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Will
the insurance company raise my rates if I file
a claim?
Can
the insurance company drop me for submitting a
claim?
How
can I determine if it’s worth filing a claim or
not…who can I really trust?
Won’t
my insurance company or agent adjust my claim for
me?
Why
should I purchase your claim kit?
Do
you offer legal advice?
Does
Property Claim Tips offer special help if needed?
How
and where do I begin to submit a claim?
What
can I do if I am not in agreement with my insurance
company’s offer at this time?
My
insurance company denied my claim…what can I do?
You
mean I have duties and responsibilities after my
property has been damaged?
What
can I do if my insurance adjuster isn’t responding
to any of my phone calls or messages?
Can
you provide ‘professional’ services for me?
How
much does Property Claim Tips charge for their
services?
What will Property Claim Tips, LLC do for me?
Can I throw damaged building materials & personal property
items away before
showing them to my adjuster?
Should I call 3 contractors and get 3 bids…hoping to get
paid for the middle
estimate?
If I cash my insurance check, does that mean my claim is final?
Is your claim kit guaranteed to help me?
My Insurance company withheld money from my settlement can they do that?
Are all insurance policies the same?
What makes Property Claim Tips, LLC an authority?
Why are insurance policies so difficult to understand?
What is meant by a unit cost estimate?
What happens if a fire or a tornado destroys my house…won’t
the insurance
company just pay the entire cost to rebuild?
Can I hire a Public Adjuster?
Will
the insurance company raise my rates if I file
a claim?
Sure,
some insurance companies will try surcharging you
for filing a claim. That really depends on your insurance
company and your state insurance department that
allows such behavior.
Our
claim kits are not about filing 'frivolous' claims
when it doesn't make dollar sense to do so. Therefore,
if you have a $1000.00 deductible and your estimated
damages total $1600.00 then it would be our opinion
that you not file the claim. Having such a small
claim appear on your claim record could be a nuisance
if you wanted change insurance companies down the
road.
Surcharge
scenario:
Your
policy premium is $1,000.00 and the amount of your
claim is $4000.00 worth of damage. Your insurance
company elects to surcharge you 15% of your current
premium. Next year's premium will now cost $1,150.00.
In
this scenario, we say file the claim because it makes
dollar sense to do so. It would take many years to
recover the $4000.00 paid out. You should contact
your insurance agent and ask about 'surcharges.' You
should know what your company's policy is regarding
this issue in advance, so pick up the phone right
now and call your agent today.
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Can
the insurance company drop me for submitting a
claim?
It's
our belief that the insurance company cannot drop
you for filing a claim. However, we have heard
at times that policyholders have been dropped, for
not paying their premium on time, have filed a claim
within the first 60 days of the policy inception
date, and or because of an increased hazard that
needs to be fixed and wasn't within a certain time
limit stipulated by the carrier. You need to check
with your insurance department and ask if an insurance
company can drop a policyholder for submitting a
claim. Your State Insurance Department is listed
in our Need Help section.
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How
can I determine if it's worth filing a claim or
not'who can I really trust?
Great question'TRUST YOURSELF!
You need to find out for yourself and make that decision
and no body else. Knowing and understanding how the
estimating process really works in this industry
is half the battle. This is where the money is and
you need to know how to get every penny of it.
Typically,
insurance companies are in business to make serious
money. The insurance agent that sold you your policy
has a loss ratio that he / she is constantly trying
to keep down. Hence, agents often inform their clients
that they shouldn't bother with submitting that claim
because it won't exceed your deductible, or your
rates will go up as the result of submitting the
claim.
Insurance
adjusters that specialize in keeping the payout amounts
very low are experts at doing this and they know
the hand that feeds them. Sure, they will throw you
a lollypop and tell you to go away and most do.
Our estimating section
shows you that you should always start your estimate
at the origin of the damage. Always start your estimate
at the origin of property damage, working your way
through any and all areas that are affected. Continuation
arguments, industry break points, pricing and much
more are all explained to you in depth so that you
have a better understanding to determine the amount
of your claim'yourself.
