Water is one of the most important things in the world. It is even categorized as one of the primary needs of human beings in order to live. Water is used both for cleaning our area, vehicles, property, and even our pets. Clean water, as mentioned a while ago, is also needed for us to survive. Yet as helpful as it may sound, sometimes water can also cause damage to our property or, worse, property loss. Areas, where water can cause damage to your property or property loss, are: Water from flood waters, water leaks from a broken pipe, and roof leaks left unattended may create a puddle of water on your wooden floors or hardwood floors. Take note that even your tile floor is no exception. This damage may be caused by an accident like a river flooding or maintenance issues due to a lack of maintenance, causing piles and piles of damaged materials and mold issues that may incur a huge cost of repairs. One might say, “No worries! My insurance gets me covered. ” But sadly, not every kind of water damage can be covered by insurance coverage. Homes with water damage must carefully consider their next move, as this may result in their being able to make an insurance claim. Sadly, not all homeowners insurance claims are successful. Most homes with water damage do not understand the right process of water damage or do not fully understand their insurance coverage. This results in homeowners insurance claims to fail. A water damage event is unpredictable. But just because you experienced a water damage event doesn’t mean you should tread this unfamiliar path of an insurance claim alone. This article aims to discuss the benefits of hiring a public adjuster in Florida, Examples of these advantages include Its advantages include guiding you through the unfamiliar paths of the insurance industry, such as understanding and stating a reasonable cost of repairs, implementing preventative measures, and selecting an appropriate water damage mitigation process to prevent further water damage or loss of property.
What are the signs of water damage?
Water damage, like most damage when left unattended for a longer period of time, may cause more severe damage. There are various different types of water damage. Some are rarely visible to an average homeowner, and some, depending on the type of material affected, can show noticeable signs right away. Careful observation on the part of the average homeowner may save them from the high cost of repairs and prevent major damage to their property.
The first thing a person must observe if he is under suspicion of property damage are the visible signs, particularly changes in the physical appearance of a particular area of your property. Noticeable discoloration of the walls, bubble-like build-ups in the wallpapers, and water streaks along your walls are obvious examples of possible water damage. Some homeowners are simply waiting for the annual inspections to be conducted, but if you are noticing this, one year might be too long to act on it. Observing if there is a dishwasher leak or broken pipes in your washing machine are manageable steps almost all homeowners can take upon suspicion of potential water damage.
The next thing to look for upon suspicion that there is water damage is the noticeable change in the odor of objects or appliances on your property. Keep in mind that most water damage may not come from clean water. This is true most of the time in flood-prone areas. Floodwaters and water leaks from burst pipes can submerge or cause gradual damage to your property, causing noticeable odors. Informing your maintenance personnel right away during their routine maintenance check can help reduce the chance of irreversible damage incurred to your property and belongings.
What are the risks of water damage?
Damages caused by water, like damages caused by fire, spread quickly and easily. But unlike fire, which creates lasting devastation right away, water damage tends to take longer for the material to be degraded and later on be destroyed. Damages caused by the so-called “surface water intrusion” are the most fatal. Surface water intrusion, or any body of water found on the surface of the earth entering your property, causes lasting damage to your property and anything inside it. floors, insulation, fabrics, home foundations, and walls. These building materials tend to be very vulnerable, especially to gradual water damage. Another risk from gradual damage caused by water is electrical wiring being exposed to water. This can either corrode the wiring or, at worst, short circuit the wires and cause a fire. Another risk from water damage is black water damage. Black water damage typically results from water being contaminated. That can lead to lethal illness because the water may be exposed to biohazards.
Surface water intrusion is risky, especially if unnoticed for a long period of time, due to the fact that certain building materials, when in contact with water or in areas that become moist, will produce mold. Examples of areas where mold grows unnoticed are broken hoses, leaks in your roof, or areas where there has been surface water intrusion. Molds tend to grow as fast as 24–48 hours. This is alarming considering that some people are really sensitive to mold. Noticeable reactions from mold can have symptoms such as wheezing, a running nose, or itchy skin. These can later result in asthmatic symptoms. Putting into careful consideration this long list of risks, when one has experienced water intrusion, each must take careful measures to secure their property, belongings, and loved ones’ health.
How can Florida Public Adjusters help you with a water damage claim?
For a person that experiences water damage to their personal property, there are two common emotions that are always observed; one of utter shock and the other is confusion. This scenario is true both for people that experience this for the first time and for people in areas that experience water intrusion on a frequent basis. They are shocked that this has happened to them, because like many accidents, it is really unpredictable. On the other hand, they are confused as to what the first thing they must do considering that there are many different areas that they must attend to that really require their immediate attention.
