Epic Group Public Adjusters - Preparing for a Disaster

Preparing for a Disaster

Disaster Checklist General Guidelines for Claim Preparedness and Handling:
	IN THE TIME BEFORE A LOSS:
	1.	Photograph and inventory your property and belongings before a disaster occurs. a. Know what you have, how much it cost you and what it is worth.
	2.	Back up critical documents and information at an offsite location.
		a.	Wills, financial documents, sales histories, etc. should always be accessible to you. Documents copied onto a disk and kept in a safety deposit box are one of your best options for guaranteeing the recovery of vital information.
	3.	Have a plan.
		a.	Know who you will go to for guidance and aid in the restoration of your property and belongings. Also, know where you will go if your dwelling becomes uninhabitable.

IN THE TIME IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A LOSS:

Mitigate your damage.

It is your responsibility as the insured to protect your home or office from sustaining any further damage. This means:
i. Tarps over a leaky roof
ii. Boards over broken windows or other unintentional openings
iii. Clean up of water-affected areas in order to prevent possible mold development, etc.

Document your damage.

Photograph, videotape, and inventory your property and belongings noting the extent of the damage.

Document ALL activities and expenses.

If emergency repairs must be made in order to eliminate health or safety hazards be sure to thoroughly document what actions were taken and, if and what belongings had to be disposed of.

Keep all receipts! Any purchases you make during this time to clean, mitigate, or repair may be recovered in your claim.

Be wary of contractors that require cash payment.
ALWAYS get a
RECEIPT if you pay cash.

Request a complete copy of your insurance policy if you do not already have an up-to-date version.

This will allow you to begin identifying what is, and equally important, what is not covered by your insurance company as provided for in your policy.

Hire your own representative to properly interpret your policy and guide you through the claims process.

Your insurance adjuster works on behalf of the insurance company and protects their best interests. Merely relying on their analysis of your damages may cost you thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars later on. Make sure you have someone on your side who knows what you are entitled to and who will fight for your case.

We take the time to properly quantify the loss.

Attention To Detail, The Policy, & The Property

When it comes to getting your claim paid - and paid at the proper amount - the more detail you can give to the insurer, the more you can collect. At EPIC we are very detail oriented.

For every client:

1.	A detailed evaluation of the policy proceeds a thorough inspection of property damage.
2.	We measure and inspect every room that is affected.
3.	We take numerous photographs; often finding damages that the insurance company missed in its inspection.
4.	We keep and organize all the details. We have a proprietary claim handling system that puts all of the necessary information about your claim at our fingertips - information we can access immediately. We are also able to share this information with others in our company - others who have different areas of expertise and are invaluable when it comes to dealing with insurance companies.

“Choosing between public adjusting companies was easy for me. Comparing the abilities of Epic Group to another was like night and day. Epic Group Public Adjusters far surpasses the competition in every way.”

Contingency Planning
Risk Management Contract for Future Loss

A major strategy for business and homeowners’ alike is structuring a contingency plan; having a haven pre-arranged for when an unforeseen event strikes. A majority of the clients that we have helped in the past and many who have yet to need our assistance have signed Future Loss Agreements with Epic. This agreement allows us to create a file for our clients prior to any damage occurring. We will take pictures, create inventories, and have all policy information stored in our system ready the moment you file a claim.

The contract outlines that the insured agrees to have Epic Group Public Adjusters represent them in any future claim resulting from a covered peril. The contract is good for the duration of one year from the date of contract at a specified fee amount. Each future claim will have a separately signed contract stating representation specific to the claim’s causation, date of loss, and current policy information.

The contract stipulates that it will become null and void should one or more of the following events occur:
1.	The insured has lapsed on their insurance policy therefore compromising coverage for any future loss.
2.	The state’s Department of Insurance no longer allows Public Adjusters to work in the state.
3.	The insured requests that the contract become null and void in writing, but must occur prior to the Insured’s loss taking place.