If someone experiences a house fire, you may hear them talk about how some items were ruined by the fire itself and others were ruined by smoke damage. Even if the fire was relatively small and contained quickly, the smoke damage could be found all throughout the house. It may add tens of thousands of dollars in damage to the total costs of the house fire. But those items haven’t been entirely destroyed, as they would’ve been if they burned up in the fire. So why is smoke damage so serious and why does it increase the costs that homeowners are facing so dramatically? It can still cause long-te ..read more

Documenting property damage is important when filing insurance claims in Florida. Thorough documentation can expedite the claims process. It can also increase the likelihood of receiving fair compensation, although insurance companies may still act unethically and deny claims. 1. Take detailed photographs Photographs serve as visual evidence showing the extent of property damage. Take multiple photos from different angles to provide a comprehensive view. Focus on both close-up shots to capture specific damage and wide-angle shots to show the overall impact. Photograph all affected areas, inclu ..read more

If you live in Florida, you’re probably already aware that it’s getting harder and harder to be a homeowner – at least where insurance coverage is concerned. In the last few years alone, Florida homeowners have experienced everything from the abrupt cancellation of their policies because their insurer is leaving the state to double-digit premium hikes and new coverage limits.  What’s causing the crisis? 1. Climate change Florida has always been vulnerable to stormy weather, and it has the dubious distinction of being in the path of more hurricanes than any other state. Climate change has ..read more

For most homeowners, lightning during a storm is merely a visual spectacle. However, the sad reality is that while rare, lightning strikes can cause significant damage. There are few greater examples of the power of Mother Nature than lightning. Lightning results in a huge discharge of electricity, and when this comes into contact with property, the results can be devastating. Here are some of the more common types of home damage associated with lightning strikes. Housefires The average household appliance is powered by approximately 120 Volts and 15 Amps of electricity. Even this amount of el ..read more

One of the main reasons that people file insurance claims is because they have water damage. Perhaps a pipe burst in the house. Maybe there was a storm or a flood that caused water to get inside. As long as people have the correct coverage, they can file a claim and get the repairs made through their insurance. But one thing to remember about water damage is that it is often much more extensive than what you can actually see. This is because water can spread quickly throughout the home. It does not take much water to cause significant damage, and the water damage may have been going on for som ..read more

Homeowners’ insurance is not cheap, so you want to ensure you get all the compensation you are entitled to should you ever need to use it. Sometimes, this is easier said than done. Insurance companies are skilled at delaying, denying or minimizing claims in order to protect their shareholders’ profits. Here are some steps to take to improve your claim’s chance of success: Inform your insurer promptly Most insurance policies restrict how long you have to file a claim. You also need to make the initial call to them relatively quickly after the damage occurs, perhaps before you have all the infor ..read more

Not all houses are well-built. Many do not match up to the standards that those who commissioned them hoped for or expected. Yet, people may live in a place for years unaware of the problems their property contains. Until one day, a storm or other extreme event reveals the truth. One famous Florida example started with Hurricane Andrew, back in 1992. Thousands of homeowners saw their properties destroyed, and on investigation, it turned out that many of them had been very poorly built. While the state subsequently tightened building codes, it does not mean everyone sticks to them. There will l ..read more

If there is a concerning issue related to how your house was built, you may be able to claim compensation. To make it easier to do so, you need to be precise about what the issue is and how it occurred. Courts that handle construction dispute claims consider construction defects to fall into four categories. Design Deficiencies Architects and engineers come up with the plans that contractors then put into practice. If a contractor did everything the plan told them to, but an issue still occurred, it might be the original design was wrong, or the professional who drew it up did not consider all ..read more

When you purchased your insurance policy, be it for fire, hurricane, storm and so on, you expected you would be covered without difficulties when the time comes. But this may not be the case; your claim may take forever. And while there may be a rational explanation for this, your insurer may delay your claim intentionally. Here are two common reasons for this: To get you to accept the first settlement When you file an insurance claim, your insurance company will give you an offer, which, in most cases, is usually not a fair one. If you refuse the first offer, they may delay the process to mak ..read more

Fires at home are more prevalent than most homeowners realize. They are both unpredictable and unexpected; therefore, many homeowners don’t imagine their house could catch on fire until it does. It doesn’t help that residential fires can quickly spiral out of control and damage more than most homeowners anticipate. Ultimately, understanding their common causes is crucial for prevention. Electrical malfunctions Home electrical systems, if not maintained properly, can become a significant fire hazard. Overloaded circuits, faulty wiring and outdated appliances are common culprits. Regular inspect ..read more