No matter the time of year or the season, flooding can happen to any home or business. In Florida, we experience a lot of flooding during hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 1 each year. When it does, the immediate thought most have is, “Who is going to pay for all of this?” You need to file a homeowners insurance claim. In Florida, you need to make sure you have flood insurance if you are in a flood zone, as your homeowner’s insurance does not cover floods or rising ground water.
Most then call their insurance company, since events like flooding is why insurance is purchased in the first place. For some reason, many flooding issues occur at night or on the weekend, when your local insurance company is closed, if you have a local agent. You call, leave a message, and wait. And wait. They may never call you, or at best call you when you are solidly in panic mode, and the reason may be because they aren’t the ones to handle your claim in the first place.
The agents sell the insurance. The agency may not service the insurance claim. Most likely, you need to call a national emergency hotline number. You should always have that on file and ready just in case something happens to your home, along with your trusted Tampa disaster restoration specialist at Accent American Inc – 813-621-6015.
Who to Hire?
When you reach your insurance company, or at least the part of it that makes decisions on paying for the repairs, you may be told to use a specific contractor, a local firm the insurance company has a special relationship with. It may not be the company you want to use. But always remember this: It’s your decision who you use to work on your home. Of course, you may have to fight for your rights.
Some insurance companies now include language called “right to repair” in their policies, which gives them the authority to decide who to hire. If you have this language in your policy, find another company FAST! Even with this, if you aren’t satisfied with the company the insurance company sends, you can fire them and hire another company. The insurance company may try to fight you, and you may need to call a public insurance adjuster for help.
Is it the best company?
This being said, using the contractor recommended by the insurance company may not be a bad idea, or it could be a really horrible idea. That company may be completely qualified and know exactly what your home needs to get back to pre-flood condition. But no matter what, it’s your decision. Before you allow them to do any work in your home, do some research. Ask friends and neighbors who they may have used. Getting references and looking at reviews should always be a priority when hiring a contractor to work on your home. Check for complaints on the company. Ask them – who do they work for? If they are being recommended by the insurance company, whose best interest are they looking out for?
A water damage profesional who is independent of the insurance company will always work for you. Accent American has your best interests in mind, not your insurance provider.
Documentation
Be sure to document everything for your insurance claim, including the time you spend on cleaning up the mess. Take pictures. Make sure you have a home inventory of all of your possessions. The more documentation and pictures you have, the better. You can negotiate how much of the damage will be covered by your insurance policy. You will have to pay the deductible. Often the time you spend and the resources of your own you use to work on the flood is credited to you. It’s a conversation to have with your insurance company and your contractor.
No matter what, though, do the right thing. Call your trusted Tampa area disaster restoration company Accent American Inc. immediately when a flood or water damage flood, flooding, hurricane, hurricane damage, hurricane season
occurs. After all, it pays to call a pro!
