Michigan Insurance Claims – Public Adjusters and Loss Consultants

When it comes to preparing for the colder weather, there is one thing you simply can’t neglect – to have your furnace checked for safety.

This relatively simple and generally inexpensive task will prevent unwanted complications, even tragedy.  Not just it’s not fun when your furnace stops working and it’s freezing outside, but, most importantly, servicing your heating system will make your home and family safer, decreasing the chance of serious accidents.

During the cold season, improperly maintained or operating heating systems and appliances are responsible for the majority of fires, explosions and human loss.  As most residential heating systems in Michigan are gas burning furnaces, the risk of fire and explosions is particularly high.

The gas pipeline that goes to the furnace needs to be checked for leakages – as it poses a serious explosion risk. Methane gas accumulates in closed spaces such as basements and ignites and blows from any small spark. It takes as little as switching on the light for the accumulated methane to blow up, destroy your home, and your life.  

During the safety check procedure, the HVAC technician you hire will perform a series of tests and procedures meant to reveal and fix any furnace problems that may prevent it from functioning properly or increase the chances of fires and accidents:

• check for debris in the chimney and flue;
• cleaning of air filters;
• checking gas pilot safety;
• cleaning burners for proper combustion;
• cleaning the fan;
• checking and adjusting the condition and tension of fan belt;
• checking blower operation.

Also, proper maintenance of your heating system will keep it operating efficiently over the years, making it a good deal even for the budget conscious consumer.   

So don’t delay! Make sure the furnace check is performed by a reliable, authorized heating company, not just for your safety, but also, in case of an accident – fire, explosion, etc., you will need to prove to your insurance company that you performed required maintenance on your heating system, or your claim may be denied (save all records of the work performed).

 
Be safe!
Nik Kalaj
Michigan Fire Claims Inc, A Public Adjuster Company

Even a small fire can create big odor issues that are very difficult and expensive to get rid of.   Slowly burning furniture or carpets release a thick, black smoke, containing hundreds of toxic compounds that will cover all exposed surfaces in your house, and enter through crevices in between walls and attic and basement spaces.  Your walls, floors, furniture, window treatments will be covered with a black, smelly, acidic mass, which, if not promptly or properly removed,  will damage them further, affect your health and leave a lingering odor.

Fire restoration is a complex, delicate process, and there are several steps for transforming a house damaged by fire into a smoke and soot free environment.  Once the fire was put out, the first thing you need to do is ensure proper ventilation inside the house. ( Don’t use wet sponges or wash any surfaces, as that may make the damage worse). Of course, you should contact your insurance company and report the fire, as restoration costs may be higher than you think.

By contacting a fire adjuster company like Michigan Fire Claims, first you get your damage assessed by trained, independent appraisers that will accurately estimate cleaning and fire restoration costs.  Having your own experts estimate the fire damage and the fire restoration costs will assure your appraisal is accurate, so you don’t have to rely on estimates from appraisers that are hired by, work for and serve interests of the insurance company.

We’ll be on your side!

Nik Kalaj,
Michigan Fire Claims Inc., Independent Adjusters & Appraisers

So you had a small kitchen fire, that you were able to put out without much structural damage.  While your house smells like the Inferno, you console yourself with the fact that things were not worse.  Cleaning should be easy you think.  You’ll replace the kitchen cabinet above the stove, air the house out, refresh the paint, and life we’ll be back to normal.  As your deductible is high, and the last thing you need is a rate increase on your homeowner policy, you decide to not even call your insurance company.

After a week of toil and trouble, things look up.  For the next months, anyone waking through the door, acts like your Schnauzer when the meatloaf is in the oven – sniffing the air, questions marks in their eyes.  At work, people inquire if you’ve been taking up smoking, or you’re just  grillin’ every day.

At Christmas, when your in-laws visit, they ask if they have to eat whatever you’ve been cooking (or burning..).  At this point, you possibly had enough.

So together with your Schnauzer, you put your olfactory detective skills to use, to uncover just where those pesky smells are hiding.

Carpets, rugs, sofas, curtains, clothes, they are all culprits. Even after washing, airing, deodorizing.  You may need to get new ones!  And repaint. Geez, who knows how much this will cost.

What to do??  And how about the insurance company, how can you document the damage now?

Eureka!!   You can call Michigan Fire Claims! They’ll have answers for you! And appraisers, and adjusters. And they’ve help hundreds before (here’s proof!).  Plus, they are really nice.

