Just had a fire - need help

We just had a fire on our roof. Damage is not terrible but serious. We have been approached by a public adjuster, multiple contractors, etc. Anyone have any guidance? State Farm is our insurance and we’ve let them know.

trudylou

in About Brooklyn 11 years and 5 months ago

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steam_man | 11 years and 5 months ago

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I just went through this. Family member’s house went on fire on Christmas Day. DO NOT SIGN UP WITH ANY OF THE COMPANIES THAT SHOW UP DURING AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Feel free to shoot me an e-mail to talk off-forum I’m happy to answer any of your questions. Steve heat@moltenmechanical.com

housepoor | 11 years and 5 months ago

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A good public adjuster is worth their wright in gold. Our insurance agent recommended Joseph Anton when we had a flood a number of years ago. Here is a link to his BBB blurb http://www.bbb.org/new-york-city/business-reviews/insurance-claim-processing-services/anton-adjustment-company-in-jamaica-ny-35630\. He knew all the ways that insurance companies try to low ball claims and he got the best settlement possible (although it took a while to get the check — I am told that was (is?) the nature of the beast). I am sure we ended up with 30~40% more than we would have otherwise gotten, even after his fee. You want a guy like that on your side and not someone who works for the insurance company. Isn’t using their adjuster a conflict of interest by definition?

concord | 11 years and 5 months ago

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Wathever you do, stay away from public adjusters….they do nothing other than tell you wish for to fill out. They chard 4% of your recovery. It seems to me that by the fact that you are able to sign to this forum and post etc. you will be able to present your claim to the insurance company, etc. Start with the roofing contractors listed on this forum, etc. What will happen is that the insurance comoany will have its own adjuster…it may be that your roofer will do,the jib for the amount the insurance pays. But be careful that you understand and specify exactly what the repair will be…so that the contractor does not charge you for things that the insurance company did not pay. Be careful of contractors recommended by the adjusters… Good luck…

Green Mountain | 11 years and 5 months ago

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As a contractor, I am busy enough fielding requests for estimates from people who contact me. I don’t chase firetrucks. I don’t work on roofs. The Dept of Consumer Affairs requires Home Improvement Contractors to be licensed. It also requires all those who offer their services, to be licensed “Home Improvement Salespersons.” To be licensed to sell home improvement work, you have to pay for and pass a criminal background check by the NYS Police. I carry my license in my wallet, so I can show it to consumers, if they ask. But, nobody ever asks. When a “pop-up contractor” arrives, maybe you should ask: “Are you a licensed contractor?” And, not accept “Yes..blah blah blah.” Follow up: “Please, may I see your sales license? It is a white card issued by New York Department of Consumer Affairs, displaying the person’s photograph, expiration date and license number. You can check on it at NYC.gov This service is paid for by license fees, and not with your taxes. I want you to get the consumer protections, which I pay for.

thetinkerswagon | 11 years and 5 months ago

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I have dealt with multiple customers who have had fires and a good friend of mine who had one as well. I was amazed at how some of these contractors popped out of the wood work with my friend, who was out of town and had a guest in his house when his event happen, and pretended that they were recommended by the fire dept just because they arrived so soon after the fire men left. after what I saw there, i would probably not use any of those contractors and would not even talk to them (some of them work close with adjusters as well so be careful who you talk to). I would first call my insurance company and use their adjuster and if they don’t sound like they are fair, try a public one. I will tell you though, my friend did not think his insurance company was being fair so he hired a public adjuster to work on his behalf and it was over a year before the matter was settled and he was not all pleased. Find a contractor through a friend or business acquaintance. I am not sure if it has to do with the market or the different insurance companies here, but I had managed a condo complex in another state after college and we had multiple claims due to floods and wind damage and I always found the adjuster easy to work with, very responsive, and fair. We had an incident with Chubb here in NYC and I can say the same thing. But lately I have heard more bad stuff about the adjusters and the insurance companies. good luck, Steve