Mold damage can be catastrophic and can happen almost anywhere. After the strike of a natural disaster, it is not uncommon to find broken windows, large foundation cracks, and damaged structures that have let in the elements; even a burst pipe can lead to mold contamination if not properly managed, and cleaning it up is no simple task.
Mold can get into walls, underneath floors and inside even the smallest spaces. It can destroy everything from wood beams to electronics. The issue of mold damage can be very expensive to remedy as well. Depending on the extent of the damage, entire walls may have to be demolished and replaced.
If mold is discovered, what should have been an easy patch in the roof can turn into a major project. Not to mention that mold can contaminate clothing, furniture and carpets. Since mold can also be hazardous, porous and non-porous materials may have to be disposed of entirely and replaced, often at great cost to a home or business owner.
The Right Time To Hire a Public Adjuster
As a policyholder, it can be difficult to determine exactly when it is the right time to bring in a public adjuster to help with a mold damage claim. Just as every individual is unique, every situation will be different in circumstance and there is no standard right answer.
The best answer, though, is to contact a public adjuster as soon as possible after discovering mold damage. Public adjusters will help assess the extent of mold damage done to the property and whether or not a mold claim is covered by the insurance policy. If it is warranted, the adjuster will help file the initial claim and be there to help the policyholder every step of the way to relieve the burden during a stressful time.
Mold damage is a serious situation and should always be treated with the highest priority. Waiting will only make things worse and potentially jeopardize the validity of a claim, causing the claim to be rejected or substantially lowering any potential payout.
Take action to contain the mold growth right away. Mold contamination can spread quickly, and once mold gets into something, it can be extremely difficult to get out. Getting repairs to eliminate the source of the mold is imperative as well. All in all, stopping the mold growth within 48 hours will help to prevent further damage to the property.
The biggest question that will naturally arise in the mind of the homeowner, at this point, is whether or not a policy will even cover mold damage. Understanding policy coverage can be tricky all on your own. It may be stated directly in the policy itself whether or not a company covers mold claims and to what extent, and some companies allow for an endorsement to be added to the policy.
An endorsement will add extra coverage to a policy for an added fee. Mold damage caused by preventable maintenance is unlikely to be covered as it is considered the policyholder’s duty to inspect and care for a property. An expert adjuster is experienced with the intricacies of insurance policies and adept at navigating the claims process.
Every state has regulations that set the minimum standard for dealing with insurance claims, but the statutes can vary depending on the state. Each insurance company also will have different standards for what is and is not covered by an individual policy.
Staying informed on what is in a given policy, even reading the fine print, is important and will help a policyholder assess and update their policy as needed. Here again, a public adjuster’s expertise can be a great help. A public adjuster can help determine whether mold damage is covered by a policy and whether or not a claim should be made.
You’ve Discovered Mold Damage: What To Do Next
We have already established that you must contact a public adjuster as soon as possible after you discover mold damage. Before doing that, though, you will need to find some temporary solutions to the issue at hand.
First things first, remedy any problems that may be adding to the situation. Once mold damage is discovered, containing the mold growth is extremely important to prevent further damage to the property. Emergency measures to protect the property and stop the spread of mold contamination should be taken immediately.
Stop any water flow to broken appliances or pipes and remove any contaminated items. Do not throw away any damaged property, as the insurance company will want all evidence involved with the claim to be verified and inspected before settling a claim.
Necessary repairs to prevent further damage to the property should be completed within 48 hours of the discovery of mold damage. A public adjuster will help make sure that all necessary evidence is preserved and that any repairs made will fall in line with the expectations of the insurance company.
Mold contamination can be deceptively invasive. Mold doesn’t just blossom on concrete walls or tiled surfaces. Different species of mold can grow in wood, clothing, upholstery or drywall. Mold can even grow behind wallpaper or underneath floorboards. What appears to be a small patch of mold in the corner of the basement can actually be a sign of a much larger problem that extends beyond what is visible.
Remember that mold doesn’t just destroy inanimate objects, it can cause health problems from respiratory infections to skin and eye irritations. Take care to limit physical contact with the contaminated area. Consulting an experienced professional can shed light on what type of mold and how extensive the damage actually is.
Once aware of the situation, a public adjuster can help decide if an insurance claim is warranted and the likelihood of a payout. Getting rid of the mold can be a difficult task – it’s more than just scrubbing with bleach.
Often times, a professional cleaning crew is required to remedy the situation, particularly when it is a recurring problem, and professional crews use specially designed mold remediation equipment that is heavy duty and can be very expensive. It’s a complex process that can take time and leave massive amounts of restoration to be done.
However, before hiring a professional cleaning crew and shelling out all that money, it will be time to consult a public adjuster and file an insurance claim. An adjuster will help file the claim and work with the insurance company to manage everything, including covering the cost of cleaning and remodeling. Insurance companies can be quite fickle when handling claims and require a lot of evidence and documentation before paying out a claim.
