The complexity of issues and decisions that policyholders face after experiencing property damage is a primary driver that motivates our clients to reach out to us as their first point of contact after a disaster impacts their property.

Such was the case for a previous client who owns four rental properties on Sanibel Island that incurred damage from both wind and 8 ft. of flood caused by Hurricane Ian. They promptly contacted our office right after filing claims with their insurance carriers and enlisted the services of licensed public adjuster, Tom Long to be their advocate in the claims process. Fortunately, this client was well insured for both wind and flood.

Once contracted, copies of all policies were received, meticulously examined for every coverage detail, and necessary elevation certificates obtained to kickstart our representation. Additionally, we secured permits for our public adjusters to access Sanibel and facilitate onsite meetings with the flood adjuster, even though the island remained inaccessible by vehicle. Getting to the site as quickly and safely as possible is important in the aftermath of a disaster in order to document damage before it can get disturbed or change. One of the challenging difficulties encountered during initial inspections was the tremendous debris inside the properties, hindering interior assessments and concealing other damage hidden under layers of muck.

Meticulous damage documentation followed by months of negotiations with the flood adjuster, culminated with an initial settlement ($506,842) that amounted to only half of the actual repair costs. However, through collaboration with a general contractor and working closely with NFIP, we managed to successfully settle all four flood claims for an additional $532,990, over twice the original NFIP payment. Although the wind claims are still undergoing negotiations, the property owners expressed satisfaction and are actively working towards repairs and resuming their business operations.

Should you or anyone you know need assistance with their business property insurance claim due to Hurricane Ian, please contact public adjuster Tom Long for expert assistance or call 800-321-4488.