qofcc
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Post by qofcc on Dec 14, 2021 9:21:13 GMT -5
I'm helping someone (a mom with young kids) with an insurance claim after a huge tree fell on their house during a windstorm. Nobody hurt thank goodness, they were all downstairs when it happened, but 3 of the 4 bedrooms upstairs are severely damaged. Can't open the door on one room at all, 2nd room can open it a crack but the ceiling is down, drywall, insulation and rafters showing, 3rd bedroom can open door enough to reach arm inside with phone to take pics and the ceiling, and insulation is down in half the room and the roof appears to be separated from the outside wall and part of a wall is bowing out. Lots of damage to the outside of the house. Newer metal roof is still on the house and more or less in one piece but feels like broken trusses under it per the tarp guy. Tree has been removed and roof tarped. Insurance adjuster hasn't showed up yet - company said they are very busy and an adjuster will be assigned sometime later this week. Family is staying at a hotel and insurance agent confirmed they have coverage for temporary housing for as long as needed, replacement coverage on contents, and full replacement cost coverage on the house.
My question #1 that I can't seem to find in a google search is what does the insurance do about items (clothing, toys, books, electronics, rugs, furniture, mattresses, bedding, etc) that are not fire or water damaged but that are covered in drywall, what appears to be vermiculite insulation (house was built in 1950) and pink fiberglass insulation? The mom is very concerned about keeping any items that may have been contaminated with fiberglass or asbestos particularly because one of the kids uses an inhaler. The kids are not heartbroken about losing any particular toys or clothes and identical toys can be bought to replace anything they do miss (they also have toys at dad and grandparents houses so they didn't lose everything). The mom ran to target and got them each some new clothes and toys and Santa will bring more next week and they are all happy for now. Does insurance consider the items contaminated and covered as a loss? Do they expect them to be cleaned and kept and if so cleaned by who? Is the homeowner given the option? Thankfully she does most of her shopping online and will be able to use her shopping history to provide exact descriptions and links to prices for replacement items to the adjuster for either the exact item or similar items. Any tips?
Question #2 - this is going to be a major project to fix and I assume a structural engineer needs to inspect everything first. It may need asbestos removal of the bottom layer of attic insulation and the whole house is going to be dirty by the time they're done - the house shook and things downstairs fell off shelves and dust fell from the ceiling even in the rooms where the ceilings were not damaged. Does the insurance pay for an after construction cleaning service? The mom is worried about the fiberglass/asbestos dust making it's way all over the house and if she's going to have to clean it up.
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andi9899
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Post by andi9899 on Dec 14, 2021 9:51:40 GMT -5
#1 They will try to uncontaminate what they can. What can't be cleaned or shouldn't be cleaned will be replaced.
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andi9899
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Post by andi9899 on Dec 14, 2021 9:53:25 GMT -5
#2 The contractors will clean up after themselves and if there are contaminants remaining they will clean those up. It won't necessarily be white glove clean, but they won't leave debris or toxic items left around.
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on Dec 14, 2021 10:25:10 GMT -5
My Husband is out of the Country Rn, but I am sure from what he has said in the past that his company will pay a lump sum out right away so that you can begin replacing clothing, personal items and toys before the full claim is processed - the rest of the payout for contents waits until the final claim process I think.
They should take pictures and document everything they are tossing or that may be damaged. They also should review bank records, and electronic files that may contain documentation of items that were damaged when the roof fell in.
Did you address this exact question to the agent? Because they should have some instructions/answers to these questions.
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qofcc
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Post by qofcc on Dec 14, 2021 10:48:49 GMT -5
The agent and the rep from the insurance company said get the minimal stuff they need while waiting for the adjuster. It's been 3 days and still no adjuster assigned.
She doesn't want to go and replace too much only to find they expect to have someone clean the items not pay out for replacements. She can't enter the rooms to sort through things because the doors are blocked with debris... And even when they are able to break down the doors to get in the rooms there's fiberglass and asbestos and drywall dust all over everything.
Idk if it's likely they're going to say someone has to sit there and wipe insulation off every book and matchbox car and launder baby clothes because they could be cleaned and salvaged or if they'll just pay out.
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on Dec 14, 2021 11:12:05 GMT -5
Idk what to tell you. There is some speculation that my Husband's company has set themselves up for a "Sale". Past History of Claims paid, is not necessarily an indicator of how current/future claims will pay out. That may make the agents wary of giving advice, because they do not have any say in the adjustment process. My DH and My Son who work together say that even the agents have a difficult time getting a hold of people and getting questions answered. Things have vastly changed with his company in the last year or two.
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Dec 16, 2021 22:09:53 GMT -5
We had significant damage to our house following a tornado in 2011.
For personal items, they will give you a form to fill out listing what you lost and about what they cost when new. They will review the list and if they approve all the items, they will pay you not the full value but a portion of the value (due to depreciation).
They will not pay for things they believe are not caused by the tree falling on the house. If it rained into the rooms and made the clothing and beds soggy, they will probably replace them, but I doubt they will replace everything that happened to be in the rooms and got dusted with drywall/insulation. They would expect you guys to salvage the furniture, for instance, and probably the plastic toys. One of my neighbors insurance companies expected him to reuse his downstairs carpet, even though it had been rained on once the second floor was destroyed. (He argued with them and got new carpet).
The contractor should be able to test for asbestos/ lead based paint, etc. There are companies that can help clean up after a disaster - she should check to verify if the insurance carrier will cover that cost. If the house is unlivable they should pay for them to move someplace else while the repairs are being made. She is right to contact the insurance adjuster prior to spending any money, however. From our experience, and from that of our neighbors, insurance carriers will attempt to pay the least amount possible. They will suggest you patch your siding, for instance, rather than replace all the siding. Ours wanted to only replace the six broken windows, even though the new windows would not match the other windows on the house. If we wanted matching windows, the insurance carrier said we had to pay the difference. Some neighbors with partly destroyed roofs were told they would only get a patched roof, not a new one. Ultimately, our insurance carrier approved about 1/3 of the money our contractor needed to repair our house, and I ended up having to send a nasty letter to get them to pay for the whole repair. THis is apparently standard for most insurance carriers - one of the men from our church went around to the homes of any elderly people in the community who were having problems getting their insurance claims paid and he helped them write letters to their carriers to push them to pay for the full repair. So your friend may have to release her inner bitch.
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