Page 31 - Book1
P. 31

Claim Your Insurance Lottery Ticket


                                                          XV

                             How to pick an insurance contractor
               Picking an Insurance Contractor
                              When it comes to time filing your homeowner's insurance claim, finding
                       a licensed contractor who has the right skill set to manage the repairs on your
                       home is important. An insurance company can usually recommend
                       contractors who can get the job done, but if you want second opinions, or to
                       get your own contractor then you should look for some basic things to help
                       you decide if the contractor is reputable and will be able to do the job.
                              5 Things a Good Contractor Should Provide You With
                                     1. A written estimate, detailing the costs of material and labor
                                         as well as the types of work that will be done
                                     2. A general time frame that you can expect the work to be
                                         completed in
                                     3. Their contractor's license number, the insurance policy
                                         number for their contractor's general liability, and amount of
                                         liability insurance they carry.
                                     4. How long they have been doing this kind of work
                                     5. Although not all repairs or contractors will guarantee work, it
                                         is a good idea to ask about this. If you have the option, take
                                         a contractor who can give you a guarantee on their work.
                              You should not be expected to pay for the above information. A good
                       contractor generally knows that it's part of the business when bidding on a job
                       and working with insurance claims to give an estimate.
                              You will need this information to present to your insurance adjuster to
                       have them approve the repairs on your home. The claims process is usually
                       longer for large losses and claims than it is for smaller ones. Learn more
                       about what to expect in a disaster claim here, and don't forget to check into
                       additional living expenses and how they work too.

               Tips
                              When you have an insurance claim, the insurance company is
                       responsible for paying the damages if the damage happened due to insured
                       perils. Insurance companies have many well-known contractors they work
                       with and can often recommend a good reliable contractor to you, or even offer
                       you options. Consider taking advantage of their expertise and help in the
                       situation, after all that's what you pay insurance for: to help you in a claim.
                       This is the easiest and best way to find a reputable and accountable
                       contractor.
                              You are always free to get second opinions and negotiate with your
                       adjuster. By choosing the contractor the insurance company selected, it often
                       protects you because those contractors are accountable to the insurance
                       company.
                              Insurance companies provide contractors with many jobs and are big
                       clients to them. Letting the insurance company take care of it can save you a
                       lot of stress, time, and trouble.





                                                                                                       31
   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36