Most damage caused by fire can be seen by the naked eye. But what about damage that happens beneath the surface? There are damages that occur where you can’t see, and these hidden damages should be included in your final settlement offer.
This guide explores the most common types of hidden damage and how a professional inspection can bring them to light. Trust Altieri Insurance Consultants Tampa to help you receive a fair settlement for your property damage!
Why Are Hidden Damages a Problem In Tampa?
Hidden damage caused by smoke, soot, and water can cost you more after the initial disaster. By not factoring these instances into your damage claim, you are accepting an undervalued settlement offer that won’t be enough money to complete repairs.
Why does it happen?
If you don’t know what you’re looking for, or where to look, how can you prepare a comprehensive account of all damage caused by the fire? Do you rely solely on the insurance adjuster to find all hidden damage? Does the adjuster have the incentive to do so? Does the adjuster have the time to take at your property investigating every nook and cranny or must the adjuster get to the next appointment? Do all these constraints on the insurance company adjuster allow for these types of errors to occur on your claim? A methodical approach to damage inspection is required. Claim inspections that are handled too quickly or during periods of widespread loss are more susceptible to this type of outcome. Regardless of the reason, incomplete evaluations can leave policyholders responsible for costs their coverage was meant to address.
| Expert Strategy: Hire a public adjuster in Tampa. These experts can do personal inspections and manage your claim for you. |
Smoke Damage
Where there’s fire, there’s smoke. What happens when smoke builds inside a building? Much like free-flowing water, it seeks a path of least resistance. It seeps into the tiniest voids-following electrical and plumbing paths into partitions and other remote areas of a building. If left inside a building, hidden smoke can cause both physical, health, and aesthetic problems for years.
For reasons explained in the previous section, many insurance companies focus on what was damaged by the actual fire and can be less observant to the consequences of the hidden smoke that sticks around afterwards.
For a fair assessment, public adjusters inspect every single corner and search every crevice for signs of smoke residue. As long as there’s evidence, it can be used to negotiate a fair offer for your fire damage claim in Tampa.
| Did you know? Acidic smoke particles can’t be cleaned off. Materials with smoke damage will need to be replaced. |
Soot Damage
Soot is carried in the smoke to remote areas of the building and is the black residue left behind by the smoke. Soot are carbon particles, sometimes microscopic in nature, that remain after the fire has been extinguished. Soot creates the nasty smell left behind inside a building after a fire has occurred. These microscopic particles can be found in the most remote areas of a building and should never be left behind during a restoration effort. They are the ultimate hidden damage, requiring special equipment to detect.
Because soot damage can be invisible, many insurance companies don’t take the time to search for it. But that doesn’t make it any less of a threat. Soot worms its way into vents, insulation, and HVAC units before infiltrating your breathable air.
When filing a fire damage claim, soot damage is a viable casualty to add to your report.
| Can public adjusters in Tampa inspect for soot? Yes, teams like Altieri Insurance Consultants come prepared with all the right equipment and expertise for accurate assessments! |
Read more > Should I Get Fire Claim Help From A Fire Claims Adjuster?
Water Damage
To many insurance companies, “water” damage is such a broad term. Some of it is covered, some of it isn’t. Knowing your policy’s terms is the first step, and knowing when your insurer is holding out on hidden water damage is the next.
Common hidden water damage in Tampa can cause:
- Mold
- Bubbling walls
- Discoloration
- Material shrinkage or swelling
- Soft spots
- Warped wood
- Roof leaks
To ensure a fair settlement offer for your water damage claim, professional public adjusters in Tampa conduct thorough inspections with moisture mapping to detect hidden water damage.
Learn more > The Importance of Moisture Mapping in Water Damage Claims
We’ll Reveal Your Property’s Hidden Damages. Reach Out to Altieri Insurance Consultants Tampa Today!
Overlooked hidden damages. We’ve heard the tale plenty of times before, and we’ve had success in turning these stories around. Think your insurer may be forgetting something in your settlement offer? Contact Altieri Insurance Consultants Tampa at (813) 247-4757 for professional inspections and damage claims services near you!
