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re: Need help haggling with liberty mutual after a hail storm (Long) - iwyLSUiwy shoutout pg 2

Posted on 3/22/24 at 2:20 pm to
Posted by Rebel
Graceland
Member since Jan 2005
131441 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 2:20 pm to
Tell the adjuster, LIMU BEEBOO!
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
21284 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 2:20 pm to
Legally speaking, you have to pay the deductible. Based off your information provided, the most insurance should give you is $8,700. Which is assuming you have recoverable depreciation in your policy.

The Roofer's quote should have included total cost, even if sub-contracted. The roofer's normally work directly with insurance as well and you should not be involved much. If you insurance gave you a number, you should have choose a roofer that will do it for that price.

There are ways to negate the deductible, but technically you should be prepared to pay it. That is what you signed up for with your insurance company. The only "legal way" to help in the deductible is be your own contractor, which means doing the work yourself. Insurance pays out supplies, labor and profit. You can be the labor and profit.

Last Spring I had $46,000 of roof and hail damage done, with a $2000 deductible (fixed rate ). I ended up only out $1400, but I technically paid my deductible. Insurance considers you whole once they cut you the check, they do not care who does the work. If you have recoverable depreciation or a very large cost, you will need to provide proof of work being completed to get all money.

Any roofers claiming you will not pay deductible are running scams. A lot of people use them, but it is still a scam and illegal in some states.
Posted by Weekend Warrior79
Member since Aug 2014
16440 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 2:26 pm to
quote:

and electing to keep the money instead of fixing cosmetic damage/doing it yourself.

Had a public adjuster tell me that if you do elect to do this, you could be undervaluing your time (assuming O&P is not included). Your time is worth something, and just because you are doing the work instead of a professional does not mean the insurance company should get to reap those savings. You can't justify charging as much, but there should be a labor charge included.

Have you considered/tried to get individual quotes for all areas and submitting those to the insurance carrier. Then those areas you will DIY, or defer to a later time, you can hold in your account until you are ready to move forward with those jobs? May not be as much as the roofer's invoice that included everything; but will probably be more than insurance is willing to pay right now.
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
21284 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 2:33 pm to
quote:

My understanding was that O&P is to compensate a general contractor for his time and effort in managing other contractors.


Your claim should had O&P called out already. They are not just quoting supplies. If you do some of the work, your contractor would not be entitled to all the O&P.



Your contractor should agree to these rates, and if he subs it out, that is out of his profit.
Posted by LSU82BILL
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Member since Sep 2006
10331 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 2:36 pm to
quote:

I was under the impression that any time you were working with a roofer or a general contractor that was outsourcing other types of work to third parties, they were entitled to Overhead and Profit to compensate them for their time to manage all the moving parts.


The purpose of O&P is for the GC (NOT a roofer) to coordinate trades. This is generally for interior repairs that need to be done in a logical sequence. On a hail storm, all damage is exterior and coordination isn't necessarily required. Get individual quotes that are slightly higher than what LM allowed individually on your damages. As long as they are reasonable, LM should pay based on those proposals.
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
34439 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 2:58 pm to
quote:

If the money being paid for those trades is to fix damage that I am willing to accept, how is that any different that receiving an insurance check to fix your car and just keeping the check, or doing the work yourself?


There is no difference. But just getting a check and keeping the money is insurance fraud. Fixing it yourself is a different story.

Look, I hate insurance companies, and I'm for the homeowner. Insurance companies try to screw people non stop. They get away with it every day all day. So I'm on your side.

quote:

The policy coverage is to compensate the owner to restore the the property to the state it was in prior to the incident, no? Shouldn't I have the choice to either accept something being shitty or use the money to get it fixed?


Yes, they are paying you to repair your home, they are not paying you just to give you money to do as you please. You might not like to hear it, I'm just telling you the truth. Look, customers do what you are doing all the time. I'm not going to act like you're a terrible person for doing it. We get people all the time wanting to make money off their claim, and almost everyone wants help with their deductible.

