Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados and floods occur with relative frequency – we see the news coverage showing devastation in other countries or several states away. The more distance between us and disaster only increases the size of our comfort zone. Unfortunately, that comfort zone can be obliterated in mere moments as was the case last week when destructive and deadly tornados ripped through Middle Tennessee.
In the wake of a disaster, your emotions can and do impact decision making – and when you are suddenly dealing with insurance companies and repair contractors, you can feel overwhelmed with the decisions you have to make, sometimes resulting in being shortchanged or with lower quality craftsmanship. Below are some tips to make smart decisions after disaster strikes.
Immediately contact your insurance carrier to start the claims process. You’ll want to verify the terms and coverage details of your policy, ask about the overall claims process and deadlines, request required paperwork and schedule an insurance adjustor visit. You also want to make sure you have a recent copy of your insurance policy for reference – request one if you do not have one on hand. The more details you gather upfront will allow for better informed decisions later when you are provided with specific settlement amounts. You want to be confident that you are being paid for all covered damages and high-quality repairs can be made for those dollars.
You will want to take pictures of any structural damage to your home, as well as, pictures of damaged personal property. In the case of tornado damage, it's entirely possible that furniture and other belongings are completely gone. You will want to make a list of those items as best as you can from memory. As safety permits, try to wait until after your insurance adjuster visits to remove damaged items. This will reduce the possibility of your claim not being as thorough.
No matter how small or insignificant you think the item might be, make sure you keep all receipts during the claims process. Maybe you are not able to inhabit your home and need alternative living arrangements while repairs are made. Some policies will pay for this in addition to rebuilding settlements. You don’t want to be in a situation where you aren’t reimbursed for something because you threw out a receipt.
The main goal after a devastating loss is obviously getting back to normal life as quickly as possible. Taking the time to choose the right contractor to handle repairs will go a long way toward your peace of mind down the road. You want to choose local, reputable contractors who have a solid reputation behind them. Some items to consider:
Do they have an online presence? Is their business license current?
Does the contractor have references of recent work completed nearby?
Will they provide a written estimate?
Do they pull the proper building permits?
Will they make repairs consistent with current building codes?
While you want your repairs done in a timely manner, doing a little research before settling on a contractor can save money and headaches in the future.
Using a public adjuster – A public adjuster is someone who does not work for the insurance company – they actually work for you in an effort to maximize your settlement. This is done for a fee, which is typically a percentage of your overall settlement. Public adjusters aren’t for everyone, so you really want to do your homework.
No one knows when tragedy will strike and most of the time it never will. However, proactively being prepared will make navigating an insurance claim a lot easier if misfortune pays a visit.
Give us a call at 615-988-1769 today for a consultation! Artisan Build is here for you and here for Nashville. #NashvilleStrong
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