If we do not take care of the Elderly in our specific Communities WHO WILL ????????

They just avoid filing claims, because they do not understand the process. Also they are SCARED, and or left to handle a policy that used to be taken care of by their spouse before they passed !

I felt so great letting them know that there is help, and that they do not have to deal with a damaged property due to living on a FIXED income……..

Which should you have ?

What are you waiting for ?

I was sitting here thinking which out of the 3 endorsements that I explain to my insured is THE MOST IMPORTANT ?

However for the life of me, I could not come up with either being more important than the other. Truly a policyholder would be better off having something and NOT needing it, rather than NEEDING something and not having it. In consideration of the cost of the endorsements, I say just spend the money and adequately insure yourself.

So quickly I will touch on the 3 endorsements that I give details on when providing a Policy review.

Sewer Backup & Sump Pump – this endorsement is needed if the policyholder wants to be “made whole” after experiencing damage from the sewer line backing up into their lower level bathroom, laundry room, and or shower. This water is very nasty water, ( Category 3 ) and needs to be professionally cleaned and addressed. All structural materials need to be removed from the property and replaced with new material. Needless to say this can be a very costly loss to go through. Another area where this endorsement plays key is with the Sump Pump area of the property. If the Sump Pump fails to perform ( no matter what the failure ) then this endorsement kicks in to ensure that the policyholder is “made whole”.  Without the endorsement as a part of their coverages, the cost of the damages fall into the policyholder’s lap. In Maryland this endorsement is so important, that it is mandatory that Insurers offer it.

Personal Property Replacement – this endorsement is needed if the policyholder has damage to personal items when experiencing a covered loss. Personal items, and or personal contents pretty much means a policyholder’s STUFF. With out this endorsement a policyholder will be paid to go out and replace their items based off how much they originally spent to purchase them, MINUS how long they had them/used them. ( depreciation ) This payment is called Actual Cash Value. If a policyholder wants to have the correct amount of money needed to replace the loss/damaged items then the Personal Property Replacement endorsement is a must. The same depreciation formula will be applied, yet the insurance company would owe to make up the difference once you provide them with the receipt proving that you replaced the items. If a policyholder wants similar like, kind, and quality of their items this endorsement is key.

Law & Ordinance – this endorsement is needed if the policyholder has damages so extensive that there is a rebuild required. In the rebuild, whatever is required to bring the property up to code will be an additional expense to the policyholder. This expense is not taken care of in the original coverages. All that is taken care of in the original coverages is the cost to replace the property with what was already there. No additional code requirements, and or upgrades will be included. Therefore, this endorsement provides a cushion of funds just in case those “snags” present themselves during the rebuild process.

As stated in the  beginning of this post, I can not decide which ( if any ) is more IMPORTANT than the other. Depending on the loss suffered a policyholder could find themselves in a really tight situation without one of these. Which brings me back to the old saying ” What You Don’t Know Won’t Hurt You ” …… this saying is so false it hurts !!!

Tish Grant

443-307-5108

• Escrow of the taxes & insurance on your property is NOT exactly bad, but you should be involved. ( Monitor it )
• IF YOU MISS/FALL BEHIND  on a few mortgage payments, you’d better BEWARE  !!!!
• Things Happen ** so let’s just speak on the topic of “tough times”. It is not the end of the world, SO WHAT, you fell behind on a few payments. You are “playing catch up”……and you notice that your monthly payment has INCREASED. This is easily mistaken for being the direct result of “playing catch up”, but IT IS NOT  !!!
• Need to know info:  The Mortgage Company has the right to Insure its investment. They do not have to keep paying the company that you picked. Most often times the Mortgage Company picks who they want. The Insurance Company that they pick gives them a brand new policy which protects the amount that you owe on your mortgage. This brand new policy takes place of the policy that you had, because you did not have enough money in your escrow to make the bi-annual payment to the Insurance Company that you picked. This brand new policy does not cover YOUR clothes, furniture, dishes, electronics, kids toys, and so on. This brand new policy does not cover providing you a place to live while your home is repaired from a fire, pipe burst, tree falling on it, vehicle crashing into it, and so on. THIS BRAND NEW POLICY ONLY REBUILDS THE PROPERTY.
• Unfortunately, most folks have NO IDEA that they have this type of brand new policy until they experience a life changing loss  !!!!!

MY GOAL IS TO CHANGE THAT………….WHY ???

because I have personally come face-to-face with 4 families that had this type of policy thus far this year. Fire had totally destroyed each one of these families homes and belongings. Would you agree that in the midst of this LIFE CHANGING LOSS, finding out that the Insurance Policy only covers the Mortgage Company was DEVASTATING news ?

Tish Grant

Md Licensed Public Adjuster

http://www.aapia.org/news_and_blogs

It’s a SCARY thing, to think that you have a mold situation in your home or business property. Then even more, to know that the insurance company is refusing to cover the proper removal of it. Well there are some key specifics to research before just throwing up your hands and giving in to the “BIG BAD” insurance company.

Do you have a key endorsement on your policy that provides coverage ?

This would mean that you actually need to LOOK/READ over your policy.  OH NO !!!   -   If you have no idea what your policy says in regards of MOLD then you’re at a HUGE disadvantage. There are some policies with some insurance companies that have an added endorsement which, although there may be limitations, there is coverage for the removal & reconstruction of the damaged areas as a result of the MOLD !

What is the event behind the MOLD being there ?

