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

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

For too many Michigan families, the holiday season brings not just the usual joys and happy family times, but also an increased risk of fires.

While no one likes to think of fires other than the one in the fireplace, believe us, it happens; we see it every day. Loosing all you’ve got in a fire is not an easy thing for anyone, but eventually life goes on and thing get better. You buy new things, re-build your house, etc. However, while material things will be replaced, a life cannot!

So, please, as you start baking, decorating, lighting the candles, etc., don’t forget to take the necessary precautions to help protect your family and property. Here’s a video from the US Fire Administration and NIST showing it takes less than a minute for the Christmas tree to catch on fire and engulf the living room. Don’t let it happen to you!

If you have small children in your family, take the time to talk to them again about fire safety and the fire evacuation plan. If the unthinkable happens, having rehearsed these, will dramatically decrease their chance of fire related injuries.

From everyone here at Michigan Fire Claims Inc., we wish everyone a safe and joyous holiday season!

Tags: Fire, Fire Claims, Fire Help, fire insurance claims, holiday, Michigan Fire Claims, smoke, smoke claims

A reminder to all insureds that a Proof of Loss or Sworn Statement in Proofs of  Loss are generally filed within sixty days from date of loss or upon request from the insurance company.  These are complicated documents and insureds should look to a public adjuster or adjuster for the assured for help in understanding how to file these documents.  These are documents that need to be notorized by a notary for them to be acceptable.

Tags: Proof of Loss, Sworn Statements in Proofs of Loss

Fire estimates are a valuble tool in determing broad evidence on homes that are total loss.  Insurance companies generally pay actual cash value on homes and buisnesses when insureds do not want to rebuid and that generally means market value.  The State of Michigan allows the use of fire estimates on a broad evidence rule to determine actual cash value.  A soundly written fire estimate will insure a greater settlement on broad evidence and will also give an insured more money to work with if they have a loss in which there is an interest to repair.

Tags: actual cash value, Fire Estimates, rebuild

Most insureds do not realize that one of the most important documents in filing a property claim is a Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss.  Most policies require that a Proof of Loss be filed within sixty days of a loss or within sixty days of being requested by the insurance company on fire and water claims.  Failure to file may mean denial of your claim.  You should read your policy to make sure.  This stipulation is generally found in the section “Duties to the Insured”

Tags: insurance, Proofs of Loss, sworn statement