Insurance Advice – Chateau Public Adjusters

Frederick MD Hail/Wind Damaged Roofing & Siding

Chateau Public Adjusters — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 14:01:45 +0000

The most common type of insurance claim that we handle are storm-related property damage like hail and wind damage to roofing, siding and gutters. Here's how we make sure our homeowners get maximum coverage for their damaged homes so that restorations are paid for in full by their insurance company.

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Siding & Gutters Hail & Wind Damage

When people think of a property damage insurance claim they tend to think of catastrophic loss like in the case of hurricanes and tornados. The truth is, the majority of cases are much less dramatic, and most people do not know that even small, seemingly minor damage is eligible for payment on an insurance claim. See the picture above of a hail-damaged gutter. The dent, which is highlited with chalk by our public adjuster, is caused by hail. Therefore, it needs to be replaced and the insurance company has to pay for it. Where there is one hail-strike, there are likely more. At this home we found hail damage to the roofng and siding, in addition to gutters and downspouts, and these homeowners are getting a complete replacement of all roofing, siding and gutters paid for by their insurance company.

Match Clauses & Patch-Work Repairs

Sometimes, replacing only damaged pieces of siding or shingles on a roof will result in a mis-matched appearance. Most insurance companies don't care about this. If only one or two sides of the house are damaged by hail then they will only pay for those sides. Additionally, if your home's siding is still in production then it is possible to replace a few pieces of siding in order to restore the property to its pre-loss state. If there is no match clause in your insurance policy, and if there are no state laws requiring insurance companies to pay for uniform matching, then you will have a hard time getting an insurance company to pay for more than they have to. Having a public adjuster helps fight the insurance company's decision.

Get the Most for Your Claim!

If you have a claim for storm damage and your insurance company is only paying for patch-work repairs, contact a licensed public adjuster today for a free consultation to see if you are entitled to more.

The dent in this gutter (highlited with chaulk) is caused from hail-strike, and it means that your insurance has to pay for a new downspout.

Wind-damaged siding in Frederick Maryland

This wind-damaged roof shingles in Frederick MD result in a roof replacement for our clients, paid for by their insurance company.

Inspecting a roof for hail damage and making chalk-marks to present our case to the insurance company at this storm-damaged home in Frederick, Maryland.

Roof Damage from Hail & Wind

The majority of homeowners do not truly know the condition of their roof. And, just like siding, it only takes a couple missing shingles, creased shingles, or shingles that have significant granule loss and damage to the matting from hail, to get a full roof replacement paid for by your insurance company. Check out these photos of hail and wind damaged roofing in Frederick, Maryland. We got these homeowners a full roof replacement, complete siding replacement (top-to-bottom) and new gutters and downspouts, all for the price of their deductible!

Roof Damage Claims for ACV vs. RCV Insurance Policies

There are differences in the insurance payout depending on whether you have an ACV or RCV insurance policy. For ACV, you will only get the Actual Cash Value of your roof - which is the market value minus the depreciation, which is calculated based on the age of the roof. If you are like most homeowners and you have an RCV insurance policy, you will receive a first check for the Actual Cash Value of your roof, same as above. But then, after you get your roof replaced, you will receive a second check for the recovered value of the roof. In addition to this, your roofer will be able to install and bill for items like ice-and-water shield, etc that are required by code. Most insurance companies pay for code coverage. The handling of these details, and making sure you get a quality roof replacement, is why having a public adjuster is so important.

Sit Back, Relax, and Let a Pro Handle Your Insurance Claim

Hiring a roofing contractor that is comfortable handling insurance claims is very important. They can help with the insurance process, but it will still be on you to negotiate the claim and communicate with the insurance company. Roofers are NOT legally allowed to file or handle a claim on your behalf. That's where a public adjuster differs. We work WITH the roofer, but FOR you and AGAINST the insurance company. And our fee is paid by the roofer, not you, so in the end you only pay your deductible (plus any upgrades or additional work you choose to get done).

How to Get Roofing & Siding Damage Restored by Insurance

The process for getting your claim approved and damaged home restored...

