Shop/house total loss

[paulstenlund]

Our home burnt basically to the ground last Tuesday, the good news is we got out, it was very close. We have another place to stay and are doing as well as can be expected.

The ins. adjuster talks a good game and says she will REPLACE the shop (she totaled it) appliances furniture etc. Why don't I believe her?? Farmers Ins. She says we have plenty of coverage.

My question for the forum is - can anyone that has been thru this give me some pointers, I don't know where to start.

PS should have heard me complaining about Chase increasing our insurance coverage a few months ago, not fit for a public forum. I have photos can't bring myself to look at them yet.

Paul

[Knottscott]

Sorry no pointers from personal experience Paul, but wanted to express my condolescences. It's got to be extremely tough anytime this happens, but this time of year has really got to add an element of trauma. Glad you're all safe!

You might consider getting an independent insurance adjuster to keep the insurance companies adjuster on the level.

[Uncle Cracker]

I went through a hurricane, and a burglary. I did have "replacement cost coverage". Your insurance company will require proof of loss for your stuff. Mine accepted the actual damaged equipment, or in the case of the burglary, just the owner's manuals, receipts and/or pictures were good enough. Then, you will have to provide current replacement prices for each item, or if that item is no longer made, the cost of a similar current item. Get a copy of your insurance policy and read it. Make sure you get copies of all reports and other paperwork, so that promises made will be fulfilled. Verbal statements made by the rep of the insurance company or adjusting company are not enough. Try to have a good inventory, and don't keep adding to the claim one piece at a time unless you have to. Be polite, but persistent, and make sure the adjuster knows you know how to get in touch with your state's Insurance Commissioner. If things get contentious, get a lawyer.

Glad you and yours are OK. Hope the "recovery" is tolerable and fair.

[ironhat]

Awww, Jeez, Paul. I'm so sorry for you and your family. Just from what an acquaintance told me from his experience with an insurance company is that he finally had to get an attorney to get results. By the time he paid the attorney he still made out. Hang in there. You save the most valuable parts - the people.

[Mr__Bill]

Sorry to hear of your loss yet glad you all are ok. We totaled a car covered by Farmers, they did everything possible to pay out as little as possible. I have to second the idea of getting an independent adjuster and an attorney, both should be acquainted with insurance claims.

Remember all that was lost were things.


Bill

[germdoc]

Good luck!

My parents suffered a house fire a year after I moved away for college. I don't recall any particular financial losses, and in fact they rebuilt the house "bigger and better". It did take quite a while for the construction, during which they and I (when I was home for the summer) lived with my grandmother, who was slowly getting goofy from Alzheimers. Not a fun time.

I think the financial issues in the long run will be less important than the fact that it will take a fair bit of time to rebuild, and an even longer time to get over it emotionally.

[dbhost]

First off, I am VERY glad everyone got out okay. Stuff is just stuff and can be replaced, people and pets can't...

He doesn't get on here much any more, but LarryL lost most of his shop two years ago due to a smoking in the shop incident... He was able to get through it pretty well. Some of his stuff was salvagable, some wasn't.

I keep a pretty accurate inventory of what is in my shop, and hope you do too. If not you are going to find that a LOT of the $5.00 to $50.00 pieces that slip your mind until it is too late.

I hate to use your misfortune as a springboard, but that is something I hope everyone is doing, is keeping an accurate, or at least reasonably so, home inventory. One at the home, one offsite in a secure location. I have a web host where I stash my database backup files just in case. I do live in Hurricane / tornado country after all...

[paulstenlund]

Good info guys, I have virtually all my manuals in a metal rollaway should be in pretty good shape it was still standing and only smoke and water damage in that area.Haven't been able to get down to stuff because the water, insulation, sheetrock etc was literally freezing behind the firefighters (13 deg). Thawed pretty much out yesterday. I think I'll take tommorow afternoon off and go explore, in the dark the place is very dangerous.

