BASICS

I cannot stress enough how critical it is that you know what your policy does and does not cover before property damage occurs. It is an important step to make sure that you have enough coverage in the areas where your home or building may be most susceptible.  The environment in which your property rests must be taken into consideration when going over the types of coverage you  need.

Here are top property damage claims preparation tips to keep in mind:

Select proper coverage! This is  critical so make sure that your policy is thoroughly explained to you and that you understand all limitations and coverage. Make sure to have an amount that is an excess of what you own.  Remember that antiques are usually not covered in basic property insurance so if you own antiques you will want to get what is called a rider to add coverage in this area.  If you cannot get your insurance company to go over and explain your policy to you, a public adjuster here at Priority Adjusters will be more than happy to review this for you for free.

It’s important to keep your policy in line with updates to your inventory i.e., the latest purchases.  If you have an existing policy that you have not evaluated in sometime, it is recommended.  You can always get limit increases and more coverage if necessary.

• Know what your policy deduction is.  Is it something you can actually pay if needed?
• Basic home owner policies generally do not cover flood damage and earthquakes. Be sure to ask your carrier about this.
• When Its Time To Call A Professional

Should you have an incident of property damage and need to file a claim you can find information about how to file a property claim here.  For the quickest results it is important you contact a professional public adjuster first.  A public adjuster is experienced in settling claims.  They will get your claim filed, come to your home to assess damage, take pictures if necessary and act as the second opinion necessary in receiving a proper settlement to your claim.  A public adjuster works with emergency restoration services on a regular basis so they can quickly get the ball rolling on repair and clean up.  Insurance companies generally expect to pay a higher cost for emergency services. Your contractor should bill them directly.

Remember, you insurance will pay the minimum on your claim unless they are properly challenge.  This is where having a insurance claims adjuster on your side is vital to your property damage claim. Your insurance company is under obligation to pay for your damaged property.  At the same time they are a business so they are in it to make money.  An independent property damage claim specialist such as a public adjuster will help immensely in this matter.

Water damage

Seemingly small areas can appear easy to fix but there should be no delay in action of this process as there are many more dangers that should be considered.

Why does mold grow so fast, especially indoors? The reason is that elements such as wet wood and drywall, for instance, encourage growth of mold in humid environments.  Water and heat creates this humid environment making it a breeding ground for mold.

Once mold has grown in an area that has been damaged by water, it can cause various illnesses and unwanted symptoms, especially in susceptible individuals with lowered immune systems. Mold also attracts various insects such as dust mites that also thrive in these areas. Some of the health problems that are caused can be the direct attack mold launches on your immune system.  Dr. John T. Chiu of the Allergy Medical Group, Inc. outlines the dangers and effects that mold can have on his site here.  Dr. Chiu is an allergy expert and his expert testimony has been used in various legal matters concerning mold and the body’s reaction to mold.  Mold is a volatile organic compound that can irritate the respiratory system and entire immune system at various levels.  For many others, symptoms remain unknown.  He says that the prime reason for mold’s ability to inhabit the body as it does is due to the microbial nature of the bacteria strain.

“Genetically susceptible people often develop allergic reactions to these agents. The most frequently detected molds in these structures are Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys, but elevated spore counts of other mold species are often detected as well. Such measurements can be obtained through an environmental assessment firm usually headed by an industrial hygienist or a Ph.D. in microbiology.”

“Diseases such as bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and occasionally hives (urticaria) are usually the consequence of allergic sensitization to the molds detected and/or house dust mite droppings.”

Please be careful when dealing with wet environments and do not deal with any mold you may encounter directly.  If you suspect mold please call a professional immediately. Public adjusters or Insurance Claims Adjuster can help you recover damages from water damaged areas in your home or building and coordinate restoration services so that your area can be cleaned and restored to proper conditions.

Yes, its true.  Public adjusters fight for you, the property owner, when you need an advocate for Big Insurance.  There is great benefit and value that goes into hiring a public adjuster especially in terms of cost efficiency.  However, public adjusters are not attorneys.   So why do property damage attorneys always end up calling us?  I’ll tell you why.

