Storms and natural disasters have been on the rise lately. Whether it’s hurricanes in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and the Carolinas, or tornados in the Midwest and Southeast, fires and floods in California, or snowstorms in the North, the impact on residents of these areas has been challenging.
As if seeing the damage to your home and property is not difficult enough, the process of putting it back together can be equally stressful, both physically and mentally. From cleanup (inside & outside), securing your home from further damage, doing inventory of damages, getting repair quotes, and then the amount of time working with your insurance company, can be draining.
With the state of the current economy, increasing cost of everyday living expenses, utilities, and numerous rising insurance coverages (health, property, auto, etc.), residents are making lifestyle changes to make ends meet.
Know Your Damage Costs?
A valuable tracking tool is now available, Storm Property Damage Tracker, which organizes all this information in one place. The Tracker then calculates if repairs are being covered or what your out-of-pocket costs will be when working with your insurance company. You get an immediate view of your repair situation so you are well-informed if negotiations are needed.
When we experience destructive storms in addition, an overwhelmed feeling sets in. The first check is safety of family and friends, followed by the recovery process of putting your home back together. This typically is not a quick process, especially if you have to deal with an insurance company. Some insurers are great to work with, while others create a significant amount of additional stress and frustration.
The best way to deal with these situations is to decide how you are going to approach the recovery process, either through your own efforts or through outside help, then get moving on it without delay. Search for any means or tools available that will help organize your recovery efforts and give you a clear picture of your situation. Knowing your steps, repairs needed, and costs are organized will relieve some stress. This will also be beneficial when working with your insurance company. Most likely their repair numbers won’t match yours, but you have done the assessment, got quotes, and know the repair costs. This will make you better prepared to negotiate the numbers if needed.
Depending on the situation, this could take some time. Some insurance companies are notorious for delaying settlements. If you have made substantial efforts getting and providing them quotes to repair your home, only to get little response or continual delays, you might look into outside help from a Public Adjuster or Attorney. They will typically charge a contingency fee (% of total amount recovered from insurance company) if successful. Make sure you do your due diligence in deciding who to represent you. As with any business, there are good ones and not-so good ones. Either way, the goal is to get your home and life put back together in the least amount of time and with the least amount of stress.