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Case Study: Joanne’s Insurance Claim Appraisal Story
As Hurricane Irma’s destruction is now on its third year, many Floridians are still recuperating from the damage that the hurricane left in its wake. Luckily for Florida policyholders, it’s not too late to file insurance claims to help fund their roof and interior repairs. Many people are filing claims now because they only just discovered unforeseen roof damages as roof leaks started to spring up.
Florida Statute 627.70132 provides that parties must notify their insurers about claims for hurricane related damages within 3-years from the date that the hurricane made landfall. Policy holders have 5 years after it has already been reported to contest the settlement originally offered.
Recently I had a client, and her story is very commonplace for Florida policyholders.
Joanne presented her claim in a timely fashion to her insurance company after Hurricane Irma. Her insurance company offered her pennies after her large deductible to repair her roof. They offered $25 per shingle for 4 shingles and a minimum of $550.00 for a total of $650.00 which was far less than her wind deducible then her $4.500.00 deductible. Joanne told me her insurance company denied her claim because she did not get any money! Joanne did not understand the difference between a claim denial and a claim that was paid under her insurance claim deductible. The good news is that Joanne’s claim was not denied! As her insurance company did accept coverage for her claim, and they gave her a low-ball insurance claim settlement below her deductible.
The amount offered by her insurance company was not even enough to properly repair the roof? As Joanne called three roofers who told her the minimum repair would be between $1500 – $2500 but that the roofer would not guarantee any repairs. Many of the roofers suggested that she hire them to open up her claim and sign an assignment of benefits. Joanne looked in to what an assignment of benefits means and did not like the idea of signing a blank contract, giving up all her rights under the insurance claim, and giving all her money in advance to a stranger? The roofers even told her they are working in conjunction with an attorney and showed her an attorney’s contract to sign on an iPad. Joanne did not want to hire an attorney to fight her claim as she wanted to make repairs in the near term and certainly did not want to hire an attorney she had never met? “Just sign here and we will take care of everything” was being pitched by the roofer? After doing some reading, Joanne also learned that it was a 3rd degree felony in Florida for a roofer to negotiate insurance claims! It all sounded fishy to Joanne and too good to be true!
Joanne tarped her roof when she first noticed it leaking after the hurricane. This allowed Joanne to keep her options open as to how she was going to pay for getting her roof repaired properly.
Joanne explained to me that the adjuster that her insurance company sent to her home refused to get up on her roof! Plus, the adjuster spent no more than 15 minutes at her home and was telling her he was trying to finish up his claims by the end of the week so he could get back home to Texas.
Unfortunately, the next time it rained, Joanne’s roof started to leak in new areas and caused damage to her garage and master bedroom ceilings as well. Two areas she had not previously tarped.
At that time, Joanne called her insurance company and told them about the new damage and asked her insurance company to come to re-inspect the new damages. However, after three unreturned phone calls, some three weeks later, Joanne finally spoke to someone who said they would get back in touch with her. Six weeks later, Joanne had still not received a call back!
Joanne was then referred to me at Florida Insurance Claim Appraisal. I discussed Joanne’s claim situation at length, asking many questions about the damages and asked for supporting background documentation to understand her particular situation better. I then asked for a copy of her insurance policy, a copy of the insurance company estimate, copies of the paid tarp invoice, and any other documents from her insurance company.
I explained to Joanne she did not have to accept an unfair claim settlement from her insurance company – that after I review her full insurance policy, I can explain to her the insurance claim dispute options available.
Joanne had the following dispute remedies open to her…
- Discuss her case with a lawyer with the option of filing a law suit against her insurance company.
- Hire a public adjuster to reopen the claim and attempt to get the insurance company back to the table to re-inspect her claim and offer a better settlement.
- Go to appraisal (dispute resolution) as a method to get a final claim resolution.
After careful consideration Joanne decided she needed her roof fixed or replaced as soon as possible and decided to hire me as her Insurance Appraiser.
It took me about two weeks to prepare her claim for appraisal, which also included directions on how to demand appraisal from her insurance company. Joanne submitted the request and they answered her appraisal request in about a week. Upon appraisal being invoked, I learned the name of the insurance company’s appraiser, and I was able to take control of the appraisal process from that point forward.
Joanne was happy to report that within a month the appraisal was complete and that she received enough money to replace her roof and repair all the Hurricane Irma damages inside of her home! Joanne told me it was one of the best decisions she ever made!