Garage fire
- Thread starter LAndersen
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2008
- Messages
- 731
Yes, I've been through this and other insurance claims on my rentals. A few words of advice:
1. The insurance company will (should) hire a professional damage restoration company for the cleanup. They are pretty experienced with that kind of work and do it quickly. However, you may want to check up on the cleanup afterward with your adjuster to make sure that any smaller things like damage to nearby fences, sidewalks, etc are also part of the restoration work.
2. The insurance company will probably have one or more preferred companies for the rebuild, but you're not obligated to use them. Advantage to doing so is that things can go smoother when the adjuster is working with someone they know. Disadvantage is that the builder may be great for the insurer to work with, but not responsive to you. The priority for the insurer and the contractor is to finish as quickly as possible and move to the the next job. Your priority is to make sure the job is done right. If you have a preferred contractor, they can submit a bid for the job as well.
3. Be sure to inspect the rebuild and make sure the quality of the work is acceptable. Do this multiple times during the rebuild. A simple garage on an existing pad can be done in a couple days, a larger one with insulation & heat, new concrete etc takes longer and usually involves multiple subtrades. More subtrades = more channels of communication = more chance for mis-communication and mis-coordination. [# comm channels = N(N-1)/2 for us project mgt nerds...]
4. Make sure the contractor(s) pull the appropriate permits. Some locations will require a demolition permit as well as a development and building permits. As well, make sure that the appropriate inspections are done for those permits.
5. Don't sign off on the restoration until you are 100% satisfied with the work.
1. The insurance company will (should) hire a professional damage restoration company for the cleanup. They are pretty experienced with that kind of work and do it quickly. However, you may want to check up on the cleanup afterward with your adjuster to make sure that any smaller things like damage to nearby fences, sidewalks, etc are also part of the restoration work.
2. The insurance company will probably have one or more preferred companies for the rebuild, but you're not obligated to use them. Advantage to doing so is that things can go smoother when the adjuster is working with someone they know. Disadvantage is that the builder may be great for the insurer to work with, but not responsive to you. The priority for the insurer and the contractor is to finish as quickly as possible and move to the the next job. Your priority is to make sure the job is done right. If you have a preferred contractor, they can submit a bid for the job as well.
3. Be sure to inspect the rebuild and make sure the quality of the work is acceptable. Do this multiple times during the rebuild. A simple garage on an existing pad can be done in a couple days, a larger one with insulation & heat, new concrete etc takes longer and usually involves multiple subtrades. More subtrades = more channels of communication = more chance for mis-communication and mis-coordination. [# comm channels = N(N-1)/2 for us project mgt nerds...]
4. Make sure the contractor(s) pull the appropriate permits. Some locations will require a demolition permit as well as a development and building permits. As well, make sure that the appropriate inspections are done for those permits.
5. Don't sign off on the restoration until you are 100% satisfied with the work.
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2011
- Messages
- 7
I am a project manager with a Insurance Restoration Contractor during the day and do these types of claims all day in Toronto - If i can be a help do not hesitate - bounce questions off me or just need confirmation i will try to be of assitance.
The advise i give my insureds is get yourself a Notepad - and document all of your thoughts or ideas - During this process the adreneline of the claim and the what if's and all your questions - you will overlook a detail or forget to ask that question or maybe thought that you had mentioned something but didn't - the adjsuter and contractor do this everyday and are numb to the process and carry you through pretty quickly. Always remember that it is your home and you control the speed. Also the magic words are pre-loss condition. If it was there before it needs to be replaced, retored or addressed. Also your policy - READ IT - don't take anybodies word for it - due dillegence
Let me know if i can help
The advise i give my insureds is get yourself a Notepad - and document all of your thoughts or ideas - During this process the adreneline of the claim and the what if's and all your questions - you will overlook a detail or forget to ask that question or maybe thought that you had mentioned something but didn't - the adjsuter and contractor do this everyday and are numb to the process and carry you through pretty quickly. Always remember that it is your home and you control the speed. Also the magic words are pre-loss condition. If it was there before it needs to be replaced, retored or addressed. Also your policy - READ IT - don't take anybodies word for it - due dillegence
Let me know if i can help