As a contractor, when a customer wants that, in my head I'm normally thinking it's a cheap homeowner that wants stuff done for free, but also, if you have the damage, I am willing to fight on your behalf to get you paid for the things damaged. If it got me the job, I will fight on your behalf to get you that money and you do whit it as you please.

If you want, you could email me your estimate and I could review it and maybe give you some advice that could help your argument to get O&P.
Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
65818 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 2:59 pm to
quote:

and my deck was beat to shite.
I had almost the exact same experience when I was age 13.

Surprised I didn’t die of dehydration.
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
34439 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 3:04 pm to
quote:

The purpose of O&P is for the GC (NOT a roofer) to coordinate trades.


unless your roofer, like me, is also a GC. His roofer making him be the one to call and talk to the insurance tells me that he probably doesn't know what he's doing. But also that he probably doesn't want to waste his time doing it since he's not going to get the other work. I'd fight for it because I could also fix the window, deck, and HVAC damage.

quote:

This is generally for interior repairs that need to be done in a logical sequence


Not true. A trade is a trade. You're getting that O&P for coordinating the other jobs, it doesn't matter if that painting or carpentry (or any trade for that matter) is interior or exterior.

Posted by Trevaylin
south texas
Member since Feb 2019
5952 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 3:04 pm to
the fun part is ahead of you....Liberity mutual will write the first partial check to both you and your mortgage company. the mortgage company will not release the check till a contractor bill is presented. The second check for the depreciation amount will also be written to you and the mortgage company. Mortgage company will not release the second check till you get the contractor to sign a lien release....but but but.. what rational contractor would sign a release prior to payment. So you get to source payment out of your own funds to get contractor to sign off for mortgage company. Thats how texas works.. been there done that.
Posted by LSU82BILL
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Member since Sep 2006
10331 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 4:22 pm to
quote:

Not true. A trade is a trade. You're getting that O&P for coordinating the other jobs, it doesn't matter if that painting or carpentry (or any trade for that matter) is interior or exterior.


Do you make interior repairs before you replace the roof? Do you send the flooring guy to install new wood floors and the painter to re-paint before the drywall guys tear out walls and insulation? Do you have the cabinets removed before you remove the plumbing and the appliances? Next thing you are going to tell me is that GC's never have their own employees capable of performing multiple trades because painters can't figure out how to remove light fixtures, switch plates or A/C registers. Let's not act like exterior repairs require that level of coordination.
This post was edited on 3/22/24 at 4:32 pm
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
21284 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 4:33 pm to
quote:

the fun part is ahead of you....Liberity mutual will write the first partial check to both you and your mortgage company. the mortgage company will not release the check till a contractor bill is presented. The second check for the depreciation amount will also be written to you and the mortgage company. Mortgage company will not release the second check till you get the contractor to sign a lien release....but but but.. what rational contractor would sign a release prior to payment. So you get to source payment out of your own funds to get contractor to sign off for mortgage company. Thats how texas works.. been there done that.


It is kind of like that, but not 100%. It will vary by lender and amount of claim.

In my case in Texas -
- Insurance (USAA) came out and did inspection and provided estimate.

- Week later Check minus depreciation and deductible arrived in mail from Insurance.

- Uploaded to bank insurance estimate and name of roofing company. No contractor signature or bill required. If over $50,000, lender would require it.

- Went to bank branch with approval email and we both endorsed check. They have to see you sign it.

- Work was started by contractor, upon completion they were presented with first check. You work with a reputable roofing company, initial payment will be paid at a completion interval or completion, not up-front.

- Contractor then presented bill with remaining money owed, which would be the recoverable depreciation. Sent that to insurance and they released the remaining funds. No lender signature was required on this check, as the total project was under $50,000. Endorsed check and gave it to roofer.

The only money from my account was deductible. This is my second roof and it is a simple process, if you do not try to cheat and use real roofing companies that are local to your area.
This post was edited on 3/22/24 at 5:25 pm
Posted by CaptainsWafer
TD Platinum Member
Member since Feb 2006
58374 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 4:39 pm to
quote:

Shouldn't I have the choice to either accept something being shitty or use the money to get it fixed?