So what happened ?  Was it your water heater bursting, wash machine hose coming detached, air condition unit spitting out water, shower/bathtub drains causing water damage, sump pump failing to do its job………….What happened is VERY, VERY important. This answer to this question may also provide coverage when the insurance company is attempting to DENY coverage.

Bottom line is this, MOLD is a very yucky topic, but the insurance company is NOT always justified in denying your claim. If you just “stick your tail between your legs” then they WIN !!!

DO your homework before calling them, or better yet just call ME your Licensed Public Adjuster 1st   !!!!!!!

By Kharee Shorter on Tuesday July 12th 2011

If you allow the insurance company to categorize whatever they want to categorize as an Act Of GOD, whenever they want to do it, then shame on you.

Next time ask them, ” what is the definition of an Act Of GOD ? ”

Then ask them, ” what type of policy do I have on my property again ? “  

                                                                   ( answer that you are looking for is Basic, Broad or Special )

Last ask them, ” would you mind sending me that in writing ? ”

Based off the vibe that you receive in response to these questions, and jotting down the name of who you are speaking with, give me a call.

I can assist you with the proper terminology to communicate properly the parameters of your coverage. Ultimately, arriving at the conclusion of where your damage stands in relation to being an Act Of GOD.

Most likely it is a COVERED peril, and the insurance company should & WILL pay to repair your damages !!

Ok I’m going to ask each & every reader of this post to sit in their kitchen, and write down EVERYTHING that is in their living room.

                                     NO PEAKING

Once you feel that you have a complete list, walk into the living room and write down any items that you missed ( in a different color )

                                     WOW WEEEEEE, YOU MISSED ALL THOSE ITEMS

Now take your COMPLETE list, and get on the internet and price out the replacement cost of each item…………

                               If this seems like a lot, just think, this is just ONE room.

As policyholders we all fall short of being able to adequately prove what we own. Unless we can provide the insurance company with something solid, we will allow them to “short cut” our settlement in the case of a loss. The burden of proof is solely on the policyholder. You have to support the claim that you are putting in when it comes to all aspects of the loss, but the personal belongings and or “STUFF” portion can be the most intense !

How do I know you had 3 leather coats from Wilson’s Leather experts ?

How do I know you had a Ikea full wall length bookcase ?

How do I know that you had a 300 count CD collection ?

All these questions and many, many more emerge from the insurance company adjuster. I speak most often times in the example of a “Total Loss Fire”.  There is not much left in the property to help prove what used to be, so the policyholder should be PREPARED to not only answer these type of questions, but support their answer with proof. If they cannot prove that they owned these items, then the risk of them not getting paid for them is very REAL.

What are some options of proof ?

Many policyholders state receipts……………………………Yes, this is true. Snap shots of the way your closet looks, your living room, kitchen, basement and storage areas. Take plenty of pictures, and store them some place other than the property that you are taking the pictures of. Also walking through the property with a video camera is another option. Hiring a company that specializes in inventory of homes, or businesses. Bottom line is that there are plenty of options, chosing one prior to the loss is the problem that most policyholders have NOT tackled.

PREPARE………..don’t let it happen to YOU !

Tish Grant

Md Licensed Public Adjuster

443-307-5108

Those that are renting in Maryland are a part of an epidemic………..WHAT ?              Yes an epidemic  !!!

It is a SAD statistic that 95% of Maryland’s renters have NO “Renter’s Insurance”, and most of them are unaware of just how AFFORDABLE the insurance really is. Let me start off by stating for the record ” I do not sell insurance of any kind, and my license does not give me the authorization to act as an Insurance agent “. My goal is to bring the awareness to as many renters as I can that they should at least look into it. Start with going back to the company that insures your automobile ……..WHY ?

Well there is a strong possibility of getting the best price by having a “multi-policy” discount when you secure a Renters Insurance policy from the same insurance company that covers your car. If you do not have an automobile policy then don’t let that stop you. Renters insurance is very, very, very affordable. Often times you can get a $20,ooo – $50,000 policy for less than $20 a month.

Wow…….that means SKIP the fast food restaurant for a day, or hold off for an extra week getting those nails “touched up” ladies, or let your “fade & trim” appointment ride for one extra week fellas. That couple of dollars that you will save can then be better applied to insuring your personal properties future.

” Oh well I don’t have much stuff anyway, and the house is NOT mine….it’s my landlord’s “

UGH !!!!

 I get soooooooo tired of hearing these words come blurting out of renters. There is much, much more to it. Renters Insurance is not about HOW much you own as far as “stuff”, it is about starting all over again if something happened to destroy the little bit that you do own. It also is about having a comfortable place to stay if something ever happened. There are many renters that say ” I will go stay with family, or friends “.  Just to let you in on a little secret, when you are suffering from a “life changing” loss you can wear out your welcome RATHER QUICKLY !!!  

Having a Renters Insurance policy assures that you will be compensated to purchase personal belongings that are damaged due to a covered loss. It also provides you with a consecutive stay in a hotel or comparable rental from the date of the loss until your home is safe for you to live in it again. Lastly, having a policy protects you against the lawsuit that the landlords or rental complex can bring against you for your apartment or unit being the place that the damage started from. For instance, if your cooking and catch your kitchen on fire and it spreads to several other units. The landlords or complex can come after you for all the “loss of rents” that they are out each month that the other units are not able to be lived in.     

THAT’S A LOT OF MONEY……

                                                        if no other reason, that is one to be moved to look into Renters Insurance

Tish Grant

Md Licensed Public Adjuster

443-307-5108