flood insurance claim?
You will be assigned a loss adjuster who will come to your house and manage your claim on behalf of the company that will be paying your flood insurance.   They are required to be a neutral mediator between you and your insurance company.  They make sure both sides abide by the policies to best process your flood insurance claim.  The problem is, these loss adjusters sometimes fall under that same category in which each company is trying to reduce costs, and the workers could feel that pressure.
It is no longer a theory that the world climate is changing, it is a reality.  We all need to take the proper precautions to protect ourselves in the case of a flood or natural disaster.  The only way to protect something that is out of our hands is by insuring it.

What else can I do to protect myself?
You need to document all of our possessions in your home in case of a disaster. You need to find out all of your rights for your flood insurance claim; there are ten key stages that you need to understand fully.  There is a good chance any of us may undergo a disaster like this at any time, and you need to take the appropriate measures to be safe, flood insurance is the first step in that.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims

The first step to our fire appraisal process is to obtain as much documentation that is available on the claim. We will collect a copy of the insurance company’s fire damage estimate(s), the policyholder’s fire damage estimate(s), as well as any other documentation that is available. We will vigorously review and inspect each estimate line-by-line for discrepancies.

The next step will be to inspect the property that has been damaged by the fire. A thorough inspection will be conducted, room by room, and piece by piece (or any remaining parts). As a Fire Damage Appraiser will conduct this inspection with the two different fire damage estimates that are being disputed. With these estimates in hand during our inspection we can determine if one estimate has missed items to be addressed and/or if the other is excessive.

Our inspection will include 50 to 300 photos (depending on the size of the fire loss and extent of fire damage). These photos will prove and support our findings. The photos will be taken in a manner that supports our position of whether items can be saved or will require replacement. The photos will also show cause and affect damages. Yes, the bricks on the exterior of a home or building may not appear to be damaged by the fire. However, if the sheathing/plywood behind the brick is smoked and damp – the bricks will require removal to access other repairs.

Some rooms or even an entire building may be fire damaged beyond recognition. In these cases we will conduct an interview process with the owners of the property to confirm room layouts, types of wall and floor finishes, electrical items, cabinetry, and more. This type of questions and answer session will paint a clear picture of the TRUE value of the damages the fire caused. The proper value of the claim depends on it’s accuracy.

All the data collected will then be programmed into the Xactimate estimating software. Xactimate configures and displays the data in the exact format that the insurance companies require. Line by line, piece by piece, the exact square feet of drywall, paint, wallpaper, and carpet will be calculated for a real and accurate cost to pay the claim. In fact, Xactimate is used by more than 70% of insurance companies.

Any items that are in question will be reviewed by our group of engineers, building inspectors, or contractors as additional documentation to support the true repairs. Foundations, brick, support beans, and electrical may require removal and may not meet current building codes. These professionals can advise on ways to keep these types of materials or why they will require replacement.

After all this has been completed we will meet with the other parties appraiser and discuss each others findings. In some cases an agreement cannot be reached between the two appraisers. In the event this happens, the two appraisers will submit their differences to the Appraisal Umpire.

(C) Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE as part of our FREE Insurance Claim Consulting Service – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Insurance Claim Help and questions about Independent Appraiser Services is available by visiting Insurance Claims Group | Insurance Appraisal Services | Insurance Appraisal Process | Insurance Appraisal Umpire | Fire Insurance Claims