Remember,
you are the one that must submit your claim and never
let your insurance company make your claim for you!
After all, adjusters are Human Beings and are often
very stressed out, making huge mistakes with your
MONEY! Request an estimate to see if it is worth
pursuing by clicking on the estimating link.
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Won't
my insurance company or agent adjust my claim for
me?
Well,
there are some insurance agents who have what is
called 'draft' authority. Which, typically could
be anywhere from $2,500.00 - $5,000.00 before the
claim would actually go to the claim department.
Of course, this varies from agent ' to- agent and
is worth a phone call finding out in advance.
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Why
should I purchase your claim kit?
Because
were on your side and not your Insurance company.
Remember, they pay for damage as they see it in the
interest of their company. After all, they are in
business to make money, right?
Our
claim kits are a great check and balance system that
inform you about favorable settlements, options and
the entire claim process, from start to finish.
Can
you really trust your insurance company'I don't think
so.
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Do
you offer legal advice?
Absolutely
not! We do not offer any legal or accounting advice
at all. Our opinions are just that 'opinions.' With
over 13 years of experience in the industry and based
on an insider's viewpoint regarding techniques used
in the industry. Which happens
to be very beneficial for you.
We
know the claim game and do not render legal
advice! If you need legal advice we strongly suggest
that you check out our National Network of Attorney's
in the Need Help section
of our website. Just click on the navigational tab
to your upper right and there you go.
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Does
Property Claim Tips offer special help if needed?
Yes,
we do. If you need an opinion regarding a circumstance
then we can help you by acting as your property damage
consultant. Click on the Consulting link located
on our home page.
Estimating services
are available based on the information submitted
to us by you. Our estimates are broken down in the
unit cost format used in the industry by geographical
area. We have a special form that you can fill out
in the Contact Us section.
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How
and where do I begin to submit a claim?
Right
here, look no further. Just go to the 'claim kits' tab
to your upper left and click on it. If you are a
homeowner select the homeowners claim kit icon and
an inventory will be listed. Pick the one that suits
your needs' we couldn't of made it any easier for
you.
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What
can I do if I am not in agreement with my insurance
company's offer at this time?
A
lot! We have devoted an entire section for property
owners having problems with their insurance adjuster/company.
It's all here and included with your package, everything!
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My
insurance company denied my claim'what can I do?
Document,
Document and Document some more. We have created
over 30 pre-made letters, running notes and many
other forms that accurately document your claim sequence.
Often,
policy interpretation is the culprit for an unjustifiable
denial letter. Some insurance companies just love
denying claims and make you fight hard to get money
from them. They figure, 'what are you going to do
about it?'
Well,
you don't have to accept this type of behavior and
interpretation any longer. We say pursue, fight and
document, until you are completely satisfied with
the reason for the denial. FYI- if your insurance
company denied your claim then it really should be
in writing stating why it wasn't a covered loss.
The
roadmap that we designed for you documents the chain
of command just in case you need to use it later
in the process for a second or third opinion. This
allows you to work up through the corporate ladder
until you are totally satisfied with your outcome.
The
paper trail this leaves is incredible and really
works. All you need to do is use the forms as a template,
or fill them in with your special circumstances that
pertain to your situation.
If
an attorney is needed later on in the process, then
having all of your supporting documentation can only
help you and not hurt. Well-documented claim files
are often the difference between a successful Bad
Faith lawsuit vs. just doing nothing at all and going
away, like most do!
Our
opinions are unbelievable and they really do work
to your advantage'so check us out and don't forget
to sign up for our newsletter!
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You
mean I have duties and responsibilities after my
property has been damaged?
Yes
you do'and you should always refer to the 'Section-1
Conditions' part of your policy. Here you will
see a section called 'Your Duties' or 'Your Responsibilities' after a
loss occurs. Try following the responsibilities listed
the best you can. Insurance companies love to delay
or deny claims when an insured hasn't complied with
their part of the contract. We explain the most important
duties and responsibilities that pertain to your
type of damage'in detail and length.
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What
can I do if my insurance adjuster isn't responding
to any of my phone calls or messages?
