As a lifelong coastal resident, I have dedicated my career to the understanding of coastal structures, weather and, unfortunately, the loss claims that all-too-often follow our piece of paradise. To that end I would like to share a few items that may be of interest to you.
National Flood Insurance Proof of Loss:
As a certified floodplain manager, I am trained by FEMA to understand development in floodplains throughout the country. Within this role is a responsibility to understand various components of the program, including the National Flood Insurance Program, which was instituted in 1968 to stabilize coastal development.
Hopefully those of you that took on water had flood insurance. I expect by now you are getting down to the brass tacks of what is covered, what isn’t, and the costs associated. Unfortunately, there is little hard guidance on how to move forward, but the most important thing is to not miss filing your “Proof Of Loss” within 60 days of your loss. In most occasions your adjuster will fill this form out for you and require your signature before sending the claim forward for processing.
Unfortunately, in many instances, the values of the damages have not been agreed upon by this time. My advice: sign the proof, get the money moving, and make dang certain you file your own proof in advance of the 60 day deadline. Your proof needs to be properly filled out, signed, notarized, and supported with a detailed estimate that includes detailed measurements of building components, replacement and actual cash values backed by drawings, pictures, plans estimates, or receipts. This goes both for contents and building items.
Complete Contractors, Inc. can write your estimate of damages for your Proof of Loss for $1.50 per square foot. Even if we do not do the reconstruction, you can have the benefit of Complete’s experience to file your claim and direct your contractor, and you can feel assured your decisions are educated.
What to do if you disagree with your Flood Adjuster
- Read your Policy for Appraisal, an alternative Dispute Resolution option.
- Appraisal – Many of you have great builders and tradespeople out there and I consider a number of them to be friends. Sometimes a person may have great carpentry skills, but may not be as knowledgeable of the ins and outs of an insurance claim. You can find your appraisal information as indexed in the table of contents of your policy.
- Call John Minor to be your Certified Insurance Appraiser: 850.932.8720
From the National Flood Insurance Program Dwelling Form:
P. Appraisal
If you and we fail to agree on the actual cash value or, if applicable, replacement cost of your damaged property to settle upon the amount of loss, then either may demand an appraisal of the loss. In this event, you and we will each choose a competent and impartial appraiser within 20 days after receiving a written request from the other. The two appraisers will choose an umpire. If they cannot agree upon an umpire within 15 days, you or we may request that the choice be made by a judge of a court of record in the State where the covered property is located. The appraisers will separately state the actual cash value, the replacement cost, and the amount of loss to each item. If the appraisers submit a written report of an agreement to us, the amount agreed upon will be the amount of loss. If they fail to agree, they will submit their differences to the umpire. A decision agreed to by any two will set the amount of actual cash value and loss, or if it applies, the replacement cost and loss.
Each party will:
1. Pay its own appraiser; and
2. Bear the other expenses of the appraisal and umpire equally.
Full National Flood Insurance Program Dwelling Form document is available for viewing.