Many attorneys say they can handle these matters.  However the fact is, that these attorneys will usually refer out your claim to a public adjuster.  An attorney is well versed in the law.  The attorney will not travel to a burnt or water damaged office building or home with a flashlight and tools to detail all the damage and assess loss.  No, that is what the public adjusters do.  Attorneys often hire experts  on property damage such as a public adjusting firm.  All public adjusters are licensed tested & bonded.  Public adjusters also have networks and contracts with estimators with years of building/property experience to evaluate the damages. When handling business income losses it is important to have accountants on hand which is another department we have on staff. There are a plethora of experts that public adjusters incorporate into the day to day mediation with insurance companies.

There is a great respect to be had  for property damage attorneys, nor am I discounting their benefit, but from experience we find that many attorneys are simply not experienced enough to handle these types of matters in comparison to public adjusters.  Public adjusters understand how to apply building code to occurrences of fire or water damage.

Today, fire claims are becoming more complicated and demanding.   Insurance companies are fighting harder than ever to keep claims low.  When you have property damage adjuster, you want an experienced public adjuster on your side for this very purpose. We offer a

Fire damage

Recently at the Malibu’s Emergency Preparedness Expo representatives from various other emergency management departments discuss wildfire and tsunami preparedness. There was a great and important message shared on how to prepare and respond to natural disasters.

As most Californians know, wildfire season is around the corner. It was interesting to note The Malibu Times reported.  The Malibu Times mentioned that a group of experts gathered at Malibu City Hall to give insights as to their knowledge and experience on the city.  Also in attendance was The Los Angeles County Fire Department, California Emergency Management Agency to raise awareness of the threat of natural disasters.

The awareness of the potential severity and extensive damage that a wildfire could bring was one of the main points that were brought to the forefront of the discussion.  When an outbreak of wildfire has occurred it is of the utmost importance that evacuation warnings are given early considering the number of narrow roads in Malibu was what was featured.  A chief from the LA County Fire Department pointed to that fact being the reason for traffic delays. He also mentioned that in the Corral Canyon Fire, 4,900 acres burned and six firefighters were injured.  The chief also cited a 2003 incident in San Diego where a large number of civilians died due to being stuck on roads while trying to evacuate who got caught in smoke, fire and heat.  The chief went on to mention a little known fact that impacts vehicles trying to evacuate at later stages of a wildfire.  Smoke causes the driver to lose their visibility, while the fire and the heat impact how the vehicle will work.  Many do not realize that the combustion in the engine needs oxygen to work, so if the “fire is consuming the oxygen –the vehicle will stall” as stated by Chief Anthony Williams of the LACFD.
The LACFD created a “Ready, Set, Go” personal wildfire action plan.  A presentation was given with information about how families can properly create a disaster plan, evacuation checklist, and be sure to evacuate in time.  LACFD advocated the need for safeguarding a home so that the chances of rapid fire affecting the home are low, that areas of potential hazard in the home are dealt with and do not block quick evacuation. Areas such as roofs, eaves, vents, walls, windows and door were outlined.

The bottom line for families attempting to safeguard their home without survival equipment or training as Chief Williams stated is “a recipe for disaster”. Placing value where value truly lies was emphasized.  Homes and material things can be replaced.  People can’t be so don’t risk your loved ones to anything else.

References to prepare your home or office for fire damage:

1)      To obtain the Ready, Set, Go program and wildfire preparedness go online to the L.A. County Fire Department Website:  www.fire.lacounty.gov

2)      The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is a great resource for information on fire protection: www.fire.ca.gov.

3)      The California Emergency Management Agency provides information on emergency preparedness as well: www.calema.ca.gov

4)      If you suffer from fire damage and need help recovering from loss and restoring damage areas you can also contact Priority Adjusters, public adjusters in Ca

Some often search for fire insurance adjusters when what one only really needs a public adjuster which is actually one in the same.  The bigger question of course is how to prevent such a disaster from affecting my home.  Well, once a brush fire gets started it is very difficult to put out.  The only hope is to try to prepare as much as possible and work on prevention measures as best as possible.  During the hot summer months anything such as an electrical storm, a lit cigarette, broken glass on dry brush can ignite a flame that can turn into an inferno.