Once
again, our pre-made letters and forms were created
just for this reason. Document, document and document
some more! When, you send a letter out to your adjuster
there usually is a required time period that he /
she must respond by.
Some
states have what is called the 'Unfair Claims
Practice Act' or whatever the title may be, 'mandating' the
response time to written communications. The bottom
line is, that you should
find out what the response time is because this is
a huge benefit to use accordingly.
Every
phone call you make and every telephone conversation
you have should be followed up with a written letter. The
best thing is'we already created the letters for
you. Just fill in the blanks and or use our letters
as a format when communicating with your insurance
company. Once the adjuster or supervisor gets a carbon
copy of all the letters that you have been sending
and you haven't been getting a response to your inquiries,
then look out, because this is the cardinal sin of
all sins. Not responding to your written communications
can be very bad for them'so paper it up! It's all
here, everything!
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Can
you provide 'professional' services for me?
Yes,
as mentioned above we can act as a property damage
consultant or supply a written unit cost estimate
based upon the property location. We are developing
our National Network of professional services'right
now, as we speak. Click on the Need Help tab
and go to the state desired and check it out.
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How
much does Property Claim Tips charge for their
services?
Our
claim kits are priced for the type of property damage
sustained and do vary. If you need to inquire about
the 'specific' claim kit desired then the price will
be listed therein.
• Consulting
fees are charged by the 'half hour' session. Click
on the Consulting link on our home page or
go to the Contact Us page and fill out the form.
• Estimates
are charged by the amount of time and damage associated
with your loss. It stands to reason that the larger
the estimate the higher the cost. Time is money!
If
you need a different kind of service click on the Need
Help tab and then go to your state listing.
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What
will Property Claim Tips, LLC do for me?
You
can be assured that we are always here just for you.
If you have a problem and need an expert opinion
seeking out services, then Contact
Us immediately.
Click on the tab and send us the form that is there
for your benefit. List your questions and concerns
and we will respond.
The
real question should be 'What doesn't our claim
kit do.' We thought of every conceivable problem
one could have during the claim process and created
a remedy that a sixth grader could follow.
If legal counsel is needed later on in the process,
then having a well established, documented claim
file can only be a blessing for your attorney.
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Can
I throw damaged building materials & personal
property items away before showing them to my adjuster?
We
strongly suggest that you throw nothing away when
possible! You should always photograph everything
before, during and after. Always, remember that you're
the claimant or named insured and that you have the
responsibility to submit your claim. Therefore, what
are you claiming MR. / Mrs. Homeowner? The insurance
company has the right to inspect the damage property
in its damaged state. If you violate the provision
that states this then you could be starting off on
the wrong foot and be loosing a lot of money. Your
MONEY!
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Should
I call 3 contractors and get 3 bids'hoping to get
paid for the middle estimate?
That
all depends on the contractor you select. Many contractors
haven't a clue about insurance claims process. Furthermore,
not many know how to write an insurance estimate
and many just don't care. All their interested in,
is getting your money and the job. If the contractor
was smart'he would get our 'contractors kit.' A
contractor that is not insurance intuitive could
hurt you instead of helping you. Another point to
consider is, 'some' contractors feel they can charge
two-three times the amount because it being an
insurance claim. This is a bad move and mistake!
Remember,
this is where the $$$ is and if your contractor is
clueless then what good is that? If you need an estimate
send us an email, we will ask you the right questions
in order to get you the best estimate possible. Then
you can make the determination if your contractor
is on target or not. Of course, this is not a free
service and it will cost you a little bit of money,
but it is well worth it.
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If
I cash my insurance check, does that mean my claim
is final?
Well,
our opinion from past experience is that checks with
the wording 'Final Payment' written on them can cause
a potential problem'if deposited.
Especially,
if your intentions are to negotiate a much higher
and favorable property settlement. On the other hand,
if you agree that that check is the final payment,
then by all means deposit the check.
It
is our opinion that you send the check directly back
and request the words 'Final' to be deleted and request
a new check that you can deposit and use. You might
consider speaking to an attorney about that type
of behavior and claim practice..
