Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #870450 in Books
• Published on: 1998
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Review
Accidents and natural disasters pack a one-two punch. First, something happens. You go through it, and it's like being trapped in a nightmare. Then you try to collect on your insurance. You get to go through that, and it's like a second nightmare. The fact of the matter is, many insurance companies aren't in the business to pay claims-they're in the business not to pay them. Les Watrous picks up where the first nightmare starts. He sets down safety procedures and steps to estimate and mitigate damages. These are well-written, useful guidelines, starting right after you come up out of the storm cellar, or get back to the burned or flooded home. Even more useful is the advice on what comes next: filing claims and replacing/restoring your property. Keeping good records, backing up your claim, negotiating with the insurance company, and knowing what to do if the claim is denied or you are offered too little are all discussed, along with other needed subjects, like choosing the right contractor. The author also provides forms, checklists and important phone numbers. No one likes accidents or disasters, but they do happen. Having this book around and taking its advice will make your life a lot simpler if that tornado, fire, or jumping deer should ever cross your path. -- From Independent Publisher

Customer Reviews

Save Your Money
The author of this book has a hidden agenda and it is not to benefit the insured. The author hammers public adjusters (who are consumer advocates) with a comment that public adjusters charge 15-50 percent. Many states have statuatory requirements that a fee cannot exceed 10 percent and at least one state is lower.

"No other class of adjusters is more at odds with insurance companies than the public adjuster", states Mr. Author. Why would someone spin this? Of course the public adjuster is at odds. The public adjuster obtains a full settlement. To negoitate and insurance claim: "Perhaps your best choice is the qualified restoration contractor because he/she is primarily involved in day to day contact with insurance companies negotiating and adjusting property claims". Sounds like adjusting claims without a license to me and ... can you really trust your contractor to obtain a good personal property or additional living expense claim?

The author further dreams up statements like this: "If you are not in the position to be advancing payment for services and expenses, the need to retain a restoration contractor is even more important". Nonsense. Get an advance from your insurer.

Get the insurance company's settlement first and then hire a contractor. That way you will know how much you have to work with. Further, if you have had a fire, now is the time to change what you don't like about your house with your rebuild money. Do what is best for you, not some guy with a hammer and saw.

The name "Top Dollar Property Claims" should be changed to "Top Dollar Property Claims for your Contractor".

Top Dollar Property Claims
One of the 10 Best Real Estate Reads of the year By Robert J. Bruss Los Angeles Times

How to settle insurance claims for top dollar TOP DOLLAR PROPERTY CLAIMS, By Les Watrous Many homeowners have recently been hit with storm damage. Les Watrous' excellent new book comes just in time to help them settle their claims for top dollar. An example in the book involves a homeowner whose residence suffered water damage due to a broken pipe. The insurance company adjuster offered $740 to settle the claim. But she followed the steps outlined in the book to document the extent of the insured damage and wound up with a settlement check of over $31,000, to restore the home to pre-damage condition. If insurance companies were smart, they would buy up every copy of this book to keep it out of homeowners' hands! This great how-to book should be in every home and public library. It is authoritative, accurate and filled with practical advise for consumers on how to handle the big, impersonal insurance companies On my scale of one to 10, this outstanding book rates an off-the-chart 12.

Extremely well written......
Many homeowners have recently been hit with storm damage and other insured residence claims. Les Watrous' excellent new book comes just in time to help them settle their insurance claims for top dollar. An example in the book involves a homeowner whose residence suffered water damage due to a broken pipe. The insurance company adjuster offered $740 to settle the claim. But she followed the steps outlined in the book to document the extent of the insured damage and wound up with a settlement check of over $31,000, to restore the home back to pre-damage condition. Having had an insurance claim last year that was denied by State Farm with a 22-page denial letter, but later paid in full for $3600, I wish this new book had been available then. If insurance companies were smart, they would buy up every copy of this book to keep it out of homeowner's hands! The author shows homeowners how to properly make their homeowner's insurance claims; how to carefully document the damage; how to handle first line adjusters who are trained to m ake a quick, cheap settlement; how to find contractors experienced with insurance repairs; how to be sure of complete payment, including required building code upgrades; and what to do at each step to avoid complications. This extremely well-written book is a fun read with great graphics, illustrations, lots of examples, necessary forms for damage documentation, and summaries of what is insured and what isn't. Although the book is full of details, it isn't bogged down with technicalities. This great how-to book should be in every home and public library. It is authoritative, accurate and filled with practical advice for consumers on how to handle the big, impersonal insurance companies. It even lists Internet Web sites where you can get more help. The author, while noting that many insurance companies handle claims very fairly, warns homeowners to be prepared for the worst; if no problems develop, they can be pleasantly surprised. On my scale of one to 10, this outstanding book rates an off-the-chart 12. Robert J. Bruss, National Syndicated Columnist Used by Permission