The good news is that most residential property owners and commercial property owners do have water damage insurance, especially in what the government of Florida categorizes as high-risk zones. The purchase of insurance provides the owners with the assurance that they will be assisted in the heavy burden caused by the cost of repairs attributed to the property damage caused by this specific accident. The bad news is that most policy holders are not well versed in the claim process or at least cannot afford the business interruption that will be associated with gathering the necessary documents to be successful in the claims process. This is where Florida public adjusters come in. Below are some benefits of seeking their help and assistance.
Florida Public Adjusters assess the water damage, including associated impacted areas
Did you know that, according to one study compared to fire, water damage is seven times more prevalent than fire? This suggests that this likelihood of water damage can create a lasting and impactful effect on your property. This scenario is true for most areas in Florida and South Florida. One of the benefits of having a public adjuster during your claim for water damage is that they are there to provide a full assessment of the damage created. This is important because most property owners and business owners tend to neglect areas that were also impacted by the accident. Some building materials tend to seem OK right after the water extraction, but on the inside, their overall integrity is compromised. This is where your public insurance adjuster can be of great help. With the help of their experienced team, they will look at every part of the property, including other associated impacted areas or hidden damage that can be missed by an inexperienced eye.
Florida Public Adjusters generate proof of loss and document the damage by measuring and photographing the impact on the home or business.
Another thing to consider in the event of water damage is that insurance companies will require necessary data, such as police accident reports, photographs of the accident scene, and other necessary things to qualify before receiving the insurance claim payments. This task may be daunting, especially for people that have recently experienced water damage. This may feel as though there is too much in their hands. But again, this is required by the insurance company before releasing the insurance claim payments. A public insurance adjuster will gather these necessary documents for you, assisting you in your claim for damage. With the help of their tools Public adjusters in Florida can provide you with the right estimates for the damage and actual project cost needed to bring your property to its original beauty. Actual project costs are hard to determine as they are affected by various different factors. There are various different categories of water damage. Failure to provide accurate details or leave away important parts that need repair or overall replacement may cause you to be unsuccessful in the claim process, not maximize your insurance or coverage, or sadly, not get a fair settlement. To ensure this seek the help of an expert adjuster in Florida.
Florida Public Adjusters Negotiate on your behalf with your insurance company
According to the research, On average, insurance companies only pay 30–60% of what they are supposed to pay for claims. This is a sad reality, especially if you entrust your claim to the company’s employee adjuster. This unfortunate reality might not be true for all, but in most cases, especially in big insurance claims, given the choice between to whom they will give priority, the odds are higher than it is the insurance company’s best interest that is their priority. This suggests that most insurance policy holders either do not know their insurance policy or eventually will not have the maximum settlement. Policy holders tend to focus more on the water extraction process and less on the actual project cost for renovations or replacements of their property and possessions. This is where an independent adjuster, specifically a public adjuster, focuses. A public adjuster in Florida negotiates on your behalf, making sure you get the insurance claim payments you deserve. Claims adjusters, particularly public adjusters, accomplish this by presenting the evidence, examining your property for damages, and negotiating the best claim in line with your insurance policy for you.
Let’s face it, no one looks forward to experiencing accidental water damage. From a leaky roof to a frozen pipe that results in major leaks, it is always a stressful situation. The good news is that you do not have to face it alone. Seek the help of a public adjuster in Florida. They will focus on your claim while you reclaim the life you almost lost due to the accident.
What happens if I didn’t notice the water damage right away?
Depending on what area of your personal property has experienced water damage but the most common and dangerous is it may affect your clean water. The best thing to do is to Contact your public adjuster and they will assess the damage and if needed, source the appropriate subject matter experts if the damage is not readily observed. The sad news is ‘Wear and tear’ unlike accidental damage is not covered under most policies. Therefore, it is important to maintain the home to ensure damage is not a result of a lack of maintenance. If you are not certain whether the damage is covered by your Homeowners insurance policy, contact us and we can help with the assessment of the damage and related loss.
How do I know if the water damage is covered by my insurance policy?
The wording in policies can be confusing and some policies have a coverage limit or may not cover the peril at all. Our public adjusters are experts in the language utilized in policy contacts and can explain the Homeowners Insurance policy to the insured if there are any questions or concerns. The insured can reach us to help them through the claiming process.
What can I do to reduce the likelihood of water damage?
Take precautions to reduce the risk of water damage. Ensuring that your air conditioning unit is functioning well and maintained regularly, that there is no outside water source that is being distributed back into the property, or that major appliances or equipment are serviced regularly as recommended by the manufacturer are some mitigating actions that can be done to prevent a loss as a result of water damage.
