They are calling the Blizzard of 2018, causing widespread damage in Massachusetts, a bomb cyclone. We are about to see an explosion of thousands of homeowners filing insurance claims for water damage, tree/branch/wind damage and flooding. Contractors, get ready for frantic calls from property owners to help them restore their property and provide an estimate for repairs for the insurance company. If you need help with this we have the Insurance Claim Workshop for remodelers and contractors on January 24th, 2018. We teach contractors the ins and outs of estimating and dealing with insurance repair work.
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Blizzard of 2018 hammers Mass homeowners; Get ready for insurance claims
Posted by Mark Paskell on Thu, Jan 04, 2018 @ 08:23 PM
Tags: insurance claims, ice dams, water damage
2015 Ice dam insurance claim of 25K finally settled for $220,000
Posted by Mark Paskell on Mon, Oct 02, 2017 @ 11:04 PM
In 2015, a Massachusetts insured (homeowner) had major ice dam damage and filed an insurance claim. The initial insurance company offer was approximately $25,000 for repairs. They called a Mass contractor to get help with the estimate and quickly found out that the insurance company offer was low on scope and money to restore their home. This contractor called me to help him with the situation. He said he was sick and tired of giving free detailed insurance estimates and dealing with low ball insurance company adjusters.
Read MoreTags: insurance claims, mass public adjuster, contractor consultant
Thousands of homeowners at risk for low ball Xactimate estimates
Posted by Mark Paskell on Sat, Sep 16, 2017 @ 01:32 PM
As hurricanes Harvey and Irma wind down and Jose approaches New England, thousands of homeowners will soon face the prospects of dealing with insurance adjusters who write scope and price deficient repair estimates on the clandestine software known as Xactimate. The vast majority of insurance companies have adopted this one software program that is confusing to homeowners and contractors alike. Over 80% of all repair estimates will be written on this program. In lieu of Xactimate we recommend using Excel workbooks and the critical path method for figuring damage claims.
Read MoreTags: insurance claims, estimating, estimates
Remodeler rewarded for helping homeowner with low ball insurance claim estimate
Posted by Mark Paskell on Wed, Sep 14, 2016 @ 08:19 AM
In 2015 a Boston area remodeler was approached by a homeowner who was the recipient of a low ball insurance claim estimate. The first offer from the insurance company was $40,000.00. After the remodeler took our Insurance Claim Workshop and used the tools learned in the class, the claim was settled for the right scope of work and price of $
Read MoreTags: homeowner, insurance claims, pre-loss condition, ice dams, estimates
Insurance companies continue to low ball homeowner claim estimates
Posted by Mark Paskell on Mon, May 02, 2016 @ 12:09 PM
Insurance companies and their adjusters continue to exploit homeowners on covered damage claims by refusing to include items clearly damaged by snow/ice dams, frozen pipe bursts and water intrusion. This week I will be viewing property claims with my contractor client to help him help his homeowner client. We will be meeting with the independent adjuster and the insurance company adjuster. The damage occurred in the winter of 2015!
Read MoreTags: massachusetts, homeowners, insurance claims, low ball estimates
Handling Ice/Snow Damage Insurance Claims & Roof Fall Safety
Posted by Mark Paskell on Sun, Jan 24, 2016 @ 09:55 AM
The winter of 2016 has begun and with it the possibility of storm damage from ice dams and snow and falls from roofs. Last year Massachusetts had thousands of insurance claims and many are still unsettled. In addition we had many die from falling while clearing snow from roofs.
Read MoreTags: estimating workshop, fall protection osha, contractors, insurance claims
Contractors finding more low ball insurance estimates
Posted by Mark Paskell on Sat, Apr 25, 2015 @ 10:02 AM
This week several contractors who attended our insurance claim workshop told me that insurance companies are continuing to low ball claims. The good news is these contractors have successfully countered the low ball estimates getting the insurance company to pay the fair amount.
Tags: insurance claims
Cloaking device for insurance companies claim estimates; Xactimate
Posted by Mark Paskell on Sun, Apr 05, 2015 @ 10:30 AM
In 2268 the Federation learned that the Romulans had developed a cloaking device. Star Trek Enterprise Captain Kirk and crew had a hard time locating the vessel when the Romulans turned on their cloaking device to hide their ship. Of course like all good aliens the Klingons also developed one by 2269 and the race to develop clever ways to avoid being seen is underway.
Tags: insurance claims
Contractors report insurance claims as low as 1/3 of actual damage
Posted by Mark Paskell on Sun, Mar 22, 2015 @ 09:30 AM
Last week at the Insurance Claim Workshop at National Lumber (Mansfield, Mass) several contractors brought in copies of low insurance claim estimates. One estimate showed $8,000 for repairs while the real damage is over $40,000.00.
After our workshop I received numerous calls about incomplete claim offers that left out damage that was in plain view. On Friday, I was asked to help a contractor's client in the Concord, Ma area deal with a ridiculously low estimate. The job will require ripping out outside walls and ceilings in 7 rooms, including a kitchen and bathroom. They will have to move out for this work. The insurance offered $25,000 and the actual repairs will be over $60,000.00 for same condition and code upgrade will be $15,000-$20,000.00.
Tags: insurance claims
Contractor convinces insurance company to increase claim by $35,000!
Posted by Mark Paskell on Mon, Mar 16, 2015 @ 06:44 PM
I spoke with a contractor client today and he said he was able to convince an insurance adjuster to increase the initial storm damage claim offer by $35,000.00. Yes you read that right...$35,000.00.
Tags: insurance claims