David A. Benton d/b/a
APA / Associated Public Adjusters
Professional Property Damage Evaluations & Claim Settlements
David A. Benton d/b/a
APA / Associated Public Adjusters
Professional Property Damage Evaluations & Claim Settlements
Your insurance policy requires you to protect your property from further damage:
Board up your building, patch or tarp the roof and shut off all utilities. Winterize your property - Drain plumbing fixtures and water lines if the building is exposed to freezing. If you cannot live in your home, pump the fuel oil out of the storage tank to prevent spillage & oil contamination. Boarded up properties are commonly vandalized and copper lines stolen. All items of value , cash, jewelry, fine arts, firearms, collections, personal papers, etc. should all be removed from the loss site and placed into a safe location to prevent additional damage and/or theft. Photograph and inventory contents of refrigerators and freezers before discarding spoiled food.
If your property was damaged by water, you must act quickly to protect against mold:
Mold could start to contaminate your property 48 hours after the date & time of loss. Water damage remediation must start immediately after the loss to prevent or control mold. Most policies provide very limited coverage for damage caused by mold. Contact your Insurance Company, Agent or give us a call to be directed to competent water / mold remediation companies who can extract the water and start the drying process. All damaged contents and personal property must be set aside to be inspected by the insurance company's field adjusters and experts. All property that required immediate disposal must be photographed and inventoried.
Emergency water damage demolition:
Be cautious while completing emergency building demolition. Is a demolition permit required by the local building codes? Testing for lead paint, asbestos and mold may also be required. Failure to properly test, handle and dispose of environmental toxins can result in much greater damage that may not be covered by your insurance policy. Isolate all areas or rooms where demolition is required. Floor to ceiling plastic sheeting or zip-walls should be installed to prevent the spread of contaminated demolition dust and/or lead, asbestos or mold throughout the unaffected areas of your building and personal property.
All emergency services are paid from the limited funds provided by your insurance policy:
Services such as board-up, drain plumbing, emergency repairs, dry cleaning and pack-out of personal property will reduce available funds needed for the restoration of your dwelling, contents or commercial property. Please call APA | Associated Public Adjusters to determine what needs to be done to prevent further damage while protecting the available Policy Limits needed to clean, restore and/or replace your damaged building & contents.
Photographs are very useful:
Photograph exterior & interior areas of damage before items are moved off site.
Take photographs of the entire loss site and close-up photographs of damaged, high value items.
It is usually best to keep the loss site intact until the damage can be evaluated and the claim settled:
It can be very difficult to establish values needed to obtain an agreed settlement when damaged property has been demolished; disposed of; packed into boxes; moved into storage or repaired. The Policy requires you to protect your property from further damage. Do not allow destroyed items to be discarded before all adjusters & experts have inspected and the replacement values have been determined. Salvaged items can be cleaned, packed and placed into storage. Non-salvaged items should remain on site.
Emergency demolition & disposal of damaged property can greatly affect the outcome of your claim:
It is very difficult to establish and document damages when the building has been demolished and/or contents have been removed from the loss site. Photograph all areas of your building before proceeding with emergency demolition. Photograph and inventory all damaged contents/personal property and contaminated food before disposal into a dumpster. Photograph all destroyed appliances and appliance identification tags before removing from the loss site.
Call or Text: APA / Associated Public Adjusters @ 508-735-1620 to discuss emergency demolition and disposal of damaged property.
Determine the Scope and Value of Your Claim:
You must present your claim in relation to the available insurance coverage to fully utilize the benefits provided by the policy. Call your insurance agent or insurance company to request a copy of your current policy and all endorsements. We are available at your convenience to introduce you to our services; inspect the damage; review your policy and discuss the claim adjustment process.
Loss of Use / Additional Living Expenses:
If you are unable to occupy your home, you must keep receipts for all incurred, emergency expenses for housing, meals, clothing, increased travel, boarding of pets, etc. Locating temporary housing that meets the daily requirements of your family must be established as soon as possible. You may need to rent a furnished house, apartment or spend a few days at a hotel. Most insurance policies provide coverage that allows you to maintain your "normal standard of living".
Advanced Claim Payments:
Has the damage forced you out of your home or place of business? Have you incurred significant expenses to protect your property from further damage? Advance claim payments are usually available from your insurance company to help you protect your property from further damage and get you established at a temporary location. Request an Advance Payment from your agent or insurance company.
Cost of Our Services:
Our fees are usually based upon a percentage of the settlement ( Agreed Fee ) plus additional charges.
Additional Charges may include travel, lodging & meals, cost to document damages, cost of experts, management of settlement funds, file copies, consulting with your attorney, preparing for and testifying at reference, appraisal, mediation or trial
An hourly rate might be available depending upon the details of the loss and type of services needed to help prepare & settle your claim. A retainer is usally required when we are not working on a contingency basis.
The Agreed Fee is paid when settlement or advanced payments are received.
Free Consultation & Review of Your Policy:
We are availble, at your convenience, to meet with you at your damaged property or our Office located at Suite 208-B, 23 Midstate Drive, Auburn, MA to discuss the details of your insurance claim.
Please call, text or email.
Office: 508-832-9000 | Cell or Text: 508-735-1620 | Email: benton@apaclaims.com
Office Location: Suit 208-B, 23 Midstate Drive, Auburn, MA 01501
Office: 508-832-9000 * Cell or Text: 508-735-1620