On August 10, 2020 a severe derecho swept across the midwest causing major damage to many homes and businesses. Undoubtedly, Iowa and Illinois saw the worst of it. Multiple tornado touchdowns were reported as well as recorded winds of up to 126 miles per hour. These tornados and high winds tore through these states leaving trails of destruction in their dust. Sadly, many homeowners suffered major damage to their homes. One case in particular was a single mother and Chicago Public School teacher named Mary. Why hire a public adjuster? Let's read her story to find out. Who Can You Trust?  As the derecho tore through the midwest, it destroyed much of what was in it's path. The 78 foot tall White Oak tree in Mary's front yard was no exception. The near 80 mile an hour winds snapped that huge tree like a twig and dropped it right on top of Mary's 1922 all brick bungalow. Her front porch and roof suffered severe damage from the massive tree. Additionally, the high winds ripped many shingles off of her roof.As you can see from the photos, the weight of the tree heavily damaged her front porch. In addition, it shifted the whole front end of the home causing major structural damage. Thankfully, no one was injured during the storm. However, Mary knew the financial hurt was yet to come. After the storm settled Mary contacted her insurance provider and began the road to recovery, or so she thought. Her carrier didn't send an adjuster out to her home for nearly two weeks after the storm. Upon arrival, the adjuster announced himself and did a quick exterior scope of the porch. He was there for a total of 30 minutes and never went inside the home to see if there was possibly any interior damage to the walls or foundation. Two days later the estimate came in with a Replacement Cost Value of $5,725.27. In the report, the adjuster stated that a lot of the damage was preexisting and would not be covered. Mary thought that seemed low, but she trusted her insurance company. After a...

Imagine you have lost your home to a fire, or you have to relocate due to major flooding from a storm. How will you pay for it? What relief can you count on? Fortunately, your homeowners or renters insurance policy can provide relief. Additional Living Expense or ALE, as it is also called, will prevent you from being "homeless" while your home is being repaired. This coverage is also referred to as "Coverage D" or "Loss of Use". What is Additional Living Expense? And, how does it work? How Does Additional Living Expense Coverage Work? Let's start with "What is Additional Living Expense?" Additional Living Expense (ALE) coverage is exactly what it sounds like. An insurance covered loss has forced you out of your home. Thankfully, ALE coverage will pay for the increase in expenses you will most likely incur. Most insurance policies read like this: "Additional Living Expense, meaning any necessary increases in living expenses incurred by you so that your household can maintain its normal standard of living." You must understand that ALE covers the ADDITIONAL cost NOT the whole cost. For example, your apartment floods. Unfortunately, you are forced to find temporary housing while your landlord mitigates the water damage. Normally, your rent is $600 a month but the temporary housing you find is $900 a month. The ALE coverage will give you $300 each month, not the full $900. Please, understand that ALE will NOT cover additional expenses that are not deemed necessary. For instance, if the temporary housing that you chose was $1,200 a month because it was higher quality than your previous dwelling, your insurance company will most likely deny ALE coverage for your rent. Again, ALE coverage is designed to pay the increase in expenses from your normal standard of living. Keep that in mind when you are making your purchases. If you're not careful you may be stuck with the bill.  What Does ALE Cover?   Additional Living Expense Covers Minor Expenses Such As: Pet Boarding...

 A fire can cause irreparable damage to your home and to your life. It is our hope that you never have to deal with this kind of tragedy. However, if you are faced with a loss of this magnitude, AllCity Adjusting is here for you. We have provided you with a "what to do if your home burns down" checklist that you can print out and keep for reference. No one should ever have to go through this process, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Let AllCity Adjusting give you a little peace of mind. We are here for you.   Undoubtedly, there is a long list of tasks that you will need to accomplish just for insurance purposes when you have a house fire. In this blog we want to provide you with an immediate "what to do" so you are not confused and lost if you have to face such a tragedy. After we talk about what to do if your home burns down, we will discuss the main causes of house fires and how to prevent them. Step-by-Step: If Your Home Burns Down FIND A PLACE TO STAY. Your home is probably inhabitable. The major damage may have been caused by the fire itself or by the water used to extinguish the fire. Regardless, you will need to find somewhere to stay until your home is repaired and restored. Fortunately, your homeowners insurance policy likely covers you for temporary housing. Remember to keep all receipts for any costs that you incur stemming from your loss. You can call your local disaster relief agency if your policy does not cover temporary housing. The American Red Cross or Salvation Army can help find you a place to stay.  CALL YOUR INSURANCE PROVIDER. Filing your insurance claim is vital. Unfortunately, the road to recovery is long and tolling. However, you must not put this off. Getting your claim filed can help provide you with the immediate needs you will have such as living expenses and other day-to-day needs. HIRE A PROFESSIONAL BOARD UP/MITIGATION CONTRACTOR. Weather and unlawful entry can cause further damage to your property. For this reason it...

