The following are commonly asked questions from our clients about their property damage occurrence. 

I've had a loss, what should I do now?

The first thing to do after disaster strikes is to contact your insurance company. Your insurance company is there to help you. Don't be afraid, they are in business to help you. Always keep a copy of your insurance policy in a safe place.

What else should I do?

All insurance policies ask that the homeowner mitigate the damages to keep the loss to a minimum. If you have a water loss in your home, stop the source of the water. Next, call Advanced Restoration Solutions. If you move wet furniture to a dry area, place foil or wood under the legs to protect the dry surface from being stained by the furniture. Advanced Restoration Solutions will dispatch one of our cleaning and restoration crews. They have the necessary means to stop the water from causing additional damage.

If you have had a fire, Advanced Restoration Solutions will board up the home and make it more secure. The liability protection of your home when you have had a fire is also crucial.

A qualified restoration company like Advanced Restoration Solutions can render assistance for your emergency needs.

Who Pays the Deductible?

You do. Every Insurance policy has a deductible provision which is a part of your contract with the insurance company. You determined the amount of your deductible when you set up the policy with your insurance company.

What is Actual Cash Value (ACV) and replacement cost value (RCV)?

There are two types of coverages for your property. One is replacement cost coverage and the other is actual cash value.

Replacement cost coverage provides for a damaged item to be replaced for what it costs today, at a fair market price of like, kind and quality, regardless of when it was purchased.

Actual cash value provides for the compensation of the balance of the life expectancy of a damaged item. Your insurance company owes for only the unused portion of the balance of its life. Other parameters may also apply, your adjuster can explain this process better.

Must I Use the Insurance Company's Contractor?

No one can tell you who to use to restore your home. You are the homeowner and it is your decision who will restore your home. Advanced Restoration Solutions is ready to assist you. We will represent your loss honestly to your insurance company, to expedite the resolution of your repairs, and restore your home as quickly as possible.

Who are the Insurance Adjusters?

There are three different kinds of insurance adjusters.

The first is the company adjuster, who is the representative of your insurance company.

The second is the independent adjuster. This adjuster is contracted by your insurance company to resolve the loss. The independent adjuster is paid by your adjuster at your insurance company.

The third is the public adjuster. A public adjuster assists you with inventories and estimates. Their payment is not covered by the insurance company, so make sure that if you sign with them, you are willing to pay for their services.

What is Covered on my Policy? 

Insurance coverage usually covers the damages resulting from an accidental and sudden event. If you are not certain what damages are covered, then please contact your insurance company. They will know for sure. 

What is Subrogation? 

Subrogation is a third party action against the at fault party on the insured party's behalf. Your insurance company handles the subrogation process. If they are successful with the subrogation, you may receive your deductible back.

What is the Settlement Procedure?

The first step is to agree to the scope and pricing. We will work closely with your adjuster to ensure that they will cover every detail to restore your home properly to a pre-loss condition. After the claim is agreed to upon, your adjuster will issue a check for all or part of the job.

How do we Get Started with the Work?

When the contract or work authorization is signed and the down payment is received, a construction superintendent will walk the job with you before beginning restoration to your home. All repairs will be made according to the agreed upon scope of work.

How do I Make Payments?

We will accept your insurance draft or personal check as payment. We also accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

Mortgage Company Endorsements

Our office will make arrangements with your mortgage company regarding endorsements, payment schedules, inspections, affidavits and all other necessary documents required by them. We will work with the mortgage company as a service to you, our client.

Supplements

Any damages not discovered during the initial estimation process is called a supplement. We will work with your adjuster to ensure that the additional damages are covered, and will be paid for.

Improvements and Additional Work

Should you want to upgrade, or if you have other changes you wish to make, now is a good time to make changes. At the time of a loss, the cost of upgrading certain items is typically much lower than replacing them at a later date.