First, hire a licensed public insurance adjuster like Chateau. Our contract is contingent upon us getting the claim approved. There's no risk to the insured homeowner. One of two things will happen. Either we will get the claim approved, in which case our contractor will execute the approved work for the approved price, and you will only pay your deductible. Or we will fail to get the claim approved, and you won't pay anything.
Allow the public adjuster to file the claim and handle all correspondence with the insurance company. This is important, because the slightest misstep can result in a denial. For example, failing to identify an appropriate date of loss. Homeowners might say something like, "Yeah, last week some shingles blew off the roof, and a couple months ago we had a hail storm". This tells the insurance company that there were two different dates of loss, or the homeowner was negligible because he didn't do something about the damage sooner. Just let your public adjuster use their expertise to ensure things go smoothly.
Document damage and present a case to the insurance company. Your public adjuster will meet with the insurance company's adjuster and inspect the property. Using the same estimating software that the insurance company uses, the public adjuster will build out a scope of work that the insurance company needs to pay for to adequately restore the damaged home. The insurance company will have their own estimate, and from there it is a matter of negotiating a fair settlement. Your public adjuster will fght to get work approved, because they are paid a percentage of the claim, so you can rest assured: your best interest is our best interest.
Get the work executed. In our contracts, we waive the public adjuster fee if the homeowner hires our affiliated contractor. That's because our contractor pays our fee for the referral of the work, and you'll only have to pay your deductible. We trust our contractors and we know that they will do excellent work so that our clients are happy.

Public Adjusters Challenge Insurance Denials of Roof Claims

If you and your insurance company disagree about the extent of damage and the extent of repairs or roof replacement needed then there are certain steps that will need to be taken. These are often technical and require the services of an experienced public adjuster. First, the insurance company will send out a "third party" engineer. But the engineer is hardly a third party - they are hired by your insurance company. When this happens, many homeowners think that the engineer has the final say. Public adjusters know that if they don't like the engineer's determination of damage they can invoke the appraisal clause (click here to learn more about appraisals). When a public adjuster invokes a policyholders right to appraisal, a truly disinterested third party, chosen by your public adjuster, will appraise the roof damage and compare that with your insurance company's appraisal in order to reach an agreement. We have won many appraisals for our clients, including just this last week for a roof damage claim (October 18, 2019 - we'll be writing about it on our blog soon!).

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Visit our blog page for more information about property damage, public adjusters and insurance claims. If you live in south-central PA or northern Maryland contact us today for a free consultation and property inspection!

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Chateau Around the Web

Public Adjuster License Look-Ups and Other Important Links

PA Public Adjuster License Lookup: #773784
MD Public Adjuster License Lookup: #2189995
Superior Services of PA & MD: Our partnered contractor for roofing and restorations in PA and Maryland.

Our Service Area

We serve the entire south-central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland areas including all towns and zip codes in the following counties:

Cumberland, Lancaster, York & Adams Counties in Pennsylvania
Frederick, Baltimore & Carroll Counties in Maryland

Free Consultation

Visit Us at Our Office Appointments Available 24/7

The post Frederick MD Hail/Wind Damaged Roofing & Siding appeared first on Chateau Public Adjusters.

How to Get Roof Damage Insurance Claims Approved

Chateau Public Adjusters — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 13:34:30 +0000

There are a number of ways that your property's roof can suffer damages. From falling trees to hail storms and high winds, roofs are constantly under attack from weather and elements. Most property owners are unaware of damage to their structure's roof until it becomes such a massive problem that there are compounding problems, such as interior damage from leaking water. Failing to be proactive after a wind- or hail-storm can result in denials of roof damage claims. We'll provide tips in this article for responding to roof damage, filing an insurance claim, dealing with insurance adjusters, and handling roof inspections.

