This can't be good. Anyone got advice? - Page 2

lendaddy · 06-16-2008, 08:10 AM

This tree is big, it snapped off twenty feet up and still did this. I have some bigger ones as well and now I have to wonder....

I just got back from moving some things like the Vanagon and it's carnage but mainly the garage. The tree service is probably there now. (I checked with the adjuster and they told me to do this.).

I'll post some more pics later.

Any advice on pitfalls? My rep is a great guy and will go to bat for me no doubt but I've heard stories. The impression I'm getting is that they are pretty much hands off and I take care of everything then send them the bills? I'm waiting to hear from the adjuster again on the details.

LeeH · 06-16-2008, 08:49 AM

I have a new appreciation for folks going through this sort of thing...

We're recovering from a flood resulting from a broken pipe. State Farm has really been great through the whole thing. They gave me the choice of cashing out on the claim and hiring my own contractor or using one of their contractors. I chose their contractor for no particular reason and have been very glad I did. They are responsible for putting everything back together... when problems arise, they call the insurance company. I've gotten to know the guy running the project pretty well and he says only companies that produce high quality work get approved. Any problems and they get axed from the program. Another benefit is that State Farm makes them put a 5 year warranty on the work. If I had picked a contractor myself, they wouldn't have the motivation of future insurance work to keep them on task. The guys working at my house have been very professional.

MRM · 06-16-2008, 08:59 AM

You probably will be ok with the ins co. Next time you talk to the adjuster ask straight out what process they would like you to follow. If you have replacement value coverage they should be able to cut you a check for the depreciated value immediately and will release the full replacement value to you as soon as you sign with a contractor. They might want to have the contractor bill them directly, or they might want to work with the contractor you select to make sure his charges are within their estimates.

Superman · 06-16-2008, 09:12 AM

You're getting all your bad luck packed into a short time frame. When the storm subsides, you should wind up catching a break or two. Hopefully.

In the meantime, keep us posted. The insurance company should take care of you on this.

Tim Hancock · 06-16-2008, 09:26 AM

D@mn that sucks Lendaddy! I hope they at least get your power and gas service restored quickly so the wife and kids can get back to normal. Hopefully in the end you can end up with a better garage/man cave than you started with to take some of the sting out of it.

NICKG · 06-16-2008, 10:55 AM

len, save the wood! you will be able to sell it this winter!!!!!

lendaddy · 06-16-2008, 11:11 AM

Yep, I'm keeping the logs and having the chip the brush.

I just got passed off to my third adjuster and he will be looking at it today. I'm trying to get back and look at it now that the tree is off.

Porsche_monkey · 06-16-2008, 11:24 AM

Rent a log splitter.

lendaddy · 06-16-2008, 11:56 AM

My dad is a wood cutting nut, he will take care of that and keep the wood.

The hole in the roof is much worse than previously thought, but I still can't get a real good look at it.

NICKG · 06-16-2008, 12:04 PM

if it helps...we had 5 HUGE trees taken down by crane 3 years ago....we then had just 1 nice mature sugar maple left between our house and the neighbors..... We then get ripped off by a builder, have the pipes freeze(burst) as a result, my wife has emergency gal bladder surgery...and then after like 9 months of legal crap (we wone, but got no $$) we think it is done. NOPE, the tree gets struck by lightning!, it then falls over the power/phone/cable lines and rips them out of the house....(i mean picture the tv gets yanked off the table and everything) and then the service wires then fall on my boxster...
we lose power for 3 days while it gets sorted out, and the road is blocked in front of our house. The town comes and cuts the tree back but the road is still closed and people just HJAVE to drive thru and gawk.....the phone wire remarkably is not broken until some idiot has to run the blockade and hits the wire...thus RIPPING that service off the house(like the box wasdragging behind their truck!)
the insurance company pays 1/3 of what it costs to fix.
I still wonder why i don't drink or do drugs....

lendaddy · 06-16-2008, 12:09 PM

Yep, it could always be worse and I openly admit it ain't that bad. Hope you guys are all set now.

MRM · 06-16-2008, 12:12 PM

What company are you insured by? I might be able to give you some insight.

Was this a widespread storm that required a catastrophe team to get brought in? Have they done anything to get the tree off the house? Usually companies are very prompt on handling claims where there can be more damage if they don't make immediate repairs. They'll be liable for any damage done to the contents due to the hole in the roof.

NICKG · 06-16-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lendaddy

Yep, it could always be worse and I openly admit it ain't that bad. Hope you guys are all set now.

sure..life gave us lemons...we just had to find a way to make lemonade...sucked for a good three months. If there is a silver lining, it is that it did not happen in a riany or snowy part of the year.
In the end, ours worked out..I am sure it will for you

lendaddy · 06-16-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRM

What company are you insured by? I might be able to give you some insight.

Was this a widespread storm that required a catastrophe team to get brought in? Have they done anything to get the tree off the house? Usually companies are very prompt on handling claims where there can be more damage if they don't make immediate repairs. They'll be liable for any damage done to the contents due to the hole in the roof.

The latest adjuster came out and was great. I think they finally see how serious it is. He is taking care of getting it tarped, offered us any housing we want, and is sending us a couple grand to get by and is escalating it to the next level as he sees it well above $75k in damage and a couple months to complete.

It's Citizens/Hanover and this guy I like.

lendaddy · 06-16-2008, 01:43 PM

Ugghh, adjuster #4 turns out to be..................wait for it..................

adjuster #1, aka "the prick". Just great. He was much better on the phone than the first time but still not great. I'm losing the warm fuzzy.

lendaddy · 06-16-2008, 01:46 PM

A couple more pics.

Tim Hancock · 06-16-2008, 01:52 PM

D@mn!!!!!!

lendaddy · 06-16-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

D@mn!!!!!!

Is that bad? Should my house not look like that?

Jim Richards · 06-16-2008, 02:01 PM

It looks like you're going for that mid-century modern "butterfly roof" look. Sweet.

Tim Hancock · 06-16-2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lendaddy

Is that bad? Should my house not look like that?

I guess I was kind of hoping it did not affect the house structure too much, but it looks like some serious "remodeling" is going to have to happen. I guess you just need to take the attititude that it is "just wood" and "we can rebuild it". I hope it gets done in a timely manner so you don't have to deal with the stress of a p!ssed off wife too long on top of everything else.