Tips from the Experts: What You Should Do after a Storm

With spring and summer comes intense weather that can bring harsh, damaging storms to the area. When a storm hits and causes damage to your home, it is important to take the proper first steps to get your home and your wallet on the road to recovery. At Norcia, we offer insurance claims help for Minnesota and are here to offer help with all of your insurance needs. And, we’d like to start by giving you a few tips so you know where to begin.

First, not sure if you have a claim? File one anyway. Experts like those at Norcia can get you the insurance claims you need to get you started. Even if a claim is fairly minor, like a broken window, for instance and won't exceed your annual deductible, you should still report that damage. Why? If there's another storm this year, then together your claims from both storms might top your deductible and then you could be reimbursed.

Next, contact your insurance company. Contacting your insurance company is essential to starting the claims process. But, with insurance claims help help from Norcia, we can take care of this for you. A public insurance adjuster like us can come to your home, talk to y our insurance company for you, explain to you what is unfolding, clarify all aspects of the paperwork and contracts that you might otherwise have a hard time understanding.

Always be sure to document every single possible issue that can be deemed a “loss”. Take photographs and notes. Go room by room inside of the house, side by side on your home’s exterior. Take close-ups, zoom in. In cases of loss with regard to natural disaster in pursuit of recompense from your insurance company, it is far better to have way too much in the way of documentation than little at all.

If your home has taken on severe damage, it is a good idea to board up your windows and doors. This will aid in the effort to prevent it from taking on even more damage, in addition to protecting the assets within. If you bring in a contractor to do such work, keep the receipt. You never know and keeping an accurate log of all transactions related to the disaster your home has endured will go a long way in aiding the insurance claims management process.

One thing to always remember is that for all of these steps, it helps to have insurance claims help you can trust. We will be in your corner, not the insurance company’s. Our job is to look out for you to make sure that you get fair and reasonable compensation from your insurance company when you file a claim.

Are you interested in getting more information on insurance claims help in Minnesota? Call Norcia Insurance Consultants at 866-512-LOSS (5677), or you can contact us to set up your Free Consultation.

Insurance Adjusters Can Work For You, Or Against You

When you have a major property insurance claim, such as with storm damage, you will be contacted by an insurance adjuster who is assigned to handle that claim. The adjuster will evaluate the damage and follow up with a monetary offer to cover your loss.

There are many factors involved in determining loss. Not only is there the actual damage to the property, but there are secondary considerations. If the damage is to your home, there may be temporary living expenses incurred while the property is being repaired.

If the damage is to your place of business, you may have additional expenses that are required to continue operations while you don't have access to your premises, or you may have a loss of business income that is covered by your insurance policy.

It can be overwhelming to try to determine what is covered while you are already distracted by the displacement and interruption to normal activities. How can you possibly know if your insurance company's adjuster is considering all of the appropriate expenses and losses, when you may not even understand the intricate details of your insurance policy?

Insurance adjusters sent by the insurance company, represent only the interests of the insurance carrier, not your interests. His job is to settle the claim efficiently with the minimum financial impact on the insurance company. So what do you do?

The solution is to get your own Minnesota insurance adjuster. You can engage a Public Insurance Adjuster to represent you in settling the claim. A public adjuster represents only the insured party, is extensively trained in insurance, and is usually required to be licensed by the state.

He or she will be able to properly evaluate the losses that you have incurred, as well as determine the obligations of your insurance carrier. They will be familiar with the intricacies of insurance settlement and knowledgeable in the subtle differences in terms such as "actual cash value" as opposed to "replacement cost". These terms are quite different and don't necessarily mean what the average none trained person would expect.

To learn more about the role of insurance adjusters in settling your claim, click here to read the article, “The Truth about Insurance Adjusters.”

Insurance Adjusters: What Do We Do, Exactly?

Norcia Insurance Consultants has for over 20 years been in the insurance claims industry. But, what exactly does this mean? If you're not familiar with insurance adjusters, you might not be sure what are our duties as Minnesota insurance adjusters consist of. 

What an insurance adjuster does

The primary role of an insurance adjuster is to help his or her clients after they've experienced damage or loss of property, or were somehow injured. The adjuster investigates the claims to ensure the entitled settlement is disbursed to the proper party.

Skills needed to be an insurance adjuster

The most successful insurance adjusters are capable of working with a wide range of people, and need to compile a variety of information, including photographs and statements, and must be able to prepare reports about claims received. Putting together these reports requires talking with experts like accountants, lawyers, physicians and more, who can provide you with the necessary assistance. 

Official requirements needed by insurance adjusters

No educational requirements are necessary to become an insurance adjuster, as most companies provide novices with on-the-job training. If you pay close attention to details and quickly pick up on things, you'll be able to rise more quickly in the ranks. Having experience will help you in moving up to higher positions more quickly.

There will always be a need for insurance adjusters

Insurance claims adjusters like Norcia Insurance Consultants will always be needed, as people will require assistance and support when filing an insurance claim, and the industry is expected to grow dramatically over the next 10 years. 

Why hire Norcia Insurance Consultants?

When you experience loss due to a storm or other disaster, it can be an extremely trying and stressful time, made even worse by the fact that your insurance company may not be as helpful to you as their commercials would lead you to believe. When you want an unbiased, third-party look into the events surrounding the damage you've experienced, a fair inventory of what you've lost and assistance in submitting the proper paperwork for reimbursement, get in touch with Norcia Insurance Consultants.

Norcia Insurance Consultants are MN insurance adjusters that have been serving Minnesota and Wisconsin for over 20 years. If you're seeking the money you're entitled to from an insurance company after a disaster, call us today at (866) 512-5677 for a free insurance consultation.