Hurricane Irma Insurance Claim Tips

As business and homeowners return to their properties to file claims for hurricane damage, Florida public adjuster firm, Insurance Claim Consultants (ICC), has complied tips to help expedite and navigate the hurricane insurance claim process.

Hurricane Irma caused severe property damage across Florida. As business and homeowners return to their properties to file claims for hurricane damage, Florida public adjuster firm, Insurance Claim Consultants (ICC), has complied tips to help expedite and navigate the hurricane insurance claim process.

“First and foremost, get out your policy or request one ASAP,” said Ronald F. Delo, founder and president of ICC, “and go over them carefully. Determine what coverage you have and how to get the most out of it at a time like this. Do not assume anything.”

In addition to requesting your insurance policy, Delo suggests the following:

• Mitigate: It could take weeks after Hurricane Irma for the insurance company adjuster to scope your property. Mitigate damages by tarping or boarding up any breaches. Failure to do so in a timely manner could jeopardize your claim.
• Inventory: Start to compile an inventory of personal property items that sustained any hurricane damage. Include item names, brands, age and cost. If you have Internet access then also locate a link to a product of “like kind and quality.”
• Control: Stay in control of all your personal property. Do not allow your insurance company or any restoration company to remove your items or attempt to “clean or restore” them until you know ALL of your rights and options. This is perhaps the most important insurance claim tip that can make a real difference in your overall settlement.
• Estimate: Obtain your own hurricane damage estimates from a licensed general contractor or public adjuster to gauge the true cost to rebuild. The cost to rebuild and the amount of damage sustained are two very different, yet important numbers.
• …more important Hurricane Irma insurance claim tips here: https://bit.ly/2whDrLc
  Delo encourages people to remain patient. “Nothing will happen overnight. Rushing into any decision will most certainly minimize your chances of a full and prompt settlement,” he said.

“In our experience, historically, there has been a significant difference between what the insurance company offers to pay and what it should pay. Stay in control of your claim and be proactive if you decide not to seek the help of a public adjuster for your hurricane damage insurance claim.”

Public adjusters are licensed by the Florida Department of Insurance. A public adjuster is licensed to assist individual policyholders, not insurance companies. Reputable and experienced public adjusters are experts in understanding and analyzing insurance policies, estimating the scope of damages and applying all policy coverages, all of which maximize the settlement recovery and in most cases speed up the claims process.