How shiesty is this? Homeowner's Insurance issues.

Question

I had a homeowner's claim for water damage to my laminate flooring. I did submit a claim and had a check be sent to me within weeks for $1800. I had a few local contractors come and and estimate work costs. It was 2-3x's the amount of the original payment to me.

Coincidently one of the contractors is a contracted installer for my insurance plan. They went ahead and notified the insurance Allstate of the low payment ect.

Well now here is where I am left. Allstate approved the estimate from the installers for $2844.00 and requested to move forward.

I have been to the contractors shop 2x's now to select the flooring and tile for my condo. The last time I was told by the contractor that there is nothing cheap enough to do the job that they originally sent the estimate on....

meaning the contractors are NOT going to honor thier original estimate. I was told that the job would cost me $2000 out of pocket above and beyond what the insurance would pay.

Suggestions? I am thinking about cashing out and having a smaller contractor do it for me and maybe save a few bucks.

Answer 1

Call Allstate, they may have some advice for you to deal with the floor installers  or they may be able to up the approved estimate with documentation form the installer.  $2844 is not much to replace flooring, I would NOT go with someone cheaper, if they do a bad job or use shoddy materials, you may be worse off and with no recourse.  

Answer 2

I think you should get another contractor or two to look at the work to be done and get another estimate.  They don't all charge the same.  I would also make sure that they have a license cause if something goes wrong, you don't have as many legal rights to protect you.

Answer 3

Ask the contractors if they'd be willing to accept your deductible, and go after the insurance company for supplemental payments.

But really, you should be discussing this with YOUR AGENT, who should be suggesting that.

Answer 4

i have not a clue

Answer 5

Probably best to have a rest.looks like you can get some ideas here.

http://insurance.freetipz.info/insurance...

Answer 6

Based on all that you have said, It appears that your contractor is trying to take advantage of you and/or the insurance company.  Before the contractor submitted his bid to Allstate, he should have gone to investigate the damage.  Then you should have been allowed to pick out the flooring, which basically should have matched the quality of the original flooring.  After that point, the materials and labor should have been included in the estimate.

If this was done, the contractor should honor the estimate, especially if the insurance company issued a check for what the contractor stated on his estimate.

There are things that you can do.  First, contact Allstate and let them know what has happened.  Insurance companies don't like it when their customers are taken advantage of and they may order their own investigation.  Call the Better Business Bureau and file a complaint against the contractor and then contact the Contractor's Licensing Board in your state.  The Contractors Licensing Board can tell you if the contractor is indeed licensed and no contractor wants to be investigated by his peers.

If all else fails, you may have to seek the advice of an attorney.

Answer 7

call your agent or adjuster that's what they are there for

Answer 8

I would do the work myself.

Answer 9

you can have any body do the work that is why they have to make the check out to you and the reason that it is much lower than the actual cost of work is your deductible and the cost of the depreciation so good luck

Answer 10

First of all, check your insurance policy to see if it covers 'replacement cost'.  So that means that if you have damage, the policy covers replacement if you went out and bought the same or similar quality item, irregardless of how old it is.  If your policy covers replacement cost, then you can go and pick the same flooring and it doesn't matter what today's cost is, your insurance will cover it.

If your policy does not cover replacement cost, then the insurance company takes into account the age of the item, and allows an adjusted figure to fix it, and you pay the difference.

It sounds like you went about this a little backwards - usually you would get 3 estimates, submit them to the insurance company, get approval, then hire the company to do the work.  I would suggest you contact your insurance agent to take a couple steps back and re-submit, then pick the company you have confidence in.