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Name:	muddauber -	Reply
Subject:	Insurance adjusters
Date:	5/4/2011 7:16:19 AM (updated 5/4/2011 7:47:46 AM)

Your good old friend agent is not your friend in these cases, and not the one to get you paid. Not bashing the industry, but do remember it is the adjusters job is to get you to accept the least amount of payout you will accept. Do not threaten to use a lawyer to sue. Rather, demand to talk with their supervisor. Also beware of accepting a check that has anything related to final payment on the back of the check.
Something else I am seeing is contractors from all over are coming in here. We have a number of well known locals that are reputable. In all cases, check their licensing and insurance. Demand those documents as well as references and check them!!! I'd be very, very concerned to use anybody from out of state.
This is the link to check out an Alabama license: http://www.genconbd.state.al.us/database-sql/roster.aspx
Check with their insurance company. Many buy it, then don't make payments so they are not insured.
Money. For clean up, I'd require a proof of dumping at an approved landfill before paying anything.
For a remodel or rebuild. Add a clause to the contract that your draw monies are not to be comingled and all labor and materials are required to be paid. Should contractor take a hike with your cash, they are guilty of fraud.
Also make sure the contractor will do all work for the amount the insurance agrees to pay.
Sorry for the long post, but been thru this several times and do not wish to see our neighbors ripped off.

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Insurance adjusters
Date:	5/4/2011 8:23:49 AM (updated 5/4/2011 8:25:26 AM)

good onfo dauber....I was noticing the influx of "contractors" too; even Bruce has seen a quick increase in new advertisers; be careful folks and ask the right questions. Get references, This is a really bad time for anyone who got hit and I'd hate to see it get worse.

Name:	Samdog -	Reply
Subject:	Insurance adjusters
Date:	5/4/2011 10:46:01 AM

Thanks. Good advice using a contractor anytime. Especially under these circumstances.

Name:	roswellric -	Reply
Subject:	And...
Date:	5/4/2011 11:18:36 AM

Here are some guidelines for insurance. I'm not an expert so you should contact your insurance agent to verfy coverages necessary for the scope of the work and AL requirements. For your contractor make sure he has the correct types of insurance and make sure you get a proof in the form of a certificate - only from the insurance comapny or agency who wrote the coverage. Do not accept a certificate from a contractor! Call and verify coverage with the agency or insurance company right before the work starts too. You need: Liability $1- 5,000,000++(the more the better), Worker's comp and hired & non-owned vehicle insurance coverage. And make sure you get lien waivers from the general contractor and get a list of the subs & suppliers for a phone call to make sure they are paid before paying the contractor. Sound like a lot of work but this situation demands it.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Contractors
Date:	5/4/2011 3:20:36 PM

After the Hurricanes in Florida a few years ago (Issac?), my father lost the sun porch off his house. He was looking for a contractor and having a hard time finding one until a nice man showed up. Yes, he was even affiliated with a name contractor in Florida. He took my father's deposit and was never seen or heard again. My father pursued him in court, and it took 5 years, but he did get his deposit back. So be careful. There are people who pray on those who have suffered a disaster and have no remorse at all about taking your money.

Name:	Bhamcpa -	Reply
Subject:	Additional thoughts
Date:	5/4/2011 4:49:16 PM

you can minimize your risk by making sure the contractor doing the work has an Alabam Homebuilders License that is current (2011) Many of the homes needing repair are in a county that does not have building inspectors. A licensed contractor will help ensure that you get a quality job. Also use contractors who have done work in the area, it will make it much easier for callbacks if you have any problems after the job is complete.

Name:	Tate AU -	Reply
Subject:	Insurance adjusters
Date:	5/4/2011 7:00:14 PM

I am the operations manager of an insurance restoration business in Huntsville. Here are a couple of quick tips as well to make this process a little bit easier and safer. Most of the work that we do comes from direct assignments from insurance companies as we are a preferred contractor through most all of the larger and some smaller companies. We are graded on "time in progress" for every aspect of the job. The point is that as a contractor on the program it is our number one goal to satisfy the homeowner as well as satisfy the requirements of the referral program that we are on. These requirements are extremely strict and we are held to a very high standard. Anyone who has had a loss from this storm or any other type of loss should ask your adjuster, agent, or contact with your insurance company if they have any type of preferred contractor program. If they do (which most do) you will undoubtedly be in good hands and not have to worry about "fly-by-night" contractors taking your money. Furthermore, this program requires companies to background check all of their employees. Hope this helps. If you have any questions during this process please don't hesitate to message me. I will do all I can to help.

Name:	roswellric -	Reply
Subject:	Well ....
Date:	5/4/2011 8:42:09 PM

Licensing is important but not as important as the proper insurance and experience. That's where the rubber meets the road.

Name:	muddauber -	Reply
Subject:	Insurance adjusters
Date:	5/5/2011 9:00:15 AM

While such contractors are likely very good, you still have one problem that I see. Your allegiance is with the insurance company that provides you with this work. Rebuild, I see no problem. In restoration work, there often are issues that could not or were not discovered and hence not in the scope of work. That could very well lead to conflicts of interest. I want someone whose sole allegiance is with the property owner.

Name:	Tate AU -	Reply
Subject:	Insurance adjusters
Date:	5/5/2011 11:54:14 AM

While we do have to meet the guidelines of the insurance companies, these guidelines are in respect to quality, and time in progress. As an estimator or adjuster you estimate what damage you can see at the time of inspection. If any additional damage occurs or is discovered during the course of the repair all that is required is a supplement that goes back to the insurance company. We are in no way trying to save insurance companies money by not doing something that needs to be done. As I said in the last post, our number one goal is to satisfy the home owner. We would not do anything to appease the insurance company at the cost of the customer, this is not the purpose of the program. We are required to stand behind our work for 5 years and would not leave a job knowing there was work that needed to be done that was not. The reason that we, and other contractors on the program, get more work is because we meet or exceed the requirements set forth for time-in-progress and quality and leave happy customers. I see where it could be perceived as how you described it, however the reality of it is the customer is our number one priority.

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