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Roof Damage Claims Process

Reasons Claims are Denied

How Public Adjusters Help

Challenging Denied Claims

Inspection of wind damage for a roof damage claim in Hanover PA by Chateau Public Adjusters

How it Works: Ideal Roof Damage Claim Process

As we've talked about many times before, insurance companies have a profit-motive to deny roof damage claims. Their top priority, unfortunately, is not always taking care of their policyholders and restoring property damages to their pre-loss condition. The following is how a policyholder should proceed with a roof damage insurance claim, and what could happen in an ideal situation.

Steps for Filing & Getting Approval for Roof Repairs

1. A storm hits your area causing high winds, wind-driven rain, and hail large enough to damage roof shingles and metal roofing, too. Concerned about damage to your roof, you contact a roofing contractor and schedule a free roof inspection. You and your contractor find significant damage to your roof's shingles and/or metal roofing panels. He/she provides you an estimate for a full roof replacement, because it isn't efficient to just replace the damaged shingles.

2. You contact your insurance company and begin the roof damage insurance claims process. The paperwork can be complicated, but you carefully report all damage and answer all questions appropriately.

3. Your insurance company sends out their adjuster to inspect your roof and appraise the damage. She agrees that the damage is extensive in several different areas. Furthermore, she agrees with your roofer's assessment that repairing or replacing only the damaged shingles wouldn't be effective. She therefore approves payment for a full roof replacement, including underlayment and flashing, etc.

It is rarely the case that roof damage insurance claims go this smoothly. More often than not, your insurance company's adjuster will do his/her best to approve the cheapest, most bare-minimum roof repairs. In addition to that, there are some types of roof damages that ae not covered by homeowners insurance at all. See below for some reasons claims get denied.

Roofing Claims for ACV vs. RCV Insurance Policies

There are differences in the insurance payout depending on whether you have an ACV or RCV insurance policy. For ACV, you will only get the Actual Cash Value of your roof - which is considerably less. If you have an RCV insurance policy, you will receive a check for the value of your roof less the depreciation. Then, after you get your roof replaced, you will receive a check for the recovered value of the roof. Keep in mind that this will mean hiring a contractor that is comfortable handling insurance claims. Most are.

Wind-driven rain gets underneath shingles causing extensive roof damage.

Common Reasons for Denial of Roof Damage Claims

How and Why Claims get Denied by Insurance...

Most roof damage caused by hail, wind and storms should be covered by your homeowners insurance entirely. Storms are a covered peril. Furthermore, any interior damage resulting from a roof leak should also be covered in full. However, there are some cases where denials are issued. Here are some commmon instances where insurance companies will refuse coverage of roof damage.

Wind and hail exclusions. Although very unlikely, there are some policies that have exclusions for damages caused by wind- and hail-storms.
Failure of the policyholder to respond to roof damage in a timely manner. If your roof has been leaking for several months, you'll have a hard time getting coverage approved. This is similar to contributory negligence: it's your responsibility to report damage.
Failure of the policyholder to identify the date of the storm. Most homeowners don't know that this is important. Insurance companies track storms the same way insurance restoration contractors do. It is commonly referred to as a "hail date". You can't just vaguely point out hail damage to your roof - there has to be a specific storm on record. Related Article: Storm-Chasing Roofers.
Old damage to old roofs. Even in perfect conditions, roofs don't last forever. Typically, asphalt shingle roofs that are older than 10 or 15 years will have a hard time being covered for damages.

One of our preferred roofers, JWE Remodeling and Roofing contractors in Hanover PA, executing an inspection for one of our client's roof damage claims.

How Public Adjusters Help Maximize Roof Damage Claims

Chateau Public Adjusters performing an inspection with an engineer to determine damages for a storm damage roof claim.

Having someone on your side is crucial to ensuring that you get your roof damage claim approved for thorough roof repair services. Most public adjusters, when hired, will waive their fee if you use their preferred roofing contractor. The reason for this is that the public adjuster will be paid their fee out of the contractor's profits for their services provided, which is paid for by the insurance company. Therefore, hiring a qualified public adjuster costs a homeowner literally $0 in almost all instances. In addition to that, at Chateau Public Adjusters, we don't get paid at all if we are unable to get your roof damage claim approved.

