As the push for a greener and more energy-efficient future gains momentum, homeowners are presented with a unique opportunity to not only reduce their environmental footprint but also save a substantial amount of money. A recent development in federal tax policy promises to make energy-efficient home upgrades more affordable and accessible than ever before.
How to Reach Your Insurance Company?
Here’s a list of most Fla. insurance companies – their websites, phone numbers and other pertinent post-disaster information.
Here are phone numbers, websites and email addresses for property insurance companies serving Florida. Unless they need emergency repairs, policyholders are urged to first contact their insurers with damage claims before signing over their benefits rights to repair contractors.
Waiver Can Speed Flood Relief to Homeowners
Owners with national flood insurance should get money faster: FEMA ratified a waiver of the full-claims process after Gov. DeSantis and CFO Patronis requested it. “Anyone affected by Hurricane Ian who has an NFIP flood insurance policy and has suffered flood damage should begin filing their claim now, even if you have not returned home yet,” FEMA says in the release.
Federal Hurricane Ian Relief Available Now
Floridians can apply for help from FEMA, which might also help offset insurance deductibles. Pres. Biden declared a major disaster in 13 Fla. counties so far. For more information on Florida’s recovery and to apply for FEMA aid, visit the Hurricane Ian page on FEMA’s website.
Take Steps to Maximize Insurance After a Storm
Flooded Florida street at sunset in a residential neighborhood after a storm.
Emergency management professionals advise you to check your insurance, call your insurance company and find out what’s covered under your policy. And if your home is flooded, hire a mitigation firm to vacuum out water as soon as possible.
WOODLAND PARK, N.J. – When Hurricane Ida hit, its heavy rains wreaked havoc across much of the East Coast of the United States, causing flooding throughout the region. For homeowners faced with the task of cleaning up due to flooding, it’s often a race against the clock.
How do you maximize your insurance coverage and quickly salvage your personal belongings? Here are some important tips from emergency management professionals.
1. Call your insurance company. According to ConsumerReports.com, the first step to file a claim is to get in touch quickly with your insurer or the agent who sold you the homeowners insurance. Your policy may require you to file within a certain time frame.
2. Get a mitigation company. It is crucial to hire a company that can vacuum out water as soon as possible, said Nat Piro, manager of the North Jersey and New York metro division of NFA, a public insurance adjuster. Wood swells in water and the longer it sits in water the greater the damage, he said. It’s also important that the structure be treated for mold.
3. Check your insurance. Flood damage is only covered if you have flood insurance, Piro said. Flood insurance is not required if you do not live in a flood zone.
4. Loopholes. If you do not have flood insurance, there are ways that the damage may be covered under regular homeowner’s insurance, Piro said. Some cases where the damage may be covered include a sump pump that stopped working or a downspout that broke, he said.
5. Take pictures. Be sure to take photos and document any damage resulting from the storm to ensure you have documentation of the impact, which is needed for insurance and any federal or state relief programs that may become available moving forward, said the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
6. Find out what’s covered by your policy. A standard homeowners’ insurance policy covers damage to the home’s structure and personal property, minus a deductible. The amount you’re paid will depend on the kind of coverage you have. Replacement cost coverage should cover repairing or replacing your home and any lost or damaged items.
Actual cash value coverage will pay you the value of your home and the damaged items inside, according to Consumer Reports.
7. Avoid filing too many small claims. Try not to file claims that appear to be less expensive than the value of your deductible, according to Consumer Reports. That’s because if you’re filing a lot of claims, your insurer may decide that you’re filing too often and raise your premiums. But some storms may prove the exception.
8. Large claim? You may want a public adjuster. If you have a very large claim, you may want to turn to a public adjuster, who works on your behalf and represents you for the claim, Consumer Reports said.
Piro said his company, NFA, typically charges 10% or less of the settlement with company personnel handling the damage estimates and negotiations with your insurance company.
9. Prioritize. You may not be able to save everything after flooding. Focus on what’s most important to you, whether for sentimental or monetary reasons.
Originally Published on floridarealtors.org Copyright © 2021 North Jersey Media Group Inc., The Record
The 6 Best Home Design Software
Creating your dream home or living space is as easy as point and click!
Are you a careful planner who likes to take charge of your own home projects? Find out which home design software option is right for you.
Listing Your Home in 2021? Here’s What to Know.
It’s a good time to be a home seller — homes are selling fast and for a premium — but that doesn’t mean you can jump into the market ill-prepared. Knowing what to expect can position you to make the most of this seller’s market.