And when you don’t and they find out, your coverage may be dropped. Then any other company you look to for coverage may force you to fix whatever you decided not to the first time before binding coverage.
Posted by KemoSabe65
70605
Member since Mar 2018
5191 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 5:48 pm to
OP should have rented.
Posted by Trevaylin
south texas
Member since Feb 2019
5952 posts
Posted on 3/22/24 at 7:28 pm to
you are suggesting I tried to cheat. It was the mortgage company that told me to sign the workman's lien release for him. I pointed out that mortgage company was asking me to do a feloney. Citi was the mortgage co and Texas Windstorm writes the insurance
Posted by el duderino III
People's Republic of Austin
Member since Jul 2011
2385 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 1:21 pm to
quote:

If you want, you could email me your estimate and I could review it and maybe give you some advice that could help your argument to get O&P.


I would really appreciate that man! See this is what makes TD special. I have asked about 5 different people, including my dad (who usually knows everything), and gotten drastically different answers, but you post a question on here, and odds are you'll find someone to help you out that ALSO knows exactly what they're talking about.

my email is rajincajin26@yahoo.com.

And next time you're in my neck of the woods or vice versa, beers are on me
Posted by Cajun367
S. Louisiana
Member since Oct 2017
1930 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 4:06 pm to
Why is the estimate in ACV? That is usually for third party claims. If your insurance company is paying, the estimate should be in RC (replacement cost).
Posted by blueboxer1119
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2013
8027 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 4:09 pm to
Get your contractor to write a supplement request. This is common and insurance will try to frick you any way possible. Usually by measuring incorrectly.

Easy.

*Im a GC.

My dudes work for a very well known roofing company during the week and for me on the weekends.

How many squares is your roof? My guys cover deductible…..even though that pisses off other roofing companies…
This post was edited on 3/23/24 at 4:20 pm
Posted by blueboxer1119
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2013
8027 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 4:18 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 3/23/24 at 4:19 pm
Posted by Tigers58
Athens, AL
Member since Jun 2005
1076 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 6:14 pm to
quote:

The policy coverage is to compensate the owner to restore the the property to the state it was in prior to the incident, no? Shouldn't I have the choice to either accept something being shitty or use the money to get it fixed?


You could do that, but it would only cost you more money .. and prevent you from filing any potential claim in the future.

How it would cost you more: (Assume 25k Total Claim)

Total claim amount is offset by your deductible. ($5,000)

Initial paid claim amount is also minus depreciation. $20,000 remains after your deductible is accounted for. Now, remove another $5,000 for depreciation. Your initial claim check is $15,000.

Following repairs your contractor will send in paperwork and pictures of the finished product. This will release the depreciation amount ($5,000). So your claim payments are now $20,000.

If you do not have the work done .. you only miss out on your depreciation .. since you would not have paid your deductible money.

If you get half-assed repairs .. or partial repairs .. you may not get the depreciation back .. and now your out of pocket is $5,000 for your deductible + $5,000 you lost to depreciation. ($10,000)

Now comes the good part. If you chose to not do all the repairs so you could pocket money .. when you have another real issue with the same property .. you won't be getting anything to help.

Moral of the story .. pay your deductible, get the repairs done, get your depreciation .. and if there are costs above what was paid out .. your contractor can send additional expense paperwork to your insurance company.

You chose that high arse deductible .. eat it.
This post was edited on 3/23/24 at 6:22 pm
Posted by BigBinBR
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2023
4255 posts
Posted on 3/23/24 at 6:29 pm to
quote:

But just getting a check and keeping the money is insurance fraud.


This is absolutely not true at all. There is nothing in insurance that requires you to repair a vehicle or home with the money from a settlement

The insurance company will include your lender or lienholder on a check because they have a financial interest. It may be a requirement of your lender or lienholder you use the funds to repair your home or car, but it’s not a requirement of insurance.

For example: If your car is hail damaged and you do not have a loan, you can take the insurance payment and go spend it all at the casino if you want, it doesn’t matter.
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