Between hurricanes, tornadoes, straight line winds, and other possible strong storms, Florida homes are particularly susceptible to storm damage. Homeowners pay insurance premiums on a regular basis, but when it is time to make a claim, they may make the following mistakes that may limit their claim value.
Many homeowners understandably believe that since they are responsible customers who always pay their premium on time that they will be able to receive the maximum value of their claim without any headaches from the insurance company. However, the insurance company and you have very different interests. You want to receive the maximum amount of compensation available for your claim while the insurance company wants to limit the amount of money you receive. This is why it is important to ensure that you have a professional who is looking out for your interests and hire a South Florida public adjuster.
Some homeowners may worry about not having money to pay a public adjuster upfront. However, public adjusters do not require upfront payment and are paid out of a portion of your recovery from the insurance company. Public adjusters are often able to maximize the value of a claim, so your potential recovery with a public adjuster may be much higher than it would have been without one. In other situations, they are able to overcome an initial denial of a claim, saving their clients time and money.
Since storm damage claims are first party claims, you may be under very tight deadlines to file a claim with your own insurance company. Some homeowners may be surprised to learn that their claim is denied because they did not immediately report the claim, especially if they were displaced because of the storm.
Even if homeowners technically file within the deadline, any sort of delay may adversely affect their claim, such as if evidence of their claim is destroyed or washed away.
Since insurance adjusters deal with incoming claims on a daily basis, they may deny any claim that is missing required information or forms. If the claim is due to a natural disaster, there may be certain procedures that must be followed. Not following these procedures can result in a denial of your claim.
Insurance contracts may be vague or ambiguous, so it may be difficult for a homeowner to understand what is – and is not – covered by their policy. After all, insurance is something that many people buy but never hope to use. Homeowners may not realize that a portion of their property may not be covered by their policy, such as their pool, fencing, or a new addition. They may also lack the proper type of insurance, such as flood insurance. Because all claims that are submitted may potentially affect your insurance rates even if they are ultimately denied, you may want to have a professional public adjuster review your potential claim before filing it.
Contact us today to learn more.
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