Hurricane Irene – A scheduled visit
Posted on August 22nd, 2011
Many weather sources predicted an active hurricane season. This week South Florida is anticipating Hurricane Irene to pass through with 80mph winds. Anytime there’s a persistent rain and substantial winds serious damage can occur. Start immediately preparing with basic resources such as water, canned foods, batteries, cash, full tank of gas, and of course move your patio furniture inside.
Stellar Adjusting Services is here to handle damage that might occur from Hurricane Irene. Feel free to contact us with any questions about your property insurance coverage and claims.
You can visit http://nhc.noaa.gov for the latest news and hurricane preparedness tips. Here are some important items that are on that list worth highlighting.
Manual can opener – You stocked your canned foods, but without a can opener it’s hard to open.
Whistle or air horn – If you are trapped in debris this is a great way to notify people that you’re inside.
Tarpaulin, canvas or anything to make a temporary roof repair – A leaky roof might not be repaired quickly, in the meantime a tarp will temporarily prevent water from entering your home.
Important phone numbers:
BROWARD COUNTY CONTACT INFO:
American Red Cross – (954) 763-9900
Broward County Hurricane Hotline – (954) 831-4000
Broward Emergency Management Agency – (954) 831-3900
SHELTER INFORMATION:
Broward County Animal Care and Regulation – (954) 359-1313
Special Medical Needs Registry–Broward – (954) 537-2888, www.broward.org/disaster
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CONTACT INFO:
American Red Cross – (305) 644-1200
Miami-Dade Animal Care and Control – (305) 884-1101
Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management – (305) 468-5400
SHELTER INFORMATION:
Miami-Dade Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program – (305) 468-5900
Special Medical Needs Registry Miami-Dade – (305) 513-7700
Tags: hurricane irene
Filed under Hurricane Damage | No Comments »
Expect the unexpected – Public Adjusters know best.
Posted on August 12th, 2011
There are many variables that exist when operating a home or business. As a property owner many of those risks are insured and the calculation determines premiums, coverage, and recovery. For example, in South Florida there’s a high percentage risk that hurricane damage can occur as well as flood damage and other associated water/storm damages. The reason is obvious, our climate and location to the coast dictates that percentage of actual risk. Even in these examples, nobody really is expecting a disaster to strike; however, it’s best to be prepared.
Here’s a Youtube video that shows a humorous side to vandalism, while stressing the importance of coverage. Vandalism takes many forms, but everyone is aware of the one in this video.
On a serious note, vandalism and theft are a categories of damage that are never expected and usually are random occurrences. The proper coverage must be reviewed and will vary depending on the nature and location of the home or business. It’s vital the a Public Adjuster be in the mix when reviewing the policy so that a clear explanation is made as to the percentage of risk and the type of recovery that is covered. A Public Adjuster has the experience and understanding of how to file on insurance claim for vandalism and theft. South Florida is not immune from these types of damage and insurance claims occur on an ongoing basis. Remember, when it’s your first time experiencing the unfortunate aftermath or vandalism or theft it’s not your insurance company’s first time – hiring a Public Adjuster is a no-brainer.
The team of Public Adjusters at Stellar Adjusting Services is geared to work on your behalf to get what you deserve. Public Adjusters in can service claims across South Florida and have a particularly strong presence ranging from West Palm Beach insurance claims, Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Weston, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Hallandale, Aventura, Miami Lakes, Miami Shores, Surfside, Miami Beach, and Miami.
Filed under Theft and Vandalism Insurance Claims | No Comments »
Tropical Storm Emily – A presence felt
Posted on August 3rd, 2011
This past Monday, the weather was reporting a tropical storm scheduled to hit Florida this coming week. As of today, the weather resources have stated that the storm is unlikely to hit South Florida. Clearly, when there is a hint of a storm brewing the path can change quickly and the force of a storm can develop just as fast.
Here’s the link to the latest report from the Patch network - http://newportrichey.patch.com/articles/tropical-storm-emily-path-edging-away-from-florida
Forecasters continue to push Tropical Storm Emily’s path into the Atlantic Ocean and away from Florida.
If the National Hurricane Center’s forecast track holds or continues the eastward trend, all the storm will mean for West Central Florida is a brief drying out of our weather.
The state’s west coast, including the Tampa Bay area, is out of the hurricane center’s forecast cone for Emily, and the center’s updates have tended to push the storm’s path east with each new advisory.
Now, forecasters expect Emily to pass off the state’s east coast by the weekend and move parallel to the nation’s coast but well out to sea.
–
PREPARE AND MAKE SURE YOU’RE READY FOR A STORM OR HURRICANE: HERE ARE A FEW HELPFUL TIPS…
1. Have your policy ready
2. Document your Personal Property by video or picture
3. Make a List
4. Get your shutters ready
5. Have your Public Adjuster on Speed Dial
We are likely to experience heavy rains this weekend, if you experience water leaks or other property damage we are here to help. Call our office with any questions or concerns regarding your property damage.