You can take small measures to prevent fire damage such as keep your surrounding area moist so that it does easily catch fire.  Make sure that elements such as broken glass, hot grills, outdoor appliances are kept unplugged and far from brush to prevent brush fire damage near your home.  Here are few that top the brush fire checklist :

Report any suspicious or out of place persons or vehicles that you think might be maliciously starting fires.
*Keep matches and lighters away from children.
*Never leave a fire unattended.
*Never throw cigarette butts out of your car/truck window.
*If your car has a catalytic converter, keep it off dry grass and away from brush.

If you follow these simple steps and stay mindful of these things you can feel satisfied knowing you took measures possible to avoid starting or receiving a fire to the best of your ability.

We are public adjusters who work on behalf of you the property owner. If you are looking for a fire insurance adjuster or if you have sustained fire damage and are in need of consultation about what your next steps should be, please call us.  We can help: 800-602-9915

Better Rates

The fact is the property and casualty insurance industry is overcapacity.  That means there is much more supply than there is demand. What this means for you is that you, the property owner can get or negotiate some of the best rates around. The Insurance Journal noted from a report  that in one quarter in 2010 property insurance policy renewals in the U.S. notes “that nearly two-thirds of the broker’s U.S. property insurance clients experienced a premium rate decrease at renewal, with 29% experiencing a reduction of at least 10%.” This is due largely to the fact that there have not been any “industry wide” catastrophes to affect premiums in this way.

Insuring key players, property, office equipment, and protection in the event of terrorism is a great way to protect your investments.

If you have damage suffered damage to your property or loss to your business Priority Adjusters is the place to start.  We work on the behalf of the policy holder to make sure you get a fair settlement of your loss.  Contact us at 800-602-9915 or fill out the contact form to seek help now.

Documented paperwork & photos will go far in further proving your claim.  Be sure to read your policy to make sure you know what you are and aren’t covered by in your policy.  Certain aspects of damage may require a rider (additional clause or provision of extended coverage)  Things like a fire that spreads into the common areas are things  you will need to know that you are covered for before you call your insurance company.

Some property owners find out after the fact that the process for recovering your damages and filing a claim can be quite tedious and time consuming.  For some property owners, they have found hiring a “Property Claims Adjuster” to be quite valuable.  Also known as a public adjuster, they are a rather uncommonly known type of loss specialist committed to helping policyholders get fully indemnified by their insurance policies. Many companies centralize claims adjustment in a insurance claims center, where the cost of repair is estimated and a check is issued immediately.

A public adjuster can:

1. Settling your claim for the greatest amount
2. Serve as that necessary second opinion required by insurance claims
3. Negotiate on your behalf with your insurance company
4. Advise you of your options and keep you informed every step of the way
5. Evaluating your policy to help present the strongest probable claim to your insurance company
6. Measuring and document losses to prove your losses (i.e., belongings,  house,  extra living /operating cost)
   Giving you time to focus on recovering personally

The difference between a Public Adjuster also known as an independent Claims Adjuster and an Adjuster that works for the insurance company is quite distinct.  An  Adjuster hired by an  insurance company works for, and is paid by, that insurance company.  This type of Adjuster will have an apparent bias in favor of the insurance company that hired him/her .  An independent Claims Adjuster works strictly for the policy owner and has only their best interests in mind.

As the reputation of insurance carriers not paying its policyholders fairly on property damage claims grows, consumers are growing wiser and now turning directly t to a Property Damage Adjuster before initiating the claims filing process to raise their chances of not only a proper settlement amount but also to improve likelihood of claim approval when  damage has occurred.

If you have sustained property damage to your office building or any other type of property, give us a call. Find out how we can help: 800-602-9915

Go with your instincts.  If your insurance adjuster seems that he/she can’t explain the process to you, is too pushy to get you to sign with him, or you feel unsure, you are probably are right.  Keep looking.  Public adjusters are business owner and property owner advocates.  You want someone sensitive to your issues and needs.  You also want someone who will efficiently handle your claims and work fast to get you what you need.

Important questions to ask:

• What is the first step once we sign with you?

• What type of delays should I expect?

• How quickly will my claim be filed?

• What is the average time frame to expect a settlement (nothing is in stone as each case is different, but if you know your adjuster has an idea, this can be helpful)

• Who will be my point of contact for updates, etc. Is it you?