Three Ways Public Adjusters Assist with Roof Damage Claims

1. Thorough inspection and documentation of all roof damage. It's impossible to get roof repairs approved if you fail to report it in full to you insurance company. Their adjusters aren't going to look for additional damage. A public adjuster will, and in doing so you are guaranteed to report the full extent of damage to your insurance company. Because of this you are more likely to be successful in getting all of your roof damage approved.

2. Avoiding technicalities and loopholes that insurance companies use to deny claims. For example, if you tell your insurance company that your roof is leaking and "water is flooding into the house" you could be served a denial. The reason is that "flooding" is covered under a separate policy. Just using the wrong terminology can result in roof damage claims being denied. Secondly, public adjusters and their partner roofing companies know when storms and hail hit your neighborhood, so they'll have a "hail date" to report with hail damage to your roof. With a public adjuster, all your bases are covered.

3. Getting the most out of your claim. With their insurance policy background and their construction experience, public adjusters who specialize in roof damage claims are experts at getting roofs approved for full replacements. They know how to demonstrate that cheap bare-minimum repairs are usually insufficient for restoring roof damage to pre-loss conditions. When insurance companies don't agree, a public adjuster can challenge them using legal procedures and policy clauses.

One of our insurance-approved roof replacements underway in Hanover PA 17331

Public Adjusters Challenge Insurance Denials of Roof Claims

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Chateau Around the Web

Public Adjuster License Look-Ups and Other Important Links

PA Public Adjuster License Lookup: #773784
MD Public Adjuster License Lookup: #2189995
Superior Services of PA & MD: Our partnered contractor for roofing and restorations in PA and Maryland.

Our Service Area

We serve the entire south-central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland areas including all towns and zip codes in the following counties:

Cumberland, Lancaster, York & Adams Counties in Pennsylvania
Frederick, Baltimore & Carroll Counties in Maryland

Free Consultation

Visit Us at Our Office Appointments Available 24/7

The post How to Get Roof Damage Insurance Claims Approved appeared first on Chateau Public Adjusters.

Water Damage Claims: Frozen Pipes, Broken Pipes & Plumbing Leaks

Chateau Public Adjusters — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 21:31:31 +0000

It will soon be the time of year when frozen pipes burst and cause serious water damage to homes and businesses. We handle a lot of these types of property damage insurance claims every winter. Property owners are often left wondering why this happens and what they could have done to prevent it. And you can bet that insurance companies want to know the same thing! Learn more about water damage claims below, including how to prevent this common problem.

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Introduction & Background

Frozen Pipe Prevention

Insurance Coverage Info

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Frozen Pipes, Broken Plumbing, Burst Pipe Leaks...

Water Damage Claims Stats & Info

Easily preventable burst pipes and water damage can and will be denied by homeowners insurance companies. We'll discuss how to prevent burst pipes and how to make sure this type of property damage claim isn't denied by your insurance company if it does end up happening.

First, some background. According to Verisk Analytics ISO, property damage claims in general made up 98.1% of all homeowners insurance losses, and "water damage and freezing" accounted for almost 1/5th of those property damage claims (source). That's roughly 1 in 5 of all homeowners insurance claims that were filed between 2013 and 2017.

One in 50 homeowners filed a water damage claim in that same 5-year period, and the average cost of each claims was $10,182. That's a lot of home damage! When pipes freeze and burst, the plumbing leak causes damage to drywall, flooring, paint, trim, doors, windows, furniture, etc. It's a huge mess.

No one wants this to happen to their house or business. Follow the advice below to make sure you are doing everything you can to avoid water damage from frozen, broken and burst pipes.

Steps to Prevent Water Damage from Frozen PipesFollow this advice to make sure you are properly maintaining your home and doing everything you can to avoid having pipes freeze and burst this winter. That way if it does happen, you have the best chance possible of getting coverage from homeowners' insurance...

Tips for preventing freezing pipes and the water damage it causes basically fall into two categories: managing air temperature and managing water flow.

