Putting The Power In The People’s Hands

After home damage, don’t wait to get the repairs done right

On Behalf of | Sep 2, 2018 | Firm News

As a property owner, you know how important it is to get repairs done quickly and correctly after any kind of serious damage. Damage may occur after a natural disaster, or because of a malfunctioning or broken appliance or any number of other reasons.

However, when it comes to working with the insurer who carries your homeowner’s policy, it is often a lengthy process. This is no accident. Insurance providers understand that they can usually get away with paying less for a claim if they make the policyholder wait and jump through many hoops before repairs are finished.

The truth of the matter is that you don’t have to wait on the insurer to get the repairs you need completed, even though most insurers may protest this course of action. In reality, you can choose your own repair provider and get them done before the insurance company gets involved. Not only is this good for your pocketbook in the long run, it also helps you mitigate further damage to your property.

Get the work done right the first time

By choosing your own repair provider, you can select a person or company that you know and trust or a provider who comes with sound recommendations and good references. While these are not the only considerations when looking for repair providers, it is generally preferable to use the providers that you choose rather than the providers that an insurer chooses for you.

Among other things, a provider that you choose can probably perform the work that you need much more quickly than a provider that your insurer chooses, and you have much greater selection power on your own than if you only select from the “approved providers” that an insurer prefers to use.

Get the compensation you deserve out of your claim

If you choose the provider that you prefer over a provider selected by your insurer, the insurer may try to settle your claim for less than the costs of the repairs. While there are certainly limits to how much a particular policy will pay out for repairs, you can usually coerce the insurer to reimburse you in full for the repairs with a strong legal strategy and a clear understanding of your policy and the laws that regulate it.

Of course, unless you deal with insurance companies on a regular basis, you may not have enough familiarity with navigating these systems and guidelines. Make sure use high quality legal resources and counsel to keep yourself and your rights secure while you work to resolve your property damage and return the home to its proper state.