Wrong Way, Right Way: How to Handle an Insurance Settlement

In this episode of wrong way, right way, Josh covers how to handle an insurance settlement at a restoration job they are working on where a tree fell on the front porch. 

The Process

Something that is sure to come in a situation like this is the insurance work. A lot of people get freaked out when they hear insurance work, but it really isn’t something to stress about. 

Normally the adjuster will come out and look at and measure what they see is damaged and layout an estimate that is calculated by the measurements they take. Sometimes they might miss something, but hey, they’re human just like everyone else and it is tough to catch everything, especially when there is a tree sitting on the house. 

Insurance companies are usually pretty easy to work with. You won’t get a brand new house if a tree falls on one corner. You just get the insurance involved, you pick a trusted contractor, and tell them to fix it. There doesn’t have to be a bunch of lag time and back and forth before you start. Your insurance and contractor will take care of things.

What Homeowners Insurance Typically Covers

Homeowners insurance is made up of coverages that will usually help with the costs to repair or replace your home or belongings if they are damaged by certain factors, like hail or a tree blowing over onto your home. It may also help cover the costs if you accidentally damage others property or if someone is injured on your property.

Check out this infographic from Allstate Insurance to see what areas Homeowners Insurance covers.

Finding a Contractor You Can Trust

When searching for your contractor, it is important to start with a plan and some idea of what you want to be done. This will help you to get a more accurate estimate for the work and the materials needed for the job, as well as help narrow down your search for the right contractor. Another helpful tool is asking people around you who may have had similar work done, and what their experience looked like working with that particular contractor. Reading reviews on Google, Houzz and Facebook can help give you an accurate picture of what working with a particular home builder will be like. 

You also want to be sure to interview a few of your top choices. Ask a lot of questions and get a written bid from all of them, and make sure they include the same materials and work so you can better compare them. You should be sure to check for a licensed contractor as well. General contractors and most subcontractors should be licensed, although this process varies by state. Ask to see copies of both the contractor’s and subcontractor’s licenses who will be working on the job, and check out disciplinary boards, Better Business Bureau, and local court records for problems. 

Wrong-Way

You could try and game the system and say the back of your house shifted because the tree fell on my house. This isn’t going to work because the insurance adjuster will know. They are professionals. Doing this will just cause more time delays and unneeded stress on you and the others involved.

Right Way

Just be honest, pick somebody you trust, and have them work with the insurance. This allows the process to go quickly and have you and your family in your house as soon as possible.