1. Manage Air Temperature by Insulating Water Pipes: You can seal leaks that allow freezing cold air into the wall cavity where water pipes are located. Several products can help with this. Our contractors like GreatStuff insulating foam sealant for their homes and the homes of our clients. You can use it to seal and insulate cracks in siding, gaps where electrical wiring enters the house, etc.
- Caulking these potential leaks helps, too. Keep in mind that most water damage from broken pipes happens when water pipes in exterior walls freeze, so this is a great place to start when trying to prevent freezing plumbing issues.
- Check out pipe insulation products at stores like Home Depot for easy options to insulate your water pipes. You can also use a product called "heat tape", which helps warm pipes as needs so that they don't freeze in the winter. It's best to call a qualified, licensed professional plumber for this.

2. Controll Water Flow to Prevent Freezing: When temperatures drop dramatically this winter, you can help make sure your water pipes don't freeze by keeping a couple faucets running until the cold front passes.
- It's also critical to shut off exterior water valves and disconnect your hose from the spicket. When the hose is connected water cannot drain from the hose bib. This will surely lead to freezing and bursting when temperatures drop. When the temperature drops to the point that you aren't going to use your hose anymore, turn it off and disconnect it to avoid freezing.

Water Damage from Frozen/Burst Pipes?

Don't wait for your insurance company to deny you, and don't settle for anything less than full coverage of your water damage repair or restoration. Contact the licensed pros at Chateau Public Adjusters - we will advocate for you and make sure you get the full amount of money you're entitled to. If we don't get you money, we don't get paid!

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Water Damage Claims Insurance CoverageWhen and How Homeowners Insurance Denies Water Damage Claims from Frozen Pipes, Broken Plumbing & Leaks...

Generally speaking, most homeowners insurance policies do NOT cover damages caused by outside water entering the home. That is considered 'flooding', and is a seperate insurance policy. We have had clients who called us after their claim was denied, and we find out in the process that the only reason it was denied was because the homeowner said the word "flood" when describing the damage from what was actually a frozen pipe! This illustrates why it's so important to have a professional handle a water damage claim. - Eric Hare, owner of Chateau and Superior Services of PA & MD

Most homeowners insurance policies do indeed cover water damage caused by frozen pipes bursting. This often does not include the actual repair of the pipe itself, just the damage caused by the water from the pipe. And, of course, this water damage can be extremely disastrous in a very short amount of time.

Tip: Clean-Up is Policyholder's Responsibility

Our preferred contractor Superior Services of PA & MD handles our client's water damage mitigation, and we tell our frozen pipe clients to call them right away. It is the homeowner's responsibility to get the clean-up process started to mitigate and prevent further damage. Some claims are denied because the policyholder did not act immediately, so this is very important.

Frozen pipe bursts are insurable when they happen "Suddenly and by Accident"...

Another reason that frozen pipe burst water damage claims are denied is because they did not happen "suddenly and by accident". Often times a homeowner notices water damage for the first time but it is later discovered that the leak was happening over a long period of time. Since it is the responsibility of the homeowner/policyholder to be aware of any and all damage, this type of claim will be denied. This is why it is so important to have a public adjuster inspect your water damage before you file the claim on your own.

Tip: Watch Your Language...

Another common cause for denial is use of the word "flood". It may sound petty, but what our owner Eric said above is true. Insurance policy language is intentionally tricky and hard to understand, and having a professional public adjuster can help ensure that you don't have a burst pipe claim denied on a technicality. Flooding is a seperate policy, and is not covered by standard homeowners' insurance. Frozen/burst/broken pipes is not "flooding". Using the correct insurance terminology is important when filing a water damage claim!

Need help filing a frozen pipe burst claim? We can maximize coverage of your water damage restoration!

We hope this blog article has helped you understand the importance of correctly handling your insurance claim. Maryland and Pennsylvania residents don't hesitate to contact us today for a free consultation so we can help make sure you get full coverage of your claim!