Yeah, I know you wish you’d thought of them before!

Nik Kalaj
President & Owner
Michigan Fire Claims, Public Adjusting Company

No, not looking for obscure reasons to brag or celebrate  (although I don’t usually object to the later )

Just that, painfully aware of the time and effort we put into a single case, working twelve hundred of them, suddenly seems like a milestone more than worth mentioning. One where we should stop and enjoy the moment, and also reflect on our 8 years existence, with gratitude to everyone who helped make our success possible.

Here’s the press release about our milestone, read it, pass it on. We appreciate it!

Press Release – Michigan Fire Claims – Yahoo News

Cheers,

Nik Kalaj, President and Founder

Michigan Fire Claims Inc., Public Adjusting Company

Over the past weeks,  Michigan’s wettest spring since the ’50s has unleashed major flooding in many areas, including Dearborn, Livonia, Southfield, Troy, Farmington, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Flint, Monroe, and Saginaw. Intense rainfall, damaging winds, large hail and powerful thunderstorms have left many without power and with severe property damages.

While we received reports of fallen trees, wind damage and roof damage, the most significant damages occurred because of flooding, especially basement flooding. Many homeowners found their sump pumps not being able to keep up or not working adequately to keep the water out.

Unfortunately, many homeowners insurance policies exclude water damages from backed up sewers or drains and sump pumps overflows. As flood cleanup and restoration costs are usually significant, paying out of pocket is not a great way to start the summer.

There are two main things all homeowners should consider to proactively minimize the devastating effects of a flood and to avoid potential financial ruin:

1. Carrying the right type of insurance

Even if your home is not situated in a flood prone area, torrential rain could easily flood your home and basement. It is therefore imperative to understand your policy and add coverage from water damage, if it’s presently excluded.  You have to understand, however, that water damage coverage is not flood insurance. If you live in areas prone to flooding from bodies of water, you may also consider purchasing flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.  Contact your insurance agent for more information.

2. Having the right equipment to deal with flood waters

As basements are usually kept dry by a sump pump system, proper maintenance and regular check ups are really important (contact your plumber!).  If your sump pump is not gravity-driven, it requires electricity to run.  As power outages are common during storms, when you need your pump sump working, make sure you have back up power for it (generator, batteries) in the event of an outage.  Even if your basement is properly outfitted with the right equipment to keep storm waters out, it is still a good idea not to store any valuables where they can get damaged.

We wish everyone going through difficult times because of recent flooding the best of luck!  Also, remember, as the premier public adjuster company in Michigan, we are here to answer any questions you might have about water damage insurance claims and to provide property loss consulting for homeowners and businesses throughout Michigan.

Finally, Happy Memorial Day form everyone at Michigan Fire Claims.

Tags: Claim Help, michigan, Public adjuster, Water Claims, water damage, Water Loss

While usually harmless, household mold can also be very toxic and has been associated with a wide range of health conditions, from asthmatic symptoms and allergies to fibromyalgia, cancer and even death.

Mold toxicity, expensive mold remediation, and also the fact that most insurance companies usually don’t cover for it, make mold one of the most feared household hazards.  Some homeowners choose to pay extra for mold insurance “riders” that provide additional coverage. Should you???

Most likely not, as additional coverage is not just expensive, but also has low ceilings on the claim amount.  It’s better to be constantly vigilant in detecting sources of moisture in your home and take preventive measures to avoid indoor humidity, like fixing leaky pipes promptly, maintaining the integrity of your roof, keeping humidity levels below 60%, making sure roof water drains away from your home, cleaning any mold immediately with a solution of bleach and soap, and in rooms prone to condensation, painting with mold inhibiting paint.

At the same time, homeowners should be aware that even though their insurance policies don’t cover mold, depending on its source, mold damage may still be covered. For example, if the mold is the result of an accidentally burst pipe, or of flood waters entering your basement, mold remediation can be covered by regular homeowners insurance or flood insurance. However, if the mold is the result of neglecting to maintain ones home, the chances for a successful claim are considerable reduced.

Before filing a claim for mold damage, it’s important to review the language of the insurance policy for mold exclusions and also file the claim accurately.  When in doubt, ask for professional help.  It always pays!