• How soon (or often) will someone follow up with me?

• Will I be kept abreast of changes in my case? If so, how? US Postal Mail, Email, phone?

A public adjuster should have keen information related to insurance claims help request such as what will be the estimate cost required to recover from physical damage, cost to build up a new roof, or any to the property for which a claim is being made. A public  adjuster’s job is to become the bridge between the insurance holder and the insurance firm. A public adjuster acts  on your behalf to carry out work from start to  finish until you, the owner, gets the appropriate claim amount. Many states keep regular test to renew the license so that the adjuster is equipped to handle the entire situation coming in the insurance industry.

Public adjusters can really make their value felt by the time the owner is saved as well as the insight that only adjusters have in dealing with insurance companies.   If you have sustained damage to your office building, are a victim of vandalism, or your home property has been devastated, things like relocation, and property restoration are things that can be overwhelming to set up.  Not to mention, you will still have to worry about your insurance carrier of whom I assure will try to undervalue your damage to their benefit.

If you have sustained damage to your building or residential property, call 800-602-9915. You can also contact us on the form to the right of this page.

We at Priority Adjusters will make your claim our “top” Priority.

It’s imperative that you make sure you keep a current business inventory.  This will help you immensely.    You will want  to purchase enough to replace all business inventory pertaining to what you do.   This will also help speed up settlement of our claim.

When it comes to how to start the process of taking inventory for your business, you have a few options in this regard.  You can simply have someone make a list in a notebook saving receipts to support purchases and photos in a file.  Or  if you wish to invest in easy to use software that can automate of the details in the process there are many software programs you can purchase to create detailed, organized, accurate and up to date records of each item.   With the click of your mouse, you can easily update  lists that you purchase, replace or eliminate.  The benefit of an online or computer record is that it can be housed virtually and backed up in many cases. You can scan some receipts, take digital photos to be housed on a server, etc.

Where To Start

Don’t be put  off by the seemingly arduous task of taking inventory, especially if it is something that has not been done for a long time or in some cases years.   Take it one step at a time.  You will want to first decide on a the method in which to record your inventory (software, online, manually) Go office by office or  room by room.   Take it category by category such as creating categories for “furniture” and “electronics”.  Start with the newest pieces of furniture or  items to the oldest or you may start from the most expensive purchases to the less expensive ones.  Whichever suits you best.

Depending on the insurance coverage you have, some items may need to be insured separately such as Key players in your company and any cash you may be keeping in the office for petty purchases.

Photographs

Be sure to have photographs that accompany your inventory list. This can be done easily with a digital camera.  If you have a film camera you can scan printed photographs or have their film developer save the images to a disk.  Print photographs can still be stored  with a copy of your inventory.

The List

Some items below can be listed by the room in which they are likely to be found.  If you have a large number of  purchases of one type of item such as books, CDs, miscellaneous items you can make a general estimate of how many you have and what  their estimated value may be.

If you have sustained damage to your business or insured office building, we may be able to help.  Call us at 800-602-9915

After Fire Damage… Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will my insurance pay for temporary housing or business relocation?
2. Should I sign a contract with a repair contractor right away?
3. How can I get my personal property damage – beyond the structure damage – claim paid fairly?
4. What notices must I give?
5. What constitutes  “Proof of Loss” and what are my contractual “Duties after a Loss”?
6. What is Actual Cash Value (“ACV”) versus Replacement Cost Value (“RCV”)?
7. Do I have Extended Coverage, Business Loss Coverage and Consequential Loss Coverage?
8. Do I have mold coverage and how do I test and remediate?
9. Will my policy cover restorations that meet new building codes?
10. What does it mean to mitigate my damages?
11. What are my duties under the policy?
12. Will I be covered should theft or vandalism occur following the fire?
13. Will my vehicles be covered if damaged or destroyed by the fire?

14.  How do I assess if my insurance company is cheating me, underpaying or wrongfully denying parts of  my claim?

These are important questions that usually come up  after a covered Fire Loss. The important answer to all of these questions is “You don’t have to know – we do”!

Priority Adjusters, California’s premier Public Adjuster, is ready to help.

When you experience any physical damage to your home, or other insurance related damages, make us your first line of defense.