Free Consultation

Chateau Around the Web

Public Adjuster License Look-Ups and Other Important Links

PA Public Adjuster License Lookup: #773784
MD Public Adjuster License Lookup: #2189995
Superior Services of PA & MD: Our partnered contractor for roofing and restorations in PA and Maryland.

Our Service Area

We serve the entire south-central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland areas including all towns and zip codes in the following counties:

Cumberland, Lancaster, York & Adams Counties in Pennsylvania
Frederick, Baltimore & Carroll Counties in Maryland

Free Consultation

Visit Us at Our Office Appointments Available 24/7

The post Water Damage Claims: Frozen Pipes, Broken Pipes & Plumbing Leaks appeared first on Chateau Public Adjusters.

ACV & RCV in Property Damage Insurance Coverage

WPXtemp Admin — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 19:04:22 +0000

Actual Cash Value (ACV) and Replacement Cost Value (RCV) are different types of insurance coverage. The coverage you have under your homeowners insurance policy will determine how much money you get from your insurer for your property damage claim.

Differences in Property Damage Coverage

ACV vs. RCV in Terms of Coverage for Roof Damage Insurance Claims

Actual Cash Value, or ACV, is an insurance term that refers to what a covered item is currently worth, in its present state. This is not to be confused with what the item cost the insured when it was acquired. Insurance companies calculate this difference by taking into account the depreciation of the item.

For example, a brand new roof might have cost a homeowner $20,000 ten years ago when the home was insured. If the expected lifespan of the roof is twenty years, then the homeowner can expect an insurance company to deem the current Actual Cash Value of an undamaged ten year-old roof to be $10,000.

According to the International Risk Management Institute, ACV is determined by taking the physical depreciation (wear and tear from use) and subtracting it from the replacement cost of the insured property.

Replacement Cost Value, on the other hand, is 100% of the cost of replacing the damaged property with materials of "like kind and quality". RCV insurance coverage generally costs about 10%-25% more, but provides homeowners with much better coverage for property damage. In the example used above, a homeowner with a damaged 10 year-old roof would have the total cost of a full roof replacement paid for by insurance.

ACV or RCV?

Choosing Your Insurance Policy

Insurance coverage can vary from policy to policy and its important to check yours thoroughly and make sure you know how your property is protected. For example, many policies provide replacement cost coverage for the structure of the home, but the contents of the home may have ACV coverage. Additionally, many insurance companies will limit coverage of older properties to ACV.

Replacement Cost Value undoubtedly provides more coverage than Actual Cash Value but it also costs more. For this reason, homeowners are tempted to choose ACV coverage in an effort to save some money. We have worked with homeowners who come to regret this decision. Our public adjusters often work on behalf of homeowners who get very little money for roof damage insurance claims compared to others. Here's what our owner Eric has to say...

"In my extensive experience working with insured owners to restore their property damage, homeowners with RCV coverage get damage repaired completely and their insurance almost always pays for everything except their deductible. On the other hand, my customers with ACV coverage have to settle for a check for the value of the damaged property minus the depreciation (for age, use, damage, etc). And they often have to pay the difference to the contractor."

- Eric Hare, Owner - Chateau Public Adjusters & Superior Services of PA & MD

Getting Help with Your Property Damage Insurance Claim

Don't go it alone. Protecting your property is important to you and having proper insurance coverage can provide peace of mind that money can't buy. Unfortunately insurance companies have a profit motive to provide coverage that pays out the least amount of money possible. Public Adjusters, on the other hand, have a profit motive to help you get the most amount of money for your roof or other property damage claim. The more you get from your insurer, the more we make - and if you don't get anything from your insurance company then we don't get paid! Call us today for a free consultation.

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Learn More About Public Adjusters and how we Can Help with ACV & RCV, Property Damage Claims, Etc...

What is a Public Adjuster? Why Do I Need a Public Adjuster? How Much Does it Cost?

What is a Public Adjuster?