Any questions???  We’re glad to hear form you!
Michigan Fire Claims

Tags: basement water damage, mold claims, Public adjuster, water damage

For the past few months, we received a large number of inquires for advice about claims related to flood damage. This year was particularly eventful for Michigan, as we had to endure not just frigid temperatures but also a lot of snow. That meant flooded homes and basements, both from ruptured pipes, and from the melting waters.

While they result in the same kind of damage – destroyed floors, moldy walls and furniture, toxic mildew – most homeowners will often, mistakenly, call them both flood damage. It may not be a problem if they actually carry flood insurance. But usually, especially if the property is not situated in a flood area, they do not. So when they contacted their respective insurance companies to report the damages, the person at the other end, informed them that, since their policy does not include flood coverage, the insurance company will not pay for water damages.

That shouldn’t be the end of it. It wasn’t for the homeowners our public adjusters worked with. In over a dozen such cases, we properly documented the water damage, submitted them as water overflow claims, and were able to get settlements to cover the cost of repairs and lost possessions.

At Michigan Fire Claims, happy endings is what we strive for everyday!

Tags: flood insurance, michigan, Public adjuster, Water Claims, water damage, Water Loss

A devastating earthquake, a powerful tsunami, nuclear meltdown. An apocalyptic scenario, and one can’t not feel the pain and fear of the japanese people as they deal with it all. However prepared this nation was for such disasters, that tiny chance of everything going wrong at the same time, materialized. The human and economic losses are of such magnitude that even one of the most advanced countries in the world has a hard time mitigating the disaster. We all remember too well – 9/11, Katrina- when we were scared, mournful, and lost. We bounced back, and so will they.

However, right now, they need our help. I’ve seen devastating fires and floods, but always the community jumps in to help those in need. Even across the ocean, let us be their community. Here, at Michigan Fire Claims, we made it our priority to HELP. On that note, please encourage everyone you know to also do the best they can to help. IT MATTERS.

Tags: fire loss, natural disaster loss, Water Loss

More cold days ahead for Michigan, with temperatures dipping into the low teens. For many home or business owners, with water pipes in unheated areas, like crawl spaces, attics or garages, chances are they will have to deal with some frozen pipes. As things start to thaw (soon, I hope!), that spells trouble. Flooding from broken pipes could cause a great deal of damage to residential or commercial properties.

Water damage, especially if not promptly attended to, is very costly to repair. So here are some things to be aware of, to avoid flooding from broken pipes:
- if water doesn’t turn on, your pipes could be frozen; turn off the main valve and call your plumber immediately.
- if you have outdoor pipes, cover them with insulation; inside, make sure all areas of your home are kept warm; open cabinet doors to let warm air in.
- if you suspect a frozen pipe, until things start to thaw, it may be difficult to determine exactly where the blockage is. As they start to thaw, they may rupture – make sure you know how to turn off the water to avoid potential catastrophe.
- as leaks can turn into rivers in a heartbeat, make sure you do not leave your property unattended if you suspect a frozen pipe
- re-check your property insurance policy. While most cover water damage from broken pipes, you will need to prove that you properly drained exterior plumbing lines, and maintained adequate temperature inside.

Have questions? Need help? We’d love to hear from you!

Tags: flooding, protecting, public, Water Claims, water damage, Water Loss

With the coldest days still ahead of us, fire risk is also on the rise. Our private insurance adjusters at Michigan Fire Claims work on a daily basis with homeowners that had devastating fires. During this time of year, most fires involve portable or space heaters, with electrical fires a close second. Improperly maintained or operated equipment is usually the main cause.

There are few basic precautions to consider, so you and your family stay safe and warm:

- have your heating appliances inspected by a certified professional
- operate gas or kerosene space heaters with the greatest care, as they account for the highest fatality risk protect floors under wood burning stoves, and leave enough clearance, as stray embers or overheating could easily start a fire
- for electric appliances, check all cords, and make sure you don’t overload the circuits when plugging them in.
have your vents and chimneys inspected and cleaned every season
- keep all combustibles away from any heaters
- don’t leave any open fires unattended (candles, cigarettes, fireplaces, stoves, etc)
- make sure your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector (a must if you are using any space heaters besides electrical) are working properly
- talk to you kids about fire safety. As most fires occurs at night – having a clear fire escape plan that your kids understand and have practiced dramatically increases their chance of surviving one.

We hope you stay warm and safe, as the the cold weather is here for a little while longer.