Often,
a Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss form (SSPOL) is
required before most insurance carriers will issue
payment; however, there are times when adjusters
send checks without requesting a SSPOL. Our opinion
is if the check doesn't have Final on it and you
haven't agreed or signed anything agreeing that it
is the final amount, then deposit the draft and continue
to negotiate in good faith until you are satisfied.
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Is
your claim kit guaranteed to help me?
Absolutely,
we guarantee that you will fully understand the claim
process better, which allows you to be in control
from the knowledge we offer. Knowledge = Power to
negotiate higher settlements on your own. Money Back
Guarantee! You really can't afford to be without
this type of information if you are thinking about
submitting an insurance claim. In addition, you can't
beat the price'it's well worth the investment!
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My
Insurance company withheld money from my settlement
can they do that?
That
all depends on the insurance policy you have purchased.
We explain the differences between a 'Replacement
Cost' policy vs. an 'Actual Cash Value' policy type.
Whether you receive the money with held depends on
if and when you intend doing the work. The 'Settling
Your Claim' portion of your claim kit will explain
all of this clearly.
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Are
all insurance policies the same?
No,
they are not'in the homeowner sector for a single-family
dwelling used as the primary residence, there are
only (5) policy-types. There is the Basic Form, Broad
Form, Special Form, Extended Form and the Modified
Limited Repair Form. They are very different from
one another and you need to know what you purchased.
It's
easy to find out what type you have by following
our 'Identifying Your Policy Type' section
in your claim kit. No sense filing a claim if it
isn't covered'right?
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What
makes Property Claim Tips, LLC an authority?
Our
experience in the field is over 13 years at present.
Please check out the About
Us section of
our web site to see our credentials and testimonials.
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Why are
insurance policies so difficult to understand?
Because,
your underwriting department likes it that way. If
they can keep you confused, ignorant and in the dark,
then they have the upper hand and stay in control.
Knowledge is a powerful tool to have when one doesn't
want you to know the process. You'll certainly see
the claim process from a totally different viewpoint
from this point forward. It's all here'everything!
Sign up for a monthly newsletter keeping you informed
about industry changes.
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What
is meant by a unit cost estimate?
A
unit cost estimate is broken down into several parts,
such as, square footage (SF), square yards (SY),
linear feet (LF), Lump Sum (LS), Minimum Charge (MC)
and much more. Most estimating software programs
used in the industry are created for this purpose.
This is how insurance companies control pricing.
In addition, they can tell if a contractor is price
gouging. We explain all of this in our 'Estimating
Your Damage' section of your claim kit. Everything!
'THIS
IS WHERE THE MONEY IS PEOPLE.' Don't overlook anything,
if you don't know what to ask for'then chances are
you won't get it.
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What
happens if a fire or a tornado destroys my house'won't
the insurance company just pay the entire cost
to rebuild?
It
all depends on your insurance policy, the endorsements
made part of that policy and other variables that
can affect your settlement. Some insurance companies
offer a 'building code' upgrade endorsement. Which,
means any upgrades needed from a local building code
official, would be paid for, under the limit stated
in that endorsement. The limit can vary from policy-
to- policy, so you should always check your 'Declarations' page
when referring to Forms and Endorsements. Usually,
located about three quarters of the way down the
declarations page or on the backside. Call your agent
today and ask if this type of endorsement is available.
If not, then think about getting it.
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Can
I hire a Public Adjuster?
You
sure can and if you have a claim to file, hiring
a public adjuster may be a smart way to get a fair
settlement, but you're also going to give up a large
sum your money to pay the public adjuster fee. Which
could be thousands of dollars $$$.
Why
not try getting the lion share yourself and
then hire a public adjuster later, if needed. The
truth of the matter is, you really can have someone
like that--and it's you.
If
you have the right information, you can submit your
own claim yourself as a first party named insured,
making sure you receive a prompt, fair, and an equitable
settlement.
Insurance
companies really do take advantage of people who
don't know the process and need help the most. It's
all here and so are we "Do-it-Yourself", first!
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