Cost to repair leak damage

Kaskade

I am looking for some advice as to where I can get figures "acceptable" to an insurance company in order to prepare a claim estimate for damage caused due to a leak in out house. This is the second bad leak we have had in the year and I came out so badly from the last claim that I can't afford to pay a loss assessor to do the claim. I know the insurance companies have a set amount for things like replacing plaster board, painting and decorating, regrouting tiles, replacing wooden floors etc. Just wondering if anybody knows any of these figures or where we might get access to then in order to ensure our claim is as accurate as possible.

Thanks in advance

endasmail

get a builder in and get a written quotation on headed paper
send in to the insurance company
bobs your uncle

Marcanthony

Kaskade wrote: »

I am looking for some advice as to where I can get figures "acceptable" to an insurance company in order to prepare a claim estimate for damage caused due to a leak in out house. This is the second bad leak we have had in the year and I came out so badly from the last claim that I can't afford to pay a loss assessor to do the claim. I know the insurance companies have a set amount for things like replacing plaster board, painting and decorating, regrouting tiles, replacing wooden floors etc. Just wondering if anybody knows any of these figures or where we might get access to then in order to ensure our claim is as accurate as possible.

Thanks in advance

I cant understand How you ended up so badly last time you can not pay a loss assessor again.The loss assessor is working on a QS basis with a bill of costs and would have obtained the best possible settlement.A loss assessor should know the policy inside out.He would have billed for everything from Commencement to completion.(stip out to the skip).
Sounds like you want the services/knowledge of a loss assessor with out paying for them.As previous op stated. Get a builder to quote you for all the repairs that he and you deem necessary and give it to the loss adjuster. He will mark the quote In a way that is appropriate to the cost and scope of the quote.
Builder does the job at price and scope agreed (If he cant) ask your insurance provider to appoint one of their nominated builders to carry out the job (at the scope and price agreed).Peace of mind for you that your claim is as accurate as possible and is "acceptable" to an insurance company.

Katekat

In what way were you worst off? Did you start any works before the insurance co agreed the scope of works? or maybe paid for materials which they deemed unnecessary? Was the excess high? The loss assessor costs are not covered by insurance and the fees they charge can be high. ask the insurer to nominate one of their own network builders - the scope will be agreed direct with the insurance co or their loss adjuster, also the quality of work done will the responsibility of the insurer ie its their builder so they will be responsible for the work.

Marcanthony

Katekat wrote: »

In what way were you worst off? Did you start any works before the insurance co agreed the scope of works? or maybe paid for materials which they deemed unnecessary? Was the excess high? The loss assessor costs are not covered by insurance and the fees they charge can be high. ask the insurer to nominate one of their own network builders - the scope will be agreed direct with the insurance co or their loss adjuster, also the quality of work done will the responsibility of the insurer ie its their builder so they will be responsible for the work.

I agree. However if there was unforseen aditional repairs that could not have been visually seen at the time of inspection of the damage and needed to be carried out during repairs. This could have been highlighted to the Insurancer provider or their rep and additional compo agreed ( if you called the assessor you employed. He would have told you this.) In some cases the professioal fee is paid by the Insurance provider and if you where that badly off last time. Damage must have been large. So the professional fee was probably paid.
You must have
a) a large excess
b) carried out repairs before the insurance provider inspected
c)needed repairs done outside the perils of the policy. for example (a central heating repipe)
Please advice on the reason for you been worse off & I will give you advice/my opimion to prevent this issue again.

Katekat

Marcanthony wrote: »

In some cases the professioal fee is paid by the Insurance provider and if you where that badly off last time. Damage must have been large. So the professional fee was probably paid.
You must have
a) a large excess
b) carried out repairs before the insurance provider inspected
c)needed repairs done outside the perils of the policy. for example (a central heating repipe)
Please advice on the reason for you been worse off & I will give you advice/my opimion to prevent this issue again.

Public Loss Assessor fee are not normally paid for an "own" claim. However, if the damage was result of someone elses actions and their insurers were paying the claim they will consider paying assessor fee. if it was a large claim, supervisionary fees can be considered but this is seperate from the professional fee of an assessor. Most insurer will tell you from the outset that Assessor fees are not covered.

The assessor should have explained to you if something was not covered - if as per Marcanthony the central heating had to be replaced this could have been excluded. also most plumbing works are not covered unless the the cause is an insured peril. ie if it was leak due to general deterioration of the pipe, the repair of the pipe itself is not covered. the cover given depends on policy wording.

Marcanthony

Katekat wrote: »

Public Loss Assessor fee are not normally paid if it was a large claim, supervisionary fees can be considered but this is seperate from the professional fee of an assessor.

