FAQ
Q. My property suffered damages from fire, water, smoke, vandalism, wind, storm, and/or many other sources. What should I do?
A. The first thing you should do is report the damages to your insurance company as soon as possible. If the damages occurred or are discovered during non-business hours, your insurance company may have services available 24 hours a day to accept claims calls and discuss the claims process with you. If you do not know the claims number for your insurance company, contact your insurance agent to report the claim and have the claims process initiated.
Q. I contacted my insurance company or Agent and reported the damages or left a message. Now what should I do?
A. If you actually spoke with someone at your insurance company or Agent's office, they may have provided you with some names of some restoration general contractors.
If your insurance company has not contacted a restoration general contractor to assess the damages to determine if emergency services are warranted, you should make that call yourself. Your insurance policy is a contract that explains the duties of the insurance company and also the duties of the policyholder following damages. As the property owner/policyholder, you have fulfilled a primary responsibility by notifying your insurance company as soon as possible after the damages occurred. It is now your responsibility to "mitigate" the damages (keep them as minimal as possible) and prevent further damages from occurring.
Q. How do I "mitigate" the damages and prevent further damages from occurring?
A. Contact a qualified restoration general contractor who specializes in insurance restoration. Such companies are known by most insurance companies, are available 24/7/365, have office addresses and telephone numbers (be cautious of fly-by-night companies that arrive on scene following catastrophes without being contacted by you or your insurance company), have lettered vehicles, business cards, references, websites, and many other qualities you would expect from a company that is established within the insurance restoration industry.
Q. Can I contact the company I would like to utilize for repairs, or do I have to have the repairs completed by whoever my insurance company refers?
A. You own the property; you can have anyone you want repair the damages. However, please understand that your insurance company will only pay for what is covered, at a reasonable cost one (1) time.
Therefore, if you have a relative that works in construction, they may tell you they can perform the necessary repairs, but without the experience, training, equipment and specialized procedures utilized by companies specializing in insurance restoration, they likely will not perform all that is required to assure all damages have been addressed, such as water penetration into hidden cavities, etc. It is the responsibility of the contractor you choose to complete the repairs to prepare a line-item, unit cost estimate of necessary repairs and obtain an agreed repair cost and scope of repairs with your insurance company representative (adjuster).
Q. What if the property (residential or commercial) is damaged so badly that we cannot live/work there until after the repairs are completed?
A. Discuss this with your insurance company representative; he/she will explain coverages available for temporary housing or business relocation arrangements.
Q. What is covered under my insurance policy?
A. This can ONLY be answered by your insurance representative. Restoration general contractors are professionals trained and experienced in restoring damaged properties to pre-loss condition, they are NOT involved in insurance coverages.
Q. How much will the repairs cost me, out-of-pocket?
A. This can vary according to the insurance coverage you maintain on the property, whether you choose to "upgrade" certain materials, and many other considerations; however, in general, you should expect to pay the amount of the deductible on your policy. The deductible is the FIRST amount applied toward repairs and is deducted from any payments made by your insurance company.
Q. I have more questions; with whom may I speak?
A. Contact MASSARO RESTORATION SERVICES, LLC AT (412) 599-0023 and we will be glad to discuss any additional questions you may have about the restoration process.