Tags: tropical storm emily
Filed under Hurricane Watch | No Comments »
What is Loss of Business Income?
Posted on July 22nd, 2011
Loss of business income is considered a defined period of time when the normal flow of income is interrupted for any reason. Loss of business income can be detrimental to the business because during this time period, in a business does not have reserve funds, employees cannot get paid, bills will be neglected and the business can fall apart. In order to ensure that a business is covered in the case of such an emergency, it is important for business owners to seek out loss of business income insurance.
This can come as a result of many situations such as natural disasters, flood, fire, repairs being made to the building which houses the business, or any other situation in which a business is temporarily out of operation. Loss of business income insurance is essential in order to assure the policyholder that in such a case where their business is not operating normally, their loss of income is covered. Often, policyholders and insurance companies are in conflict over the length of time that the business interruption is covered for. Most policies state that the business interruption period ends when the physical damage to the property is repaired and returned to normal operation as it was before the disaster. Realistically, it takes some time for a business to recuperate time lost and income that was not generated. For this reason, most policies include an “extended period of liability” so that the business owner has a longer period of time to return to normal working conditions. Though the length of time that these policies extend for can vary, the standard among policy issuers has become one year or less.
Here’s a quick and easy Youtube video giving an overview of what happens when a business is interrupted….
It is an unfortunate situation when a disaster strikes, but the hope is that a business owner can quickly make the repairs necessary to their business in order to seamlessly return to normal operation conditions. Unfortunately, most of the time, delays occur which prevent the business from recovering as easily as one would hope. These delays are sometimes the fault of the business owner, such as if there is a total loss and the business owner decides not to repair the property damage. Other times, delays in repairs occur in situations that are out of the control of the business owner. For example, if there is a situation where a business owner does no have a excess of funds to cover the expenses of a repair before the insurance company covers the claim, there will undoubtedly be a delay in the repairs. Other delays can come on the part of the contractor or subcontractor doing the repairs. All of these circumstances affect the length of time that business income is not collected.
The details of each business are different and the calculations can get complex. At Stellar Adjusting we guide each client through the necessary steps to a successful recovery for their loss. Call us today!
Tags: loss of business income, public adjuster, recovery
Filed under Loss of Business Income | No Comments »
Insurance Claims – 6 easy steps
Posted on July 11th, 2011
When the public finds themselves in a situation in which they have experienced property damage the claim process is usually unavoidable. The question is, will this unavoidable state of affairs be difficult or proceed smoothly? When a Public adjuster is involved the percentage a claims that will result in denial is lowered and the recovery of the property owners is typically better.
There are several elements to each claim that aid in this process:
1. Assessing Loss
2. Claim Prep Work
3. Organizing Documents
4. Coordinating with Insurance Company
5. Chutes and Ladders
6. Settlement
1. Assessing Loss can be one of the most important parts of getting your claim started. When you work with a Public Adjuster, this adjuster will get you start quickly and move fast to assess the situation. Relying on the insurance company to assess your loss can take more time then necessary and the insurance company has their interest at stake. You are better off with a Public Adjuster on your side.
2. The paperwork, order of filing, various departments, and steps for preparing the claim can be a frustrating process. A Public Adjuster handles all the prep work for you. This beats you having to review your policy, and worry about which documents are needed and who to contact.
3. The documents are vital to a successful claim, and Public Adjusters know exactly how to take care of this entire process. One of the most important factors to organizing your insurance claim docs is connecting the information from assessing the loss. The language used and the type of loss being reported can lead to a lot of mistakes if a professional is not assisting in the process. Public Adjusters have the experience and systems in place to make sure this step is analyzed and carefully executed.
4. You insurance company must protect itself from fraudulent and excessive claims. Therefore if they have a person on the other line systematically questioning you and trying to get certain bits of information, you should hire a Public Adjuster that knows exactly how to coordinate with your insurance company during your property insurance claim process.
5. The are many obstacles that are placed in front of a claim and these roadblocks can commonly cause a property owner to get discouraged and abandon the claim. This is an exact calculated outcome and a certain percentage of claims end here. This can be a consuming process and hold times can be long – a Public Adjuster has a team of professionals ready to maneuver around these chutes and ladders. It’s all in a days work.
6. The goal is not only to settle the claim, but to make sure that you get what you deserve. For many property owners their first insurance claim can be their last, and this is a one time event. Therefore, a settlement amount might not be complete; however, the property owner is satisfied. You are entitled to what you deserve and a Public Adjuster is around claims morning and night – Public Adjusters know what is a fair settlement and what you deserve.