Indeed, it is that time of year again. Consequently, freezing cold temperatures can mean frozen water inside your pipes. It's a fear that we all have when we go out of town during the winter. Burst pipes! Sometimes it is unavoidable and sometimes you can prevent it from happening. Here is a "what to do if a pipe bursts in your home". In addition, there will be a little segment on how to prevent your pipes from bursting. Remember, AllCity Adjusting is here for any of your home insurance needs. Call us today! What to Do if a Pipe Bursts in Your Home?  First, it is important to understand that your insurance will not cover a "leaky" pipe. "Gradual damage" such as a leak in a pipe or a crack in the foundation will most likely not be covered. However, homeowners insurance generally does cover damage due to broken pipes if the collapse is sudden and unforeseen. Ultimately, you want to act fast! As soon as an issue presents itself, report it. Therefore, we have provided a list of what to do if a pipe bursts in your home. Follow These Steps: SHUT OFF THE MAIN WATER VALVE. Undoubtedly, the first and most important step when a pipe bursts in your home is to stop the water flow. Your main goal at this point is to prevent further damage. This valve is usually located in the basement or on an outside wall in a utility area of the house. Next, you want to relieve the pressure that might be built up in the pipes. Turn on your water faucets in your bathrooms and in the kitchen to drain any excess water that is sitting in the pipes. CALL A PLUMBER. Ultimately, it is ideal to have a plumber's number handy in an emergency. Perhaps, keep it written on a sticky note near all major plumbing areas of the house. In any case, call a professional to come fix the problem. Keep record of any service provided and make copies of all receipts of payment. Surely, you will need to provide documentation when you file your claim. If your claim is approved, the insurance company will reimburse you...

If you have suffered major damage to your home, it is likely that you have many questions about how to file a home insurance claim. AllCity Adjusting is here to help! In this article you will not only find a step-by-step list of how to file a home insurance claim, but you will also learn the "why" behind each step.   How to File a Home Insurance Claim First and foremost, READ YOUR POLICY. Knowing what you are and are not covered for will help you through this process. Don't know how to read your policy? No problem! AllCity Adjusting has a team of insurance experts who can help. Call us today! Once you understand your coverage, follow this step-by-step guide and you will know exactly how to file a home insurance claim. Phase 1 The Hardest Part of Filing a Home Insurance Claim Collecting the evidence is the hardest part of filing your claim. At this point it is hard to even collect your thoughts. Staying calm and being very thorough during this phase is very important.  Report any crime to the police. If a crime such as theft, burglary or vandalism is the cause for your claim, you must report it to the authorities immediately. Because some home insurance policies require a police report upon filing such a claim, it is important to make this the first step. Be very thorough here and document everything. In addition, take down the names of all the law enforcement officers that you speak with. Then, request a copy of the police report. You may need to provide this information to your insurance company in order to support your claim Call your insurance carrier. Next, you need to call your insurance company to report the incident. The insurance company will then assign you a claim number and schedule for an adjuster to come and inspect your home. This adjuster is a representative of the insurance company and works on their behalf. The adjuster will interview you and inspect the property. In addition, he or she will assess the damage and estimate the cost of repair....

Have you suffered a major loss? House fire? Tornado? Burst Pipe? If so, you are in need of a professional licensed public adjuster. Fortunately, you are in the right place. AllCity Adjusting is here for you. Don’t Settle, Get More! Call us today (844) 692-3587. Insurance Adjuster, Independent Adjuster, Public Adjuster... What's the Difference? Insurance adjuster. An insurance adjuster works directly for the insurance company. Their main focus is the insurance company's bottom line and that bottom line is to save money. Unfortunately, that means they pay out the least amount of money possible for each claim. Independent adjuster. An independent adjuster is a third party adjuster. Usually self-employed, independent adjusters are hired by the insurance company. They perform inspections and write estimates on behalf of the insurance company. Similar to insurance adjusters, an independent adjuster’s main focus is the insurance company’s bottom line. Again, their bottom line is to pay out the least amount of money per claim. Ultimately, this means less money in your pocket. Public adjuster- A public adjuster is a licensed insurance professional that advocates for the insured. They are not affiliated with the insurance company at all. In fact, many insurance specialists refer to PA’s as the insurance company’s worst nightmare. They are hired by you. They advocate for you! Again, their main focus is YOU. In fact, their bottom line is to get you the maximum settlement for your loss. Why Should I Hire a PA? Of course, there are an unlimited number of benefits of hiring a public adjuster. However, there are a few reasons that really stand out. Here, we have outlined them for you. They've got your back. A public adjuster can legally represent you and your rights during the claim process. Therefore, you don't have to be bullied by your insurance company. Remember, the insurance company has an entire team of professionals helping them process your claim. You should be allowed...