Posts by Rick Tutwiler

Condominium Association Challenge of Handling Hurricane Michael Insurance Claims

Condominium Association Challenge of Handling Hurricane Michael Insurance Claims

After a meeting with the Board President of a Panama City Condominium Association, I had the chance to follow-up with some recommendations for dealing with their insurance company adjuster and contractors that I would like to share with others who may benefit from the same information.  

First, keep in mind that the Board has a fiduciary responsibility to the both the Association members and to itself. The Board will need to assign someone to manage all aspects of the claim to the very finish.  Whether that person be an individual or a committee, ideally that person(s) would need to be qualified and competent to get the association through this burdensome process.  By no means will this be an easy process and given the magnitude of this catastrophic Hurricane. These claims can get complicated and many will not be amicably resolved their claims to their satisfaction.


Read More

Citizens continues to put $$ into defense lawyers coffers while losing $12.7 million sinkhole verdict

Citizens continues to put $$ into defense lawyers coffers while losing $12.7 million sinkhole verdict

Citizens Insurance is spending tons of policyholder premiums to pay its lawyer friends to fight these claims it clearly should be covering!! Citizens hit with a $12.7 million verdict, acted in monumental bad faith and as a result 500 people who own property in this community continue to suffer from a claim that has languished since 2007. It makes me wonder who is running this company, management or the attorneys?


Read More

Windstorm Conference 2018

Windstorm Conference 2018

Following this year's historic hurricane season, it has been great seeing and catching up with some of the best of the best in the property insurance claims industry! The Windstorm Insurance Network (WIND) is a professional association founded in 1999 and the organization offers elite education, industry insight and unique networking opportunities with representatives from all facets of the property insurance claims industry. This year, I served on an expert panel, "Where Wind Meets Fire" speaking about windstorms and how they exacerbate loss and damages resulting from fire, smoke, soot and ash in many different States like Gatlinburg, Tennessee, many parts of California and even on I-4 driving over from Tampa to Orlando.


Read More

Condominium Association Insurance Claims Can Turn Sour

Condominium Association Insurance Claims Can Turn Sour

There is no questioning the devastation that a hurricane can bring.  From severe winds, flooding, wind driven rain, tornadoes, power outages, even the slightest hurricane can cause massive damage. This storm season is no different with Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria incurring property insurance claims well outside their main core. 


Read More

Fire Claim Settled for 200% Above Initial Insurance Company Offer

Fire Claim Settled for 200% Above Initial Insurance Company Offer
This was a great day for this highly decorated Vietnam War Veteran and his wonderful wife. A recipient of a Purple Heart and 2 Bronze Stars with Valor, this couple tragically lost their home to fire 9-months ago. After receiving insufficient offers to settle their claim and months of delay, we were finally able to negotiate a 200% increase over and above the insurance company's initial offer. And to think that the insurance company adjuster discouraged them from hiring a public adjuster! 
Read More

Sarasota Condo Board Experiences Runaround Before Public Adjuster Helps Negotiate Fair Settlement

Sarasota Condo Board Experiences Runaround Before Public Adjuster Helps Negotiate Fair Settlement
The public insurance adjusters at Tutwiler & Associates work extremely hard to prove why our industry profession is so valuable to policyholders. We work with potential clients and share our knowledge to guide them in their property insurance claim decision making. We strive to educate policyholders after a serious loss when they are the most vulnerable.  Case in point involves a massive electrical fire that occurred at a Sarasota condominium last August.
Read More

The Benefits of Pre-Loss Property Insurance Claim Preparation and Disaster Planning

The Benefits of Pre-Loss Property Insurance Claim Preparation and Disaster Planning

Some of our most savvy clients understand just how important it is to have an experienced Public Adjuster on their team even before a property loss occurs.  Some of our clients have been extremely fortunate to never have sustained a property loss but have nonetheless educated themselves to prepare or have heard the horror stories of others who have endured the insurance claim process. At Tutwiler & Associates Public Adjusters, we’ve created a program just for this purpose called: Disaster First Recovery Services


Read More

Cape Coral Still Feeling Impact of Tornados

Cape Coral Still Feeling Impact of Tornados

When and EF2 tornado hit the Cape Coral area in early January and then another windstorm added insult to injury, it was a good indicator of what hurricane force winds will do to a community like this. Here’s some drone video showing the wind damaged landscape. We are still working with some policyholders in the area and the situation down there is surprisingly still not good. Homeowners are starting to get their claim checks from their carrier and suddenly realizing they are not enough to fix their damage. Well over one hundred homes are on a 4-6 week wait for tile roofs. Worse yet, insurance carriers are not paying for roof tarps and I hear the local building department is overwhelmed with permitting and inspections.


Read More
Filed Under:
    Tagged With:

    Avoid a Fire Insurance Claim this Holiday Season

    Avoid a Fire Insurance Claim this Holiday Season

    We want to thank public adjuster Mike Stabile for crafting this holiday blog. The joyful sounds of the season can be heard all around, the halls have been meticulously decked, we're searching for the perfect gifts to fill the stockings and pile under our beautiful trees as we prepare to open our homes to love and laughter with our family and friends this holiday season. 


    Read More
    Filed Under: Tagged With:


    "On Property" Insurance Claim Tips Blog

    Tips and advice about how to properly file and protect your property damage insurance claim and get a fair settlement. We invite all readers to ask questions about their claim so our public adjusters can post answers for others to benefit. Insurance claim expert guest bloggers welcome to submit posts via our contact form.

    Tags

    Local Office

    Tutwiler & Associates Public Adjusters, Inc.
    Licensed Public Insurance Adjusters & Loss Consultants
    Offices: Tampa, Orlando, Palm City, Florida; Dallas, TX; Pittsburgh, PA

    Executive Office
    4300 W. Cypress St.
    Suite 780
    Tampa, FL 33607
    Phone: 813.287.8090
    Toll Free: 800.321.4488

    Licensed in Florida # W840088 &
    Texas #1399706 plus 16 other states
    and the Virgin Islands