We assist you immediately after a loss.
After the loss has occurred, CALL US IMMEDIATELY. We will advise you of the "Duties After A Loss," such as securing the property and protecting it against further damage. We can provide emergency aid and assist you in making necessary arrangements.
MPA will advise you every step of the way.
We will explain all of your rights, making you aware of deadlines and educating you on all of your options. We can advise you on business interruption, extra expense or rental income coverage's. If your loss (ACV) exceeds your coverage's we will provide you with a certified loss statement and assist your tax advisor in implementing any tax deductions available to you or your business. If the claim is on your business, our fee is tax deductible.
We will provide you with a list of over 100 items to help you take control of your claim.
You will receive two of our reports; "The 10 Most Common Mistakes An Insured Makes After A Loss" and a report outlining 23 points of concern in "The Most Common Mistakes An Insured Makes When Using A Contractor". MPA will educate you on matters such as "appealing" the insurance company adjuster’s decision, arbitration, and the appraisal process. We will be at your side all the way through the ordeal until your home or business is restored to your satisfaction. We will do everything necessary to bring your claim to fruition.
Preparation and presentation of your claim is crucial to your loss settlement.
This process typically includes our contents team physically performing an inventory of all items at the loss site. Appraisals are performed and calculations of "replacement costs" and actual cash value (ACV) are made. The final step is the recording and compilation of data. In a residential loss, it is common to have 2,000 to 4,000 lines of information comprised of 18,000 to 36,000 entries. On a commercial claim, depending on the type of business involved, the number of entries can increase exponentially.
We will provide the structural estimate, a critical part of the settlement.
This is due to the fact that the amount of coverage on the structure is usually the largest single component of the settlement. In addition, we must determine the viability of reconstruction. In some cases an inspection must be performed by our structural engineer to determine if the building is sound. Analysis of disconnect, removal, reinstallation and reconnect costs must be considered. MPA utilizes often overlooked areas of coverage such as debris removal (under structure and contents), code upgrades (improvements and betterments), and landscaping to ensure a comprehensive and enhanced settlement.
Most certainly. A detailed and precise claim skillfully negotiated will bring a swift and favorable conclusion to your loss. MPA’s goal is to maximize the claim ensuring that our client receives proper compensation. We strive to perform our duties in a timely, yet effective manner. You have to remember that we only recover when you do, and we earn a percentage of the settlement. The larger your settlement and the sooner you receive it, determines how much and how soon we are paid.
Residential, commercial and industrial properties that have been damaged or destroyed by perils covered by insurance. These perils include fire, wind, water, smoke, lightning, explosion, vehicle or aircraft damage, weight of ice and snow, vandalism, theft and hail.
Anyone who is the "Named Insured" on a property insurance policy. This may include a person who is renting or buying a home, apartment or condominium. Clients may be owners of a business or rental property. A fiduciary such as a bank or an attorney working on behalf of their client. MPA has served individuals with relatively small claims as well as large corporations in multi-million dollar losses.
Our list of clients include attorneys, accountants, contractors, business owners, a county assessor and even a fire chief. An insured’s level of education and field of expertise makes little difference in the processing an insurance claim. Anyone without a thorough knowledge of insurance and a vast amount of claims experience, will find themselves in a virtual mine field.
Absolutely. However, ask yourself these questions. Do I want to put myself through all that work? I have just experienced a devastating loss, am I emotionally ready to tackle this major undertaking? Am I knowledgeable and experienced enough to handle my own claim? Am I willing to risk receiving a significantly lower settlement, just to save the public adjuster’s fee?
Did you know that your insurance policy will not reimburse you for lost income while working on your claim? According to an article in the November 1996 issue of Your Money, 67% of homes are underinsured, and most people do not even read (not to mention understand) their policy! If this is true in your case, what are the odds of negotiating a "fair" settlement with the people who wrote the policy? Many victims do not realize that the burden of "proof of loss" is on them and not the insurance company. They think that the insurance company will determine the full amount of loss and simply write them a check. An insured may also overlook types of coverage's and amounts in excess of what is on their "Declarations Page". Lack of this information alone could significantly decrease the amount of your settlement. Many are caught by surprise to find out that there is a "co-insurance" problem. By the time the insurance company makes them aware of this, it is too late.
Smart people know when to call in a professional. Most people could represent themselves in court, prepare their own taxes, or handle the purchase of a home or business. Realistically however, they know that handling these major undertakings without the guidance of a professional can be foolish and extremely costly. If the future of the largest investment of your life is at risk, doesn’t it make sense to hire a professional to protect it?
Insurance is a contract of adhesion, the insurance company writes the policy, determines your coverage's, and decides how much your premiums will cost. Now that the loss has occurred, they want you to allow their salaried or contracted adjuster to tell you how much they will pay. Insurance is a business, and they have their adjuster looking out for their "bottom line". Shouldn’t you have your own adjuster to look out for your bottom line?!
Many professional insurance company adjusters prefer to work with a licensed and experienced professional rather than an inexperienced insured. However, there are many more agents and adjusters that will do their best to discourage you from hiring a Certified Public Adjuster. The question you need to ask is "if it doesn’t cost me anything to meet with MPA why is this person trying so hard to discourage me from consulting them?!
Immediately. The best defense is a good offense! MPA will provide you with much needed information. You could lose thousands of dollars within the first 72 hours after your loss!! Give us the opportunity to advise you before your insurance company takes control of your claim.
What to do after a loss.
Call your insurance company’s claim department to report the loss.
Call Midwest Property Adjusters L.L.C. at 1-800-775-2549.
Do not consume food, beverages, or medications from the loss site. Even if they appear in good condition they may have been contaminated by heat or smoke. Any pharmacist or physician will tell you that the composition of pharmaceuticals can be altered by excessive heat. It is simply not worth the risk.
You may be asked by your insurance company to sign with a "pack out" company, salvage company or a "preferred insurance company contractor", DON’T!! You may very well be signing away your rights and claim money. By signing with these contractors you are automatically taking the position that you are going to rebuild. One option that you probably won’t hear from your insurance adjuster is that you may be able to "cash out" and relocate "offsite". By signing too soon, you may lose out on opportunities. Take the time to find out all of the options available.
Do not rush into the settlement of your claim. Have a thorough understanding of the complete loss and your exact coverage's.
Do not discard any item until the claim settlement is reached. It may be required as proof, needed as part of an investigation, or its ownership relinquished to the insurance company as part of the settlement.
Regardless of who has called in the "board up" contractor, you are ultimately responsible to ensure that everything has been done to mitigate further damage. Many times these companies are just doing what they are told and will not automatically "winterize" the home or building involved. If the weather is cold, make sure that the plumbing and fixtures are protected. Your insurance policy will not pay for damage resulting from these types of oversights!
Do not make any extensive repairs until your claim is settled.
Obtain receipts for everything! Keep all receipts, if they are not used as part of the claim they may be used for tax purposes.
Photograph or videotape all of the contents including and especially those brought outside by the fire department. This is another important task that MPA will handle for you if we are called in immediately.
Clean up any exterior debris that could cause injury, including items such as boards with exposed nails or broken glass. This will prevent any unnecessary liability claims.