Roughly 1 in 6 (17%) homeowners plan on selling their home in the next 18 months, according to a new NerdWallet survey conducted online by The Harris Poll among 2,127 homeowners. Those listings will be a welcome sight to buyers currently competing for a limited number of homes commanding top dollar.
5 Tips for Managing Your Next Rennovation
Renovating your home can have all kinds of benefits.
It can increase your property value, make your home more comfortable, or even help you better market your house when it’s time to sell.
That’s only if the renovations are done well, though.
Are you considering an add-on or upgrade? Want to make sure everything is executed perfectly? Here’s how to find the right professionals for the job.
6 Ways to Avoid Delays on Your Remodel
Unexpected delays can quickly turn a fun home remodeling project into stressful misery. But you’ve got more power than you think to keep your project on schedule — and it all comes down to what you do before a single nail is hammered. These six proactive tips will help you avoid remodel problems so your project runs smoothly.
1. Choose your team carefully
When you hire a contractor, the burden of verifying their credentials falls squarely on your shoulders. Start by checking the Better Business Bureau’s website for red flags, as well as visiting LexisNexis online (which requires a subscription) to see if any lawsuits have been filed against potential contractors.
It’s also important to get valid references, stresses David Merrick, president of Merrick Design and Build in Kensington, Maryland. Rather than simply trusting online reviews, Merrick suggests doing some legwork.
“Visiting a project that is actually in progress is the best way to get a reference,” says Merrick, who also serves as the chairman of the Government Affairs Committee for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s Metro D.C. chapter. “So if you’re serious about hiring a contractor, and you want to take the time to check their references, ask to talk to [a current client] or visit a job they have in production.”
Merrick goes on to explain that homeowners should also check contractors’ license statuses online and “request a certificate of insurance. This comes directly from the insurance agent without going through the contractor’s hands, so you know it’s not forged.” This official document also lets you know whether the contractor’s policy is sufficient for your project’s size, and if workers’ compensation coverage is included.
2. Build in a budget cushion
Setting aside money for unexpected costs could help prevent your project from being delayed indefinitely.
Although good contractors usually spot evidence of costly problems during the initial estimate, some issues don’t reveal themselves until the walls are opened up, explains Rebecca Davila, owner of Building Dreams, a construction and renovation company in Hawthorne, California. For this reason, she suggests homeowners protect themselves by factoring in a substantial budget cushion.
“You have to look at having at least 20% to 25% [more] money on the side of your project,” she advises, “just in case of unforeseen conditions.”
3. Order materials early
Backorders and slow order fulfillment can stop renovations in their tracks. That’s why it’s essential to select and order tiles, fixtures and other materials your contractor requests as early as possible. It’s also crucial to choose products that are in stock and can be delivered quickly.
“Make sure you have everything ready and available,” Davila says. “You don’t want to order something and find out you’re on hold for six weeks, and your whole project stops for that item.”
4. Pay attention to permits
To maintain building codes and regulations, renovations often require permits. Be aware that the larger your project is, the longer it may take for permit approval — and for very large jobs, it could take months.
Professional contractors generally have a good feel for permit requirements and lead times and should know when to file to keep your project on schedule. Merrick warns that if a contractor asks you to get a permit yourself, that’s a major red flag.
“Any time a contractor asks a homeowner to pull a permit, there’s a reason,” he cautions. “They’re either lazy or they’re not properly licensed. They’re usually doing it because they’re not licensed.”
Having your contractor pull permits is also preferable for liability reasons. “The contractor’s name should be on it because they should be liable for it,” Davila says.
5. Get everything in writing
Before any work begins or money changes hands, you’ll need to sign a detailed contract. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and protects against being left high and dry with your project unfinished.
Renovation contracts should cover all the work being done and materials used, along with a clear payment schedule based on either time intervals or project completion levels. Know that a reputable contractor will never ask for full payment upfront or expect your final payment before the entire project is completed to your satisfaction. If you don’t understand the details of your contract, consider having a lawyer look it over.
6. Avoid change orders
One of the simplest ways to prevent remodeling delays (and budget disasters) is to be sure of what you want and stick with it. Changing your mind midstream results in change orders, which are contract amendments that occur when a customer decides to change project details like the location of a wall or the type of flooring.
Change orders not only create delays when new materials don’t arrive on time; they also can easily derail your well-planned budget. As Davila explains, “When a contractor gets a job, that’s when their prices are the lowest. When a change order comes in, they know that you have to do it so they can charge you anything.”
The article 6 Ways to Avoid Delays on Your Remodel originally appeared on NerdWallet.
