Before & After A Hurricane: What To Do
Imagine what an insurance office might look like immediately after a hurricane. Some might describe it as looking like its very own hurricane. If you live in Florida and if you own a home, then you recognize the unspoken secret about hurricane damage and how necessary it is to be covered. There are different types of hurricane damage and an intricate path you must take to ensure you get the coverage you need. This path leads toward hiring a licensed public adjuster. Let’s examine these steps inch by inch.
Among the types of hurricane damage is that of window damage due to flying debris. If you don’t have any hurricane shutters and find a streetlight careening into your French windows, then you’re among the many who have fallen victim to this common insurance cataclysm. A good habit to fall into is taking photos of every inch of your home before the storm for classic before and after photos. This will be the proof that you didn’t place a streetlight in your living room before the storm on your own. Other typical victims of storms are that of siding, roofing and broken doors as a result of high winds or falling trees.
Then there’s that of fires which is a scary element to introduce amid a hurricane. You wouldn’t automatically think of a fire during a very wet tempest, but power surges and outages can lead to a malfunction of applications. Rain can cause short circuits and electrical fires.
But exactly what from this damage is actually covered? It all boils down to the specific hurricane insurance that you have signed up for. If you have basic homeowners insurance, then you will be covered from mostly all of the damage mentioned above, except for that of flooding. To be specific, you could be covered from water leaking from your roof, however, NOT from a flooded room where water demolishes everything in its path. Getting a separate flood insurance policy might be in order.
Beyond the nitty gritty details of insurance, your safety and well being always comes first. If authorities recommend you evacuate, then listen to them. Your home can easily be ground zero. When the dust settles and all is clear to return home, this will be the moment in time to take your “after photos.” These photos can make a real difference between a successful claim and a downright failed one.
Around this time you should be doing your research and looking into a licensed public adjuster. This professional will work on your behalf instead of that of the insurance company. And they make a living off of whatever you make from your claim, so it is in their best interests to get the most out of it. Insurance adjusters will try to lowball their repair estimates and sometimes, they will even avoid going to the damaged areas to avoid seeing the damage for themselves.
Call Proactive Claims Solutions today and we will work on your behalf to acquire every penny that you’re entitled to.