In early 2011, a major electrical fire erupted in a Siesta Key residence causing significant damage throughout the insured’s winter vacation home.  Immediately following the loss, the homeowners reported the damage to their insurance company and an adjuster was assigned to handle the claim.  Two weeks later, the adjuster provided the homeowners with his repair estimate for the house damage and immediately issued a check the same day in the amount of $47,945.32.  Was this a fair insurance settlement offer?

During the same period after the fire, the homeowners were contacted by numerous emergency restoration companies, building contractors, and public insurance adjusters to assist them with the damage.  They chose a local restoration contractor to perform emergency services and board-up the residence. The contractor also prepared a preliminary repair estimate simply to note the differences in the damage estimate provided by the insurance company’s adjuster. The differences were substantial. 

After consulting with family and friends about the many issues and discrepancies of their insurance claim, it was recommended that a professional public insurance adjuster was best to handle the claim on homeowner’s behalf. After interviewing a few public adjusting firms, the homeowner’s felt comfortable with Mr. Rick Tutwiler and immediately retained his services. 

Mr. Tutwiler quickly developed an effective insurance claim strategy by determining the coverage limits, exclusions, deductible issues as well as the co-insurance requirements and related potential penalties.  He also conducted a thorough review of the law & ordinance/code upgrade issues that needed to be addressed in the claim. He then advised the homeowners how best to proceed with the mitigation efforts so they complied with the post-loss duties of the insurance policy.

After working diligently to complete an estimate for the damage repairs, he was able to successfully negotiate $423,450 for the house reconstruction (a 783% increase from the original dwelling offer) and an additional $230,920 for personal property damages and additional living expenses.   The total payment to the homeowners was $654,370.