Beware and be ready for damaging severe weather

4/10/2019 (Permalink)

5 Tips to Avoid Storm Damage Repair Scams

Each Spring consumers across the country experience billions of dollars in storm damage. The combination of warm, moist air colliding with cool, dry air, can easily result in severe weather and within moments, strong winds, damaging hail or a tornado can batter or complete destroy your home, car or business. The good news is that most severe weather-related events like tornadoes and hail storms are covered under a homeowners, renters, automobile or commercial insurance policy.

The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), which represents the broadest cross section of insurers, urges homeowners to take steps to:

1. Conduct a yearly insurance review of your insurance policy and limits
2. Talk with your insurance company or agent about purchasing additional coverage options such as flood or earthquake insurance
3. Consider things you can do to reduce damage to your property
4. Make a home inventory of your home’s contents
5. Prepare for power outages, inconveniences and scams that often occur following damaging severe weather  

When property damage does occur, and property owners move forward with repairs and the recovery process, we encourage residents to be alert to unscrupulous contractors. Contact your insurance company, agent or local chamber of commerce for references on potential contractors and ask for certificates of liability and workers compensation before signing contracts.

APCIA encourages individuals with damaged property to use their insurance company or agent as a resource in helping to access the services needed to handle a claim and take the proper precautions to make sure they are hiring a reputable contractor to complete the job.