A Public Adjuster is the only party other than the insured that is legally allowed to represent the interests of the insured (you, the property owner). Our training, certification and licensing allows us to negotiate claims settlements with the insurance company and the insurance company's adjuster. Restorations contractors are not legally allowed to handle insurance claims negotiations or assistance in Pennsylvania or Maryland. Only public adjusters are allowed to do so, and at Chateau we use our extensive training to stop insurance companies from victimizing property owners by only approving the bare minimum, cheapest repairs possible. With a public adjuster on the claim, insurance companies are held responsible.

Why Do I Need a Public Adjuster?

Your insurance company has their own adjusters working diligently on your claim, but they are working to minimize the amount of money that you get. We use our insurance policy knowledge and extensive training to maximize your claim. You want to get as much money as possible so that you can restore your property damage, fix your house, get a new roof, etc. and we are experienced in making this happen. A public adjuster represents you in the insurance claims process the way a lawyer represents someone in legal proceedings. We tip the scales back in your favor by providing a defense against the insurance adjuster's expertise and experience in minimizing claims settlements.

How Much Does it Cost?

Our services do not cost our clients anything out of their own pockets. We take between 15 and 20% typically. Compared to the average of over 500% secured by public adjusters, it's a drop in the bucket. This fee varies based on the type, complexity and amount of the insurance claim, and when our property damage and roof replacement clients hire our preferred contractor to execute the repairs, our fee gets waived entirely, and our services are completely free (we get paid by the contractor). Our claims representation assistance almost always results in at least doubling or tripling the dollar amount for homeowners insurance claims, and we have never heard a complaint from our clients about the price of our services.

Chateau Around the Web

Public Adjuster License Look-Ups and Other Important Links

PA Public Adjuster License Lookup: #773784
MD Public Adjuster License Lookup: #2189995
Superior Services of PA & MD: Our partnered contractor for roofing and restorations in PA and Maryland.

Our Service Area

We serve the entire south-central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland areas including all towns and zip codes in the following counties:

Cumberland, Lancaster, York & Adams Counties in Pennsylvania
Frederick, Baltimore & Carroll Counties in Maryland

Free Consultation

Visit Us at Our Office Appointments Available 24/7

The post ACV & RCV in Property Damage Insurance Coverage appeared first on Chateau Public Adjusters.

Storm Damage: 7 Tips & Insurance Claims Advice

Chateau Public Adjusters — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 15:47:41 +0000

Storm damage can be avoided with some preventative maintenance. For example, checking for dead trees and having them removed before a storm does it for you. See Tip #4 Below

Storm Damage Prevention Tips & Avoiding Contributory Negligence...

Storm Damage Prevention, Preparation & Insurance Claims Advice

If you aren't regularly maintaining your property your storm damage insurance claim can be denied by your insurance company due to contributory negligence. Under most insurance law, you have a duty to act with reasonable care, and basic preventative maintenance of your property falls under that category. Our article below is advice straight from the licensed public insurance adjusters and restoration construction experts at Chateau and Superior Services of PA & MD. The preventative maintenance tips provided below are key to preventing avoidable storm damage, and this will ensure that any unexpected damage will be covered by your insurance company. The best advice we can give is to contact a licensed public adjuster or restorations expert to help you identify problem areas in your home's exterior and interior so that you are thoroughly preventing avoidable storm damage and are prepared for any unpreventable damage, like the kind caused by extreme weather, floods, hail heavy rains, high winds, etc.

EXTERIOR: Preventative Maintenance Storm Damage Prep

#1 Clean Your Gutters

It can be a dirty chore, but its incredibly important to have properly functioning gutters if you want to prevent as much storm damage as possible. If you can't get up on a ladder safely and comfortably, calla gutter cleaning service. Some roofing and exterior contractors offer this service. Also check your downspouts for proper channeling of water away from your home's foundation.

#2 Inspect your Roof for Existing Leaks

Inspect your roof for existing leaks. Check the flashing around breaks in the roofing like vent pipes, skylights, and where the roofing system is adjacent to walls and chimneys. Check also for missing shingles. It is difficult for a non-expert to discover minor roof leaks, and even minor roof leaks can cause extensive storm damage to your home. Since most insurance policies require homeowners to perform some sort of regular, basic preventative maintenance it is important for you to have an expert inspect your roof to identify any problem areas. Contact a licensed roofing contractor (like Superior Services of PA & MD) to perform a roof inspection (most will do it for free) and hire one to execute any necessary repairs so that minor leaks don't turn into major damage.

