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Jun 8, 2020

I’ve Suffered Property Damage! What Should I Do?

It is an overwhelming and emotional time for any property owner – your beloved home or business has sustained damage during a storm or some other catastrophic event. You are likely at a loss in terms of where to go from here, but there are a few important steps you should take in order to expedite a return to normalcy for you and your property. Here are a few things you should do as soon as possible in order to ensure a complete and minimally painful claims and repair process for you and your home or business. First, you should document the extent and nature of the damages to your property once you are able to do so safely. You can never have too many pictures of any structural damage, so be sure to take plenty which depict both an overview and details pertaining to the damage. It may not be possible for you to get detailed pictures of damage...

I Have Property Damage from a Hurricane – Now What?

Hurricanes are an unfortunate reality for residents of South Florida, and each year’s storm season seems to be more active than the last. With this increased storm activity comes a greater chance you will inevitably suffer some property damage as a result of a hurricane. While we hope this never comes to pass for you, here are some actions you can take immediately following the storm in order to expedite the claims and repair process. First, while it may be tempting to return to your property quickly in order to salvage any possessions you can, you should resist this urge and wait until the authorities declare the area safe for residents to return. Receding flood waters could easily overtake your vehicle, posing a threat to your life as you are swept away towards deeper waters. Aside from the risk posed by moving water, there could be invisible dangers lurking under its surface including downed power lines or debris from damaged...

Can I Afford a Public Adjuster?

If you have recently sustained property damage, you are likely concerned about the mounting bills surrounding this unfortunate event. While you can easily understand the benefits of retaining the services of a Public Adjuster, concerns surrounding affordability may be preventing you from making the call and securing their services. Let’s spend a little time examining how Public Adjusters are paid for, as our compensation structure is more affordable than you may think. Any reputable Public Adjuster will present you with a contract for services which will clearly outline their compensation. Compensation is almost always calculated as a percentage of the total payout from your insurance claim. In other words, you pay nothing out of pocket for our services. The last thing you need to be presented with in this trying time is another bill, and with this in mind the fee structure for Public Adjusters is designed to remove any undue financial burden from our clients. The next question that...

How Can I Prepare for the coming Tropical Storm/Hurricane?

Floridians are facing the potential of a one-two punch in the form of a powerful storm system striking our state amid the ongoing CoVID-19 pandemic. This unprecedented risk presents a unique set of concerns which should be considered in addition to your normal storm preparations. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you make necessary storm preparations in order to keep your family and property safe and secure. First, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic makes it necessary to expand your hurricane shopping list to include sanitization and PPE supplies. If possible, you should make such purchases in advance through an online retailer rather than depleting the supplies available at your local stores. Be sure to stock up on face masks and disinfectants in addition to the standard hurricane preparedness supplies. When it comes to preventing property damage during tropical storms and hurricanes, one of the best ways to mitigate this possibility is eliminating any hazards on your property...

Steps to take after Suffering Fire Damage

Fires are a nightmare for property owners, as they spread quickly and destroy everything in their path. Hopefully you never find yourself in a situation where your home or business sustains damage as a result of a fire, but the world is an unpredictable place and these things happen. If the unthinkable does occur and you are faced with fire damage to your home or business, there are a few steps you should take immediately following the incident in order to expedite the insurance claim and recovery process. Your first priority should be to secure temporary housing for you and your family, as a fire damaged home will be uninhabitable for the foreseeable future. Whatever accommodations you arrange, be sure to keep any financial records as these expenses should be covered by your insurance policy. It may be advisable to look for a short-term rental property as opposed to a hotel as you and your family will likely be unable...

Can my Contractor help with my Insurance Claim?

Having sustained damage to your home or business as a result of a storm or other incident, your instinct may have been to contact your regular contractor in order to have a professional on site to assess the damage and estimate the cost of repairs. Now that he is on the scene, your contractor may have indicated he would be happy to handle the paperwork and communicating with the insurance company on your behalf. This is a big red flag for several reasons, and you should advise the contractor that his sole responsibility will be completing the repairs to your property. Lets look at why a contractor should not be assigned the additional task of handling your insurance claim. First, it is against the law for anyone to assist you with any part of the claims process without possessing the proper license. Even if your contractor also happens to possess a valid Public Adjuster license, he would be disqualified from...

What can I do to ensure I am Covered in the event of Property Damage?

As a responsible property owner, you carry insurance to protect yourself against a loss as a result of damage to your home or business. The truth of the matter is the average homeowner or commercial insurance policy is laden with many stipulations and exclusions which could inhibit your ability to rely on your insurance when you need it most. There are some steps you can take to ensure you have the appropriate amount of coverage and are prepared to file a properly documented claim should the need arise. Here are a few things you can do to better protect yourself from a loss due to property damage. First, you should maintain an inventory of your valuables and store it with any other important documents in a safe, secure location. Better still, with the advent of the internet and personal cloud storage, keep a digital copy of it saved in your iCloud or Google Drive account so it is always accessible....

My Property has Suffered Damage from a Flood – What should I do?

Living in beautiful, sunny South Florida does come with a certain amount of risks. Severe rainstorms bring torrential downpours and ocean surges which can lead to devastating floods across the region. Living so close to sea level, it is likely your property will suffer flood damage at some point, as there are few preventative measures you can take to avoid floodwaters. Should the unthinkable happen and you are suffering flood damage to your property, there are a few steps you should take immediately in order to mitigate the damage and properly prepare for your eventual insurance claim. If you have not already, you should evacuate the property until floodwaters recede in order to avoid any accidents that could lead to someone’s death. Once you and your family are safe, you should contact a water damage remediation company. There are many such companies here in South Florida, and at People’s Insurance Claim Center we would be happy to recommend a reputable...

What should I Expect my Public Adjuster to Handle?

Now that you have decided to take advantage of the services of a Public Adjuster, you may be wondering what responsibilities they will handle and what will still be left to you. A reputable public adjuster will be the primary point of contact for the insurance company throughout the process, advocating on your behalf to ensure a sufficient recovery of funds to cover your losses. There are several tasks to complete to this end, and your public adjuster should handle all of them, occasionally requiring your input when preparing your claim. Here are a few of the actions your public adjuster should be undertaking in order to properly defend your rights through the claim process. The first step in the claims process is properly documenting the damage sustained to your property and assembling the necessary repair estimates. At People’s Insurance Claim Center, we have decades of experience inspecting and assessing property damage, as well as an exhaustive list of professionals...

Damage to my Business from Riots – What should I do?

Business owners today are faced with several significant risks to the profitability and normal operation of their storefronts. Widespread closures continue to plague the businesses of the United States, and the stress of the pandemic combined with recent violence by police against civilians has resulted in civil unrest throughout the country. There have been riots and looting in many cities, including some locations here in South Florida. As a business owner, what can you do in the event your business suffers damage at the hands of rioters or looters? First and foremost, you should take steps to re-secure your storefront from any unauthorized access by potential looters or rioters. Be sure to take photographs of the damage before moving or altering any debris in order to properly document the condition of your property after the incident. Only after you have taken photographs of all damage sustained to your property should you make any necessary repairs to secure the structure. If...