Number 1 above, “Not being detailed in your count etc,” is just what it says. The more detail you provide to the insurance company adjuster about your claim lists and costs, the more information they have to pay you what you are claiming.
Number 2 above, “Failing to List, etc,” is a common omission because people have the natural tendency to think “letting certain items go” by not listing them gives them credibility or endears them to the adjuster to make up for it somewhere else in the claim. You get no credit elsewhere in the claim from a carrier for not listing items and their costs that are damaged, regardless of how small or trivial you think that damage is. If it is damaged, you list it, price it accurately, and ask for payment.
Number 4 above, “Allowing the insurance company to determine loss value.” In comparison, imagine telling the IRS to let you know how much you owe them in taxes! It is always best for you, the policyholder, to make your claim to the carrier. The carrier should be “adjusting” the claim you present to them, not the other way around. It is your home, your building, your business. It is your obligation to present the claim to the carrier. The insurer only performs this activity in advance of the policyholder to control the payment outcome. How could the damage evaluation process by the party with the checkbook, be best for the party getting paid? Human nature and simple business theory would dictate otherwise. Use your own adjuster, a public adjuster, to evaluate and negotiate your claim for optimum results in payment.
Number 5 above, “Giving up all your rights to settlement monies, etc.” It is a major mistake for a policyholder to hand over the rights to their claim payment to a contractor by signing away all their natural insurance policy rights as the policyholder, to a contractor or other third party. You should maintain ownership of your claim, its proceeds, and the decision on how to rebuild, for how much, and with what materials. It is your property plain and simple. Handing over full authority to a contractor or anyone else eliminates you from having authority over the claim, its money from the insurance company, and even if your contractor decides to sue your insurance company. Maintain possession of your claim, its money, and how you wish to spend that money once it is received.