#3 Inspect your Home's Foundation for Cracks, Gaps & Potential Leaks

Water that enters a home from the outside is excluded from coverage in almost every homeowner's insurance policy. Most people are unaware that floods are a separate coverage under a different policy (if offered at all), and water from the outside is considered a flood. While it is best to call a professional contractor to deal with any discovered leaks, you can possibly prevent water entry into your home by caulking cracks and gaps (in your foundation or around doors and windows) with siliconized exterior caulk like GE Siliconized Sealant. Click here to Google Search GE's silicone products to see where to buy.

#4 Check Property for Trees that can be Uprooted & Cause Storm Damage

Check the trees around your home. Diseased or dead trees have weaker roots and are more likely to be taken down by high winds during a storm, which can cause extensive damage to your home. Have any dying, dead or weak trees near your home removed by a professional.

INTERIOR: Preventative Maintenance Storm Damage Prep

Water stains in your ceiling drywall could be from a roof leak made worse by storms. Check for roof leaks!

#5 Check Ceilings for Water Stains in Drywall

Water-stained ceilings - discoloring of drywall like in the picture above/left - means there is a leak somewhere in the roof. The back of drywall is designed to resist water, so it is hard to identify the location of the leak just by discovering a water-stain in your ceiling's drywall. The water could be entering the ceiling from anywhere and then running to the lowest point before seeping through the ceiling. But you can check the location on the roof above the water leak to see if there is a pipe vent or some other likely culprit for a leak. You should call a licensed roofing and restorations specialist to ensure proper and thorough discovery of all roof leaks and water damage. Remember: a minor water leak can be made worse by severe storm damage.

#6 Make Sure Your Sump Pump is Functioning Properly: Avoidable Water, Flood & Storm Damage

Sump pump failure is rarely covered by your homeowners insurance unless you have a sump pump endorsement - meaning your policy actually states that sump pump failure is covered. You can check if your sump is working using on of two methods (or both). First, locate the two plugs leading from your sump pump and unplug them. Plug them back in one at a time. If you don't see and hear your sump pump turning back on, you should call a licensed plumber as it probably is in disrepair. Another way to check if your sump pump is working is to run water through it. Using a hose or bucket, slowly add enough water to lift the float arm of the sump pump. This should activate the pump, as it mimics what will happen in case of a flood or water damage. If nothing happens, it isn't functioning properly and you should call a professional.

One way to avoid excessive, unneccesary water/flood/storm damage is to make sure your basement's sump pump is functioning properly. This illustration shows how sump pumps work.

#7 Check Caulking & Weatherstripping on Doors & Windows to Prevent Storm Damage

Placing towels and rolls of paper-towels around the inside of exterior doors can stop water leaks. If you know of any windows or doors in your home that are not energy-efficient, for example that you can feel cold air through in the winter or where sometimes water gets in, get them replaced if you have time or caulk the perimeter on the outside or inside. You can also duct tape the perimeter of them as a temporary fix for any coming storm, to help stop water leaking. You should have these doors or windows replaced as soon as possible.

We hope that we've provided some useful tips for helping you get prepared for storm damage this season. Severe weather can do a lot of harm to homes and businesses. Make sure you have an expert on your side when it comes to filing a claim with your insurance company if you have suffered water, flood or storm damage! Hanover PA & Carroll County MD property owners should contact us today to get the insurance process started.

Our Public Adjusters Get Storm Damage Claims Approved

When insurance companies get away with only paying for small repairs, it's almost always because the policyholder just doesn't have the construction and insurance knowledge needed to properly challenge their valuation. If your property has suffered storm damage - whether interior or exterior - contact us for a free inspection and consultation. We'll get you the insurance settlement you deserve.

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