High-End Home Repairs and Insurance Claims in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
If you own a high-end home and are having difficulty with your insurance claim, you are not alone. High-end home repairs may not be as easy to estimate as typical home repairs and insurance adjusters may not always be familiar with the costs to replace high-end materials or rare materials. When it comes to making repairs to high-end home specialty contractors or artisans may need to be hired, which can result in higher repair costs, and may require higher insurance settlements. High-end homes may also have valuable items in them that can also be damaged during an unexpected natural disaster or due to theft. When it comes to high-end items, home owners may need special policies. Yet, even when homeowners purchase riders, sometimes the coverage is not enough. Other times, insurance policy fine print can be so difficult to decipher, it can be tough to know what is and isn’t covered when speaking to your insurance adjuster. If you are facing difficulty with a high-end home repair insurance claim, Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC are insurance claims attorneys in Fort Lauderdale, Florida who may be able to assist you.
Many insurance companies and adjusters use computer software programs (one common example is called Xactimate) to estimate the cost of home repairs after a home has sustained damage. When it comes to high-end home repairs, the Claims Journal notes that software company estimates may not always be accurate. Computer models tend to be more accurate when the models have more data. When it comes to higher end materials or rarer material, there may not be as much data, because fewer people purchase these goods. When it comes to high-end home repairs, the materials themselves are not only expensive, but the cost of labor might be expensive as well because only specialists might be able to make the repairs. In some cases, homeowners might find themselves receiving settlements from their adjusters that don’t actually reflect the costs that contractors are quoting. Often these disputes can be resolved with a phone call, with written bids to support a claim, or with documentation. But if these measures don’t produce results, homeowners might sometimes turn to an insurance claim lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida like Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC. Our firm can review your insurance policy, look at the quote that contractors have provided, and review any settlement offers made by insurance adjusters. When things don’t match up, Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC, insurance claims lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida may be able to help you.
Repairing Historic Homes in Florida
If you live in a historic district, own a property in a historic area, or own a home that is considered historic, there may be certain laws about how you must restore and preserve your home or property after it suffers storm damage in a hurricane or other natural disaster. Every historic building will have its own unique features that may need to be preserved to very specific standards. Specialty artisans may need to be hired to ensure that the property is properly restored following damage. When restoring or repairing a historic property, there may be guidelines that require that the historic nature of the property be preserved during restoration work. Meeting these guidelines may require special work to be performed, which can drive up costs for homeowners. Certain properties may require that specific types of materials be purchased to properly perform restoration work. You may need specific coverage or addendums to your policy that provides additional coverage for law and ordinance or other areas. If you have insured a historic building, you may have many questions about your insurance claim. If you are having difficulty getting a settlement that is sufficient to repair your historic home, consider speaking to Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC, insurance claims lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Our attorneys can review your case and work with adjusters to help you get the best possible settlement permitted under the law.
High-End Insurance May Differ From Typical Policies
If you own rare, expensive, or collectible items, if your home is one-of-a-kind, or if you live in a historic home, you may have had to purchase specialty insurance or special riders to insure your property and items. Insurance premiums for these items and properties may be higher than for typical homes. With higher premiums or specialty insurance, the expectation will be that your claim will be settled in a timely manner. However, sometimes insurance policies can be complex, there might be certain limits on what is and isn’t covered, and sometimes the cost of items and repairs enter disputes.
One of the problems that high-end homeowners face when making claims is that they may not always know the value of the items they own. When insuring expensive or valuable items, you may need to get items properly appraised and make sure that you purchase a policy with the right riders to protect these high-end items. Sometimes claims go into dispute because policyholders may not always know where their coverage ends and their personal liability begins. Insurance adjusters may not always do a good job accurately describing the policy.
However, if you have paid your premiums faithfully and on time, you deserve to be made whole by your insurance company in accordance with your insurance policy. If, after speaking to your insurance adjuster and supporting your claim, you are still having difficulty making a claim or getting the settlement you think you deserve, contact Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC insurance claims lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida today to learn more about your rights. Our attorneys can review your policy, help you understand your rights, and negotiate with adjusters to help you get the best possible settlement. The aftermath of a natural disaster or theft can be stressful for everyone involved. If you are having difficulty with a claim, let Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC, insurance claims lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida help you.