So, consulting the insurance company before trying to tackle the situation alone is important. A public adjuster can be of great assistance in assessing damages and the viability of a claim. The adjuster will help file your claim and provide whatever documentation the company demands. The adjuster will be there every step of the way to help clarify everything and get your life back to normal.
Dealing with the insurance claims process can be tedious and aggravating, especially after the devastation that a loss of property can bring. Beginning to end, a public adjuster will be there to help the policyholder. From filing the initial insurance claim through the claims process until resolution, a public adjuster can offer great assistance and alleviate the stress of a troublesome situation.
Rather than dealing with the insurance company alone, the public claims adjuster will act as a liaison between the company and the policyholder. The public adjuster is a sort of “middle man” who can provide a fair evaluation of the asset value and help ensure that the policyholder receives the maximum payout provided by the coverage while alleviating the policyholder of a mountain of work.
Instead of allowing the insurance company to decide how much is owed, an effective adjuster can help lock in the most satisfactory settlement possible. Furthermore, many public adjusters are experts in their field and well-versed with local statutes and regulations. An adjuster can even help discover things covered by a policy that the policyholder may have overlooked.
Why You Need To Hire a Public Adjuster Right Away For a Mold Damage Claim
Deciding whether or not a mold damage claim is covered by an insurance policy can be tricky. Remembering every detail of an insurance policy is difficult, and a property owner might not even have a complete copy of their insurance policy on hand.
Moreover, the claims process itself is a complicated one and a policyholder can easily be confused or misled by the claims process, especially without the guidance of a professional.
You will need to hire a public adjuster right away, in order to avoid:
Improper or missing documentation can result in an insurance company rejecting a claim, leaving the policyholder to deal with the situation on their own. This is why bringing a public adjuster in to help with a mold damage claim is essential.
Many public adjusters focus on specific areas and have vast experience thereof. They have in depth knowledge what is covered by a policy and the rights and protections of the policyholder.
For example, when dealing with business insurance, a public adjuster will understand how to factor in business income, builders’ risk, expediting expense and more. The adjuster will do extensive research to determine the damages claimed by a policyholder then present them to the insurance company in a detailed manner. Every insurance claim is different, so the public adjuster will evaluate the policy and assess the total coverage applicable to a claim.
While handling a mold damage claim, as with other insurance claims, it is important to document everything. Documenting not only the extent of the damage but the source of the water intrusion is a key factor, and disposing of contaminated property prematurely can lead to a claim being rejected.
A public adjuster will help collect photographic and video evidence, making sure it is recorded accurately and time-stamped. During a dispute, insurance companies have also been known to require that damaged property be tested by a remediation consultant to determine whether an item was actually contaminated. An adjuster will assist in saving any required evidence and keeping it sealed until the issue has been resolved in writing.
On top of documenting evidence, the claims process also entails handling reams of legal paperwork that must be filled out accurately, signed, and presented to the insurance company in a timely manner. Handling this process alone can be frustrating and confusing, especially while dealing with a devastating loss of property.
A public adjuster will be there to make sure that all the paperwork and legal agreements required by the insurance company are filled out accurately and presented to the company on schedule as well as helping to interpret and clarify any confusing details of the claims process. An adjuster will help lift the burden off the shoulders of the property owner.
In addition to a complex system of paperwork and legal agreements, insurance companies can use misrepresentations or discrepancies in given statements as an excuse to reject a claim. In many states, the material misrepresentation, concealment, or omission of evidence associated with a claim can allow an insurance company to declare a claim as fraudulent, even if it was done unintentionally.
A misrepresentation as small as a discrepancy between two given statements or the overestimation of the cost of the damaged property can be used to reject a claim or even rescind the insurance policy. A public adjuster will be there to ensure that all evidence, statements, and paperwork are consistent, accurate and unbiased.
To conclude, dealing with significant damage or loss of property is not the ideal time to be reading through clauses and deciphering technical legal jargon. Public adjusters are familiar with both the terminology and claims process.
They will be there to counsel their clients and make sure that all aspects of a claim and potential outcomes are clear. The adjuster will be the contact for the insurance company and work with their clients to make sure all required information is gathered and presented accurately, even when multiple claims have to be made.
Mold damage is a serious problem, and having an ally to help navigate the troubled waters can provide true peace of mind. A public adjuster will be a guide when dealing with the difficult situation of mold damage, whether it’s in your home or business. Insurance claims can be a complicated and stressful process. Hiring a public adjuster can help you focus on getting life back on track as quickly as possible.
If you’re looking for a public adjuster, reach out to Bulldog Adjusters to see if our public adjusters can help you! We provide a free damage inspection and guarantee that we’l get you the biggest possible settlement for your claim!
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I appreciate you saying that adjusters would help determine whether a mould claim is covered by the insurance policy and the level of mould damage done to the property. My grandmother's home frequently floods, and the flooding is what causes the mould to emerge. I'm not sure if that qualifies as a claim or not. I'll engage an adjuster to assist me in determining if it can be claimed or not.