I Agree. However in my experience most Assessors (QS or builing surveyors ect) will chage just the supervisionary fees. THATS WHAT I MEANT BY PROFESSIONAL FEES)
However I agree the 12.5% of the settlement (including vat) they usually charge. Is not covered.However the client should discuss fees before hand with the assessor.However a good building company specialising in this field of expertise will provide a quote similar to the Assessor free of charge.And deal with the provider with your concent on your behalf.I can recommend one. If you PM myself.

Katekat

However I agree the 12.5% (including vat) they usually charge. Is not covered.However the client should discuss fees before hand with the assessor.However a good building company specialising in this field of expertise will provide a quote similar to the Assessor.[/QUOTE]

Agreed

When I referred to the professional fee its is the costs they can charge for advices (including dealing with the insurance company or their loss adjuster), drawing up of the scope of works and administration costs etc. Supervisionary fees for the repairs are normally allowed (on larger cases).

Best to get a builder who has experience with insurers - also when you make your formal acceptance make sure that you have received full breakdown of what they are willing to pay and that the builder has agreed to do the works for the amount offered.

if you decide to go to an assessor again make sure they are regulated as Insurers are now starting to refuse to deal with unregulated assessor which can can you even more headaches.

Marcanthony

Katekat wrote: »

However I agree the 12.5% (including vat) they usually charge. Is not covered.However the client should discuss fees before hand with the assessor.However a good building company specialising in this field of expertise will provide a quote similar to the Assessor.

When I referred to the professional fee its is the costs they can charge for advices (including dealing with the insurance company or their loss adjuster), drawing up of the scope of works and administration costs etc. Supervisionary fees for the repairs are normally allowed (on larger cases).

I AGREE. HOWEVER THIS WOULD BE A FORMALITY TO A GOOD BUILDING COMPANY DEALING IN THIS FIELD OF EXPERISE.WHAT THE ASESSOR IS DOING IS VERY SIMILAR TO TENDERING FOR WORK AND CHARGING A FEE FOR TENDERING FOR THE WORK (HOWEVER THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BEEN KNOWING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE INSURANCE POLICY.) REMEMBER RETENTIONS WILL BE MORE THAN LIKLYBE WITHHELD FROM THE SETTLEMENT FIGURE (13.5% TO 30% OF THE GROSS SETTLEMENT OBTAINED) AND ALL REPAIRS MUST HAVE A VAT INVOICE AND ALL REPAIRS BILLED FOR CARRIED OUT BEFORE THE RETENTION IS RELEASED.(THATS AFTER YOU HAVE PAID 12.5% OF THE SETTLEMENT TO THE LOSS ASSESSOR AND MAYBE ADDITIONALS LIKE REPORTS ECT)

Best to get a builder who has experience with insurers - also when you make your formal acceptance make sure that you have received full breakdown of what they are willing to pay and that the builder has agreed to do the works for the amount offered.

I AGREE.IN RELATION TO THE ACCEPTANCE FORM (YOU CAN ONLY CLAIM FOR RESULTING DAMAGE TO PROPERTY IN THE FUTURE. IF THE ORIGINAL REPAIRS WHERE CARRIED OUT.( THAT YOU HAD PREVIOUSLY CLAIMED FOR) SO IF YOU USE AN ASSESSOR OR A BUILDER ITS VITAL YOU GET A BREAKDOWN AND IF YOU USE A BUILDER (AFTER THE ASSESSORS SERVICES OR FROM START TO FINISH) YOU HAVE AGREED THE SCOPE AND COST OF THE REPAIRS WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE BUILDER FOR THE AGREED SUM.(WRITTEN CONTRACT IS BEST. MITIGATES ANY PROBLEMS)

if you decide to go to an assessor again make sure they are regulated as Insurers are now starting to refuse to deal with unregulated assessor which can can you even more headaches.[/QUOTE]

I ALSO AGREE. HOWEVER THERE IS DIFFERENT FORMS OF REGULATION.(FOR EXAMPLE..MEDIATION) AND THIS YOU MAYBE CHARGED A FEE FOR (12.5% OF THE SETTLEMENT) AND IS EXACTLY WHAT ANY BUILDING COMPANY CAN PROVIDE.
HOWEVER LIKE ALL WALKS OF LIFE SOME ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS AND THAT APPLIES TO ASSESSORS AND THE BUILDERS.
RECOMENDATIONS ARE BEST AS THEY ARE WORKING ON YOUREHALF.(AS IT IS UP TO YOU TO REPRESENT AND CONCLUDE YOUR CLAIM.)THE INSURANCE PROVIDER HAS THE LOSS ADJUSTER OR NOMINATED BUILDERS REPESENTING THEIR INTRESTS .