When you contact Stellar Adjusting Services these are just a sample of steps that are vital and necessary to a successful insurance claim. At Stellar Adjusting Services we provide excellent communication and get results. Hiring a Public Adjuster is an opportunity to be better situated to receiving recovery and saving your own aggravation.
Tags: filing insurance claim
Filed under How to File a Claim | No Comments »
Unsung Heroes – Public Adjusters
Posted on July 7th, 2011
The insurance industry seems to be relevant to almost every aspect of modern life. You don’t have to look far and you’ll quickly recognize that insurance companies have a policy on your car, health, and real estate. There are so many different types of policies, regulations, and variations of coverage. Some of the coverage is dictated by law, while other types of insurance are elective. The reality is that most people never have any issues with their insurance company; that’s as long as everything is smooth sailing.
In the unfortunate event of property damage the obscure details of an insurance policy become relevant. In Miami and other coastal areas of South Florida, hurricanes are a major risk. This type of natural occurrence has the potential of causing tremendous damage to residential and commercial property. Again, never really an issue until the unexpected storm pays a visit. It’s best to be prepared and maintain necessary insurance than not to have coverage at all, even if the insurance claim process can be difficult.
Natural occurrences are not the only risk, to be considered with that involve a claim process. Damage can be caused by a burst pipe, flood, roof damage, or other cause this almost always triggers the property owner to become a nervous wreck. Insurance claims are a specific contractual process and homeowners that are not trained in the process or have an emotional attachment to the damage can often times result in denial letters because of an incorrect approach. The insurance adjusters can be the answer to providing the public an important resource to a successful insurance claim and make a difference between recovery and denial.
The Public Adjuster not only offers a combination of expertise and experience, but it’s always useful to coordinate with a third-party that can clearly execute each step of the claim process. This type of insurance adjuster works for the property owners – the claim is in the policyholder’s name and the adjuster acts on their behalf. The insurance companies have adjusters working on their side either in-house or hired third parties to work diligently representing their side of the policy. This makes it all the more important that the policyholder work directly with the public adjuster to equally represent their position in accordance with their policy.
Stellar Adjusting Services has helped many residential and commercial property owners successfully recover what they deserve.
Tags: insurance claims florida, public adjuster miami
Filed under How to File a Claim | No Comments »
Personal Property…continued
Posted on July 4th, 2011
Happy July 4TH! Stay safe and have a great time celebrating!
Let’s continue our discussion started in the last posting.
Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost
In a recent posting we touched on the topic of calculating the actual cash value and replacement cost value. At this time, we’ll explain these concepts and why they are relevant to insurance claims and policyholders. As you review our website and search others about your insurance claim and recovery, you’ll learn that property damage is usually black and white (the pipe is broken, the roof is damaged, the wind smashed the windows); however, the value of the damage is often the subject of dispute. This is why insurance claims can take time and require a skilled individual that understands the determination of property value.
The most common method is Actual Cash Value (ACV) this is calculated to account for deprecation of the value of a particular item. This can be difficult for a policyholder to swallow because he is expecting to recover full value of the item purchased. The flip-side is that the insurance company wants to avoid paying a policyholder full value for an item that has deprecated. This is where the expert insurance claim adjuster will navigate to recovery.
The Replacement Cost Value (RCV) is a type of coverage that is used to cover the difference between the ACV and the cost of a new same or similar item. The difficulty of this type of coverage arises in situations in which the insurance company requires that the RCV is paid when the insurance companies have documentation that the policyholder purchased the item and needs reimbursement of RCV. This would mean that the policyholder comes out of pocket until the RCV is received.
The insurance claim adjuster will discuss the appropriate approach and decide with the policyholder how to move forward. There are many times that our experts are able to reach a settlement between the ACV and RCV, this way the insurance company pays less and the insured received more than the ACV.
If you have specific questions about your claim or recovery calculation it’s best not to pull out the calculator yourself but call a professional insurance adjuster at Stellar Adjusting Services.
Tags: actual cash value, miami insurance adjuster, replacement cost
Filed under Appraisals | No Comments »
Personal Property – Let the Appraisals Begin!
Posted on June 29th, 2011
When experiencing real estate property damage there is often personal property that is also damaged. This is a common occurrence when water leaks or fire happens at home, it’s never expected but the personal property can be completely ruined. The first step is to review the policy coverage and any supplementary insurance policies for antiques or other valuable personal property like jewelry. The type of coverage varies from each policy offered by an insurance company.
The local insurance claim adjuster team will allocate resources to carefully organize the necessary documents required when filing a personal property insurance claim. The differences between the companies are subtle, but even so our experts pinpoint exactly what type of reports are needed when filing for recovery. A person filing an insurance claim with Allstate, will need someone who as experience dealing with Allstate insurance claims and is able to work diligently within their guidelines. The insurance claim filed with State Farm or Citizens will require a familiarity with their insurance claim and recovery standards.
