DL Restcon has assisted thousands of customers with their insurance property claims! We can help with all steps of the process: fact finding, site assessment, damage inspection, Xactimate estimate preparation, contracting, direct-billing, settlement negotiation, and professional management of all restoration back to pre-loss condition.
DL Restcon’s Residential Property Claims Guide includes, but is not limited to, important first steps:
- Authorize and contract DL Restcon to take reasonable measures, including plumbing repairs, demolition, containment/board-up, structural drying, mold remediation, etc., to prevent further damage and/or potential safety risks. Failure to do so could jeopardize coverage of ensuing damage under your homeowners insurance policy.
- Contact your insurance agent or homeowners association to start the claims process. Also review your insurance policy and CC&R’s for specific coverage information and deductible amounts.
- A claims adjuster may visit your home to do an evaluation of the damage. DL Restcon will walk the job and scope the loss with your adjuster so that measurements, calculated quantities, line item entries, and totals are agreed upon.
- Your claims representative will pay to repair or replace your damaged dwelling and personal property, subject to the terms and conditions of your policy. These variable terms and conditions include replacement cost versus actual cash value, and “loss-of-use”:
- An actual cash value policy pays the amount needed to replace the item at the current market value, deducting for depreciation: the decrease in value due to age, wear and tear, etc. Depreciation may be recoverable upon completion of repairs.
- If your property is unsafe for occupancy, your insurance company usually advances money for additional living expenses eg. housing, food, utilities, transportation, relocation, storage, etc.
- The first check received from your insurance is not necessarily a final payment, and may be offered as an on-the-spot settlement. You can accept a check at that time but make sure to understand what the check does and does not cover. Your acceptance IS NOT acknowledgement of a full settlement or release of liability.
- If your home is mortgaged, the check for home repairs will generally be made to you the policy holder and the mortgage lender. The mortgage company or bank will have to endorse the check, and gets equal rights to the insurance check(s) related to the structure to ensure necessary repairs are satisfactorily completed before funds are released.
- You may also authorize assignment of insurance proceeds directly to DL Restcon, or include DL Restcon as a co-payee.
- If you do not agree with the settlement offer, contact your claims adjuster and manager, provide copies of supporting documents, and keep a log of all phone calls and correspondence you send to, or receive from, your insurance company.
- Know your rights under the Unfair Practices Act, Insurance Code Section 709.03, and Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations, Chapter 5 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 2695.1, the regulations specify time deadlines within which insurers must acknowledge, evaluate, make and communicate decisions on claims, and pay claims.
- For all consumer inquiries, you may contact The Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357, www.insurance.ca.gov, Consumer Services Division, 300 South Spring Street, South Tower, Los Angeles, CA 90013.
- Insurance fraud is a FELONY.
