Deerfield Beach Water Damage Claims Adjuster

From hurricane damage to plumbing problems to leaky roofs, water damage can happen in a number of ways. Unfortunately, the humid atmosphere in Florida may accelerate some effects of water damage, such as the rotting of affected structures or mold development.

Depending on the situation, you may be aware of water damage immediately or remain unaware for some time, such as in the case of a slow leak.

When you do become aware of water damage, you want to get it fixed right away, but you could run into difficulties with your home or business insurance policy. For example, your policy might cover water damage, but the insurance company adjuster says there is no sign that your damage was caused by a covered incident.

Another issue occurs when the adjuster believes your claim is worth less than you think or they’re only willing to pay for a less comprehensive repair than your damage actually requires.

How Can a Deerfield Beach Flood Damage Claims Adjuster Help?

Dealing with water damage on your property can be a mess. You may want to clean up the water or get your appliances or water working again, but you need the insurance company to pay for professional help.

To make matters more difficult, it can be hard to know what will satisfy the insurance company claims adjuster or if they’ve made a fair offer.

Would their recommended repairs be sufficient, or do you need more advanced work? Unless you’re an expert in this particular type of repair, it won’t be easy to make the distinction.

Worse, what if your claim is denied? Should you try again?

Was your photo documentation insufficient? What else do they want?

A public water damage claims adjuster can help you answer these questions and bring clarity to the claims process. Our skilled, highly educated adjusters work for you—not the insurance company— and will take the following steps to help you pursue a fair settlement:

• We’ll perform a free damage inspection and identify all issues that need to be addressed while thoroughly documenting how the damage occurred. In many cases, this is key to getting your claim approved.
• After assessing the damage, we’ll create an accurate estimate of what it will cost to correct the problems. If we think removing and replacing a small piece of the wall is all that’s needed, we’ll tell you. But if we recognize that the whole wall should be replaced, we’ll recommend that solution.
• We’ll carefully examine the surrounding room, building, or property, not just the area or areas where you identified an issue. Some signs of damage are subtle or may not cause the policyholder problems for weeks or months, and we don’t want to miss any potential damage. For instance, sometimes we find the HVAC system has been damaged or an appliance has suffered electrical damage from the water.
• Next, we’ll review your insurance policy. In this area, many policyholders admit confusion, and with good reason—insurance policies aren’t meant to be easy to understand. Laypeople typically find them confusing and convoluted, but our adjusters are trained to understand the nuances of insurance policy language. We’ll determine exactly what is and isn’t covered and how best to proceed.
• After you complete your insurance claim, we’ll review it and make recommendations if needed. For instance, we may suggest adding extra pictures or explaining how and where the damage originated. We can assist you in wording your claim correctly and documenting it so that it will be tough for the insurance company to find a reason to deny your claim.
• Not in the mood to argue with the insurance company? We understand. Coping with water damage in your home is stressful and time-consuming, and our adjusters are prepared to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. With their knowledge of insurance policy requirements and the repair process, your adjuster will work to obtain the best settlement possible for your damages.

What Kind of Services Do You Need to Repair Water Damage, and How Can You Find Reputable Service Companies?

Often, policyholders are unsure where to start after finding water damage in their home or business. The services you need will vary depending on the particulars of your damage, but here are some you might require:

• Water extraction. If there is standing water in your home, you may need a professional to pump it out.
• Debris removal. Some items may not be salvageable, including appliances, furniture, or other large, heavy items.
• Cleaning and sanitizing services. Flood waters may contain pathogens and other contaminants that could cause illness, so it’s essential to have any affected surfaces sanitized. Professionally cleaning the affected area can also reduce the risk of mold developing.
• Thoroughly drying the structure. This is also necessary for mold and rot prevention.
• Deodorizing. Water damage frequently comes with a musty smell that isn’t easy to get out of, but a professional cleaning service can help.

Your flood damage claims adjuster will help you in two ways: When assessing your claim, we’ll determine what services you need to repair your water damage. We also have longstanding relationships with highly-rated local companies that we know will do a good job, so we can recommend a company if you don’t have one in mind.

What Should You Do When You Find Water Damage in Your Home or Business?

If there is an immediate emergency, assess the situation and take steps to handle it. For example, if a burst pipe is flooding the basement, you should shut off the water immediately. 

Although we will take pictures of any evidence of damage we find, we also recommend that you take your own pictures right after the damage occurs or when you first notice it and then retake the pictures after you’ve dried out the area. That way, we will have a record of how things looked if anything changes before we arrive.

We recommend that property owners hold off on making their own repairs unless it is absolutely necessary for safety reasons. If so, try to keep your repairs to a minimum.

If there is a hole in the roof, for example, covering it with a tarp to prevent further flooding may be sufficient. Don’t dispose of any damaged or ruined items yet—they could be evidence needed to convince the insurance company adjuster of how your water damage happened.

What Not to Do After a Water Damage Incident

Here are a few things to avoid in these stressful situations:

• Don’t make any repairs for damage that isn’t an emergency.
• Don’t hire a contractor or service company until your claim is settled. After disasters like hurricanes and floods, contractors often travel around affected neighborhoods soliciting business. Some of these businesses may be reputable, but others are simply scams. The state’s Attorney General has a list of tips for avoiding scam artists, including checking out business licenses and getting multiple quotes before making a decision. By waiting until your claim is settled, you will have more time to investigate any company that approaches you.
• Don’t remove parts of the structure, like wall or floor panels, because this may be evidence of your claim. If a roof tile or floor panel falls on its own, take a picture of where it fell. You can move the fallen item if it’s posing a hazard but don’t throw it away yet.
• If your home is in an unsafe condition, look for another place to stay until it’s safe to return. For example, standing water attracts mosquitoes, encourages mold growth, and may be contaminated with harmful bacteria or other germs. It isn’t safe to be wading around your living room in flood water, so you might ask a friend or family member if you can stay with them.
• Don’t waste time—contact a water damage claims adjuster right away. Remember that a minor problem caused by water damage, such as a minor leak, can quickly turn into a major problem.
• Don’t wait around to see if your water damage will worsen—the sooner you file a claim with the insurance company, the better. Here’s an example of why you shouldn’t delay: If you wait until your wall is covered in mold, the insurance company adjuster may suggest that you were negligent because you didn’t file a claim to address the water damage before it led to mold growth. 

Where Can You Get Assistance With Your Water Damage Claim?

Please contact Pinnacle Claim Services for a free inspection and insurance policy review. Our local public claims adjusters will make time to visit the site, thoroughly examine the damage, document all issues, and create an estimate.

Additionally, we’ll review your insurance policy and your insurance claim to ensure you have the best chance of recovering a fair settlement. Our adjusters are also ready to negotiate with the insurance carrier if you don’t have the time or energy or if you’d like to have help from someone deeply knowledgeable about property insurance in Florida.

Remember, your inspection and policy review are free, and if you do hire us to help with your damage, you won’t pay anything until we settle your claim.