Our firm was happy to contribute to the June Florida Community Association Journal Hurricane Preparedness issue. Below is our article plus here’s a link to many more expert articles on disaster prep.
Don’t wait for disaster to strike—insurance companies demand extensive documentation after a loss. This is where pre-loss planning comes into play. Professional adjusters are engaged before a loss to review your policy, conduct a property risk assessment, and document the condition of the property, as well as a create a post-loss recovery plan with emphasis on having the documentation required to get your claim processed and paid. Tutwiler & Associates’ Disaster First Recovery Program encompasses these services.
Calculating damages is only one part of the property claims adjusting dynamic. Insurance adjusting isn’t just estimating, it’s also investigating! From the insurance carrier’s perspective, they want to know
1) Is the loss covered?
2) Is there pre-existing damage?
3) What is the amount of loss?
These issues can be answered with proper record retention and documentation and can be presented in a timely and professional manner after a loss has occurred, provided you have the foresight to organize these materials. A proactive association board will reap the benefits of faster claims processing when disaster strikes.