Flooding – Know insurance terms
Posted on October 21st, 2010
Typically when a homeowner discovers water in their home he will immediately shout, “the kitchen is flooded” or “the house is flooded.” This is a common term associated with unexpected water in a living space. After the initial shock, the homeowner will call for repair and clean up as well as contact their insurance company to report the claim. This excitied homeowner will relay the same information to the insurance company, “the kitchen is flooded.” The insurance company files the claim and likely will deny the claim because they didn’t discover a flood. This is a frustrating scenerio for a homeowner and is very time consuming.
The insurance companies have a very specific defintion of flooding and it’s not just a room filled with water. In fact, the National Flood Insurance Program’s definition a flood is “A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area or of two or more adjacent properties (at least one of which is yours). Read More It’s usually caused by water levels rising.
This is why it’s very important that a homeowner clearly and correctly identify the damage in the claim. It’s usually the case that this “flooding” is a result of a burst pipe, valve, or faulty water line. The insurance claim should be for the burst pipe damage that caused the collateral water damage. The same is try for a broken toilet or sink that causes water to accumulate on the floor throughout the home. Now you know, it’s not a flood in your kitchen rather a burst pipe the sprayed water everywhere. A homeowners policy doesn’t cover flood, that’s why there’s flood insurance folks.
There’s another hot topic that involves roof damage and roof leaks. Homeowners might claim that their roof is leaking and needs repair. Well that’s not covered under the policy, rather it’s a repair from another cause – lightening, tree fell on the roof, hurricane damage.
The water leaking is not from the water dripping from a damaged roof, but is the subsequent damage from a tree hitting the roof or lightening striking the house. In this case the insurance company will likely repair the roof and the water will stop entering the home. Again, know your definitions.
We at Stellar Adjusting Services know theses definitions and will guide you when filing a claim so that you correctly and accurately communicate the damage. It’s the first step in repairing your home.
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Tags: flooding, leaking roof, pipe burst, roof damage, water damage
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Insurance Coverage and Claims – Condo Living
Posted on October 10th, 2010
You live in a condo and think the condo association covers damages in your unit, think again! It’s very important that every Florida condo owner have specific knowledge about where their insurance coverage begins and ends. Unfortunately, we find in our business that many condo owners really believe that since their condo association has insurance that’s enough to cover all damages. This is not true.
A recent insurance claim we were contacted about proved this point. The unit owner left her apartment for the afternoon, when she returned the entire unit was soaked in 3 inches of water. It was so bad, the unit below sustained water damage. The cause of this mess was a weak water line connection to the refrigerator, it can happen to anyone. Well, this women contacted the association regarding the insurance claim. The association informed her that the damage to her unit and the condo below is not covered by the association. This is a common scenario.
Typically, the condo association has insurance coverage to repair and replace drywall and all the contents in the drywall – plumbing, electrical, insulation, etc. This particular owner did not have any insurance and the total damage sustained was $50,000.00. This is a shocking situation to be in, especially when you are under the impression your covered.
Now you know, so please pass it on and spread the word. Get covered.
Here’s a great Youtube video discussion about this topic. Be sure to contact a professional in your area to find out what specific laws and regulations apply to your condo.
Tags: Condo Insurance
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Roofers, Plumbers, Florida Water Mitigation Company
Posted on October 1st, 2010
Stellar Adjusting Services is the most reliable, professional, and results orientated public adjusting company in South Florida. They always work together with skilled roofers, plumbers, and many other contractors and sub-contractors. The team at Stellar are experts in identifying property damage and recommends the best companies to fix the damages they find. If you believe that your company is a perfect match for Stellar Adjusting Services, contact us today.
Stay tuned for upcoming postings about substantive insurance issues and case studies. We’re excited to give policy holders a place to find the answers to their questions and for companies to give input in our case studies on damages and repair.
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