Thanks again, will keep you all posted
Paul

[Shep]

Glad to see your family is ok. Tough loss though. Farmers is a good company. You shouldn't have much to worry about. My only comment would be to not hire a lawyer. I work with the Insurance industry and can tell you that lawyers will slow the process way down and not get you much more that you would have gotten in the first place, plus charge you for their services. I would only get a lawyer involved if the insurance company is giving you the run around.

I don't mean that lawyers are bad, (my brother in-law is a great lawyer) however, when a lawyer becomes involved all the communication from the insurance company must go through the lawyer, which drags out the process.

[billwmeyer]

Paul,

First off, you are a very lucky man! No one was hurt and all survived. I know you don't feel very lucky right now, but the important things are ok.

I know what you are going through. My daughter had a house fire about 4 or 5 years ago. It was destroyed, and they had no insurance. I suddenly had 3 more people in my house, and I was happy they survived to be there.

It is amazing what can be salvaged from the fire. If you have pictures, wipe them off and seperate them to dry. I had a whole living room full of pictures on my floor and furniture. Most of them survived. With clothing, we had mixed results. I could get them clean, but the smoke odor was hard to kill. Vinegar in the wash did help.

Where ever you take the salvage items, the smoke odor will be troublesome. I was amazed at a tip I found on the net. Take a plate or a bowl and put in a piece of white bread. Cover the bread slightly with white vinegar. Change about every 2 days. The bread and vinegar helped neutrilize the odor. Febreeze is also a great product.

Good luck and God bless.

Bill

[woodturner]

My only comment would be to not hire a lawyer.

In this day and age, it's almost impossible to get a fair major settlement from an insurance company without an attorney. I have family in both the insurance and the lawyering businesses, and that's one thing ( maybe the only thing) they agree on.

The insurance company has a fiducial responsibility to their shareholders to minimize their payout, and they do this full time. As a customer, we have limited experience in filing claims and maximizing our claim. Any time there are two parties with grossly adversarial interests, attorneys or other skilled negotiators are essential.

Regarding how much more an attorney will get you, it varies, but industry statistics suggest you will net 20% to 80% more if an attorney is involved. Most of the cases are settled out of court, so it doesn't take any longer when an attorney is involved and is often much faster than if the customer works directly with the insurance company.

One caution, though - don't threaten to go to an attorney unless and until you are ready to do that. Once you say "attorney" to an insurance adjuster, they will often refuse to deal with you directly.

[Richard in Smithville]

Man, that's tough Paul. Thank the Lord that everyone got out OK and you have a roof over your head. I hope the settlement goes well for you with out too much stress. Keep the faith brother, I be praying for your family.

[cabinetman]

Very tragic news. You and your family are fortunate. It will be difficult to justify all that was lost. So, comprise an ongoing list, as you will continually remember things.

I had bad water damage after a hurricane and one room needed baseboard and door casing replaced. The adjuster had no idea what I did for a living. He stood there looking at the damage and made comments about what the trim costs to buy and install. Needless to say I had to wise him up...nicely. In the end you'll likely have to negotiate to get what is fair.
.

[jabe]

Sorry you lost your home but, glad you're all safe. Hope you get a fair shake from your insurance co.

[toolguy1000]

here is concrete advise. HIRE A PUBLIC ADJUSTER TO REPRESENT YOU AGAINST YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY. ask friends for a referral or check the yellow pages. remember, the adjuster for your insurance company IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. their job is to minimize your claim. i've had 3 previous experiences with property insurance claims. the first, out of ignorance, i handeled myself and, retrospectively, got screwed by my insurance company. when a toilet broke 8 years ago, the insurance co. offered $1400 for all damages. when the PA i hired got done, the settlement was $12,000. deducting the PA's 10% commision, that left us with $10,800, a $9400 increase over what my own insurance company offered me. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER trust your insurance company. take it from me, hire a PA to represent your claim to your insurance company. you'll be glad you did.