Here are some tips when approaching personal property damage and what types of approaches professional South Florida public adjusters take into account.
Economic Losses: Expenses associated with your business, living costs, and other income related disturbances.
Collectible Losses: This type of loss deals directly with unusual items, valuable items, firearms. This is specifically relevant to insurance claims for antiques, jewelry, artwork, and memorabilia.
Specialty Property: This type of property is typically thought of as more industrious items or commercial property – landscaping, marine equipment, automotive equipment, aviation property.
There are several types of evaluation equations that are reviewed by our experts. A term that you’ll likely hear on a ongoing basis is ACV or Actual Cash Vale. This is a calculation that takes the replacement cost of an item and subtracts the depreciation, this result is the ACV. Stay tuned…We’ll discuss more details on this point and Replacement Cost Value in another posting.
-
Our team of insurance claim adjusters working in South Florida, will guide you through the various confusing equations and help organize invoices, receipts, accounting records, banking records, and even coordinating with experts in the field regarding specific specialty items.
Tags: appraisals, personal property
Filed under Appraisals | No Comments »
What’s your policy?
Posted on June 27th, 2011
Today homeowners have options when it comes to the types of policies, coverages and the insurance companies that offer these products. Public adjusters don’t broker insurance policies; however, they deal directly with companies such as Allstate, State Farm, and Citizens. Miami insurance companies that offer these policies don’t get involved in insurance claims. These distinct roles can often be confusing for the public.
The reason these insurance professionals, in the same industry, do not overlap is that the skills are different and so are the licenses. If you take a look at the various insurance company websites they offer links to how to initiate an insurance claim directly on their site; however, insurance brokers do not take care of the claim – it’s passed to the company. Likewise, the public adjuster needs to process the claim directly to the insurance company – they represent the policyholder’s rights with the insurance company through the claim process. This helps the property owners ensure they collect what they are entitled to under their policies.
The brokers and the public adjusters are in a way similar in that they both work with the public as the middleman to the insurance companies – one gets coverage, the other demands recovery. Both utilize resources and tools on the insurance company websites.
Here’s a snippet of useful info. from various companies:
Allstate Insurance – On their website there is a tool that will show a breakdown of the most common and most costly claims in your zipcode.
State Farm Insurance – On their website there’s a list of useful and important steps in the claims process – Take reasonable steps to prevent potential safety risks and/or further damage, If the loss is caused by theft, notify the police, Notify banks and credit card companies about any missing debit or credit cards, Keep accurate records of what you spend repairing things.
Citizens Insurance – The Citizens’ website has a list of how to report a claim. At the top of their list is to call a agent at Citizens.
When approaching these companies, remember that you want to be as prepared as possible. Our team of adjusters will help you get what you deserve.
Tags: allstate homeowners policy, citizens homeowners insurance policy, state farm homeowners policy
Filed under Homeowners Policy | No Comments »
Drip, drip, drip, water is dangerous
Posted on May 18th, 2011
In this posting we’ll be discussing the importance of identifying the source of a water problem. There are many different types of damage that can occur in which water spreading on the property is the resulting effect. A pipe can burst, a roof can leak, toilets can overflow, you see the various possibilities. Drop us a comment with any of the water stories you may have and feel compelled to share.
The first step is to quickly try to locate the source of the water problem and see if you can shut off the water. Eliminating the source will reduce future damage and quickly get the recovery started. Once this is done, it’s advisable to connect with a Public Adjuster to help. A Public Adjuster knows what to do and who to call. You might need a plumber asap, or a roof repair quickly so that more water does enter the home, there might even be a broken pipe that’s not visible and that’s the issue. The point is, once you’re safe and the water stops flowing connect with an experienced professional to start your insurance claim.
There are many cases that photos speak a thousand words and a Public Adjuster can tell you what needs to be done while the restoration is occurring. You are much better to be in a situation in which all the essential basis is covered and the Public Adjuster doesn’t tell you, “why did you throw that pipe away” or “do you have photos of the hold in the roof?” These are a few reasons why having a relationship with a Public Adjuster in Florida is a must. Stellar Adjusting Services has a team ready to meet with you in areas such as Miami Beach, Miami, NMB, Plantation, Delray Beach, Aventura, Sunny Isles, Hollywood, Ft. Lauderdale, and the surrounding Miami Dade and Broward County. A quick response and professional communication is what you need.
The immediate response in most water damage cases is to clean up and then contact the insurance company. However a trained insurance adjuster working for you will clearly explain the type of record that needs to be taken before, during, and after the water remediation is happening.
Learn more about water damage insurance claims on our website.
Tags: public adjuster, water damage, water remediation
Filed under Water Damage | No Comments »
