Hurricane IAN help

Get the help you need with your Hurricane Ian property damage claim from industry-leading insurance experts.

 

Hurricane Ian is projected to be one of the most costly storms we have ever seen. 

 

Hurricane Ian caused catastrophic property damage and many have lost everything. Damage to this extent means your insurance company is inundated with calls and claims that can slow the path to recovery. Our team of public adjusters and experts are here as a resource to advocate for you, investigate and document the damage to its full extent, and negotiate every important detail of your loss. We want to help you recover from your loss and make sure you have what you need to do so.

WE GET PAID WHEN YOU GET PAID

C3 Group works on a contingency basis, meaning if we do not recover additional insurance proceeds you pay us nothing. Therefore, we have a vested interest in resolving your claim ethically, properly, and promptly. 

The insurance company has claim adjusters working for them.  It’s imperative to have someone representing your interests as well.  C3 Group welcomes the opportunity to review your claim as a courtesy at no cost to you.

there is No need to do this alone and question weather or not to accept your insurance's lowball offer. get the help of a team of insurance experts who will advocate for you and your loss.

Our team is ready to assist property owners who
have been impacted by hurricane Ian.

If your South West Florida property is located in the below-listed areas, please do not hesitate to contact our team for help with your Hurricane Ian insurance claim. 

  • Arcadia
  • Boca Grande
  • Bokeelia
  • Bonita Springs 
  • Bradenton 
  • Cape Coral 
  • Captiva 
  • Clearwater
  • Englewood
  • Estero
  • Fort Myers
  • Fort Myers Beach
  • Largo
  • Longboat Key
  • Marco Island
  • Naples
  • Nokomis
  • North Port
  • Osprey
  • Placida
  • Port Charlotte
  • Punta Gorda
  • Sanibel
  • Sarasota
  • Siesta Key
  • St. Petersburg
  • Tampa
  • Vamo
  • Venice

.

Why hire a public adjuster?

We wouldn’t recommend you hire just any public adjuster but, it is a good idea to get a licensed and experienced public adjuster involved as soon as possible when your property has sustained extensive damage. Insurance companies and contractors are the first to get inundated with insurance claims and often times, your claim details will slip though the cracks. With a claim advocate representing your claim, you can be sure that every detail is accounted for every ‘t’ is crossed and ‘i’ is dotted.

WHEN CHOOSING A PUBLIC ADJUSTING FIRM DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE
TO BE SURE THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO REPRESENT YOUR LOSS.
  • Verify their license
  • Ask for references
  • Ask if they carry insurance
  • Ask about their process
  • Review similar claims to yours they’ve worked
  • Ask if they contract out their estimates or if it is handled in house
  • Ask if they are Xactimate certified

Why C3 Group?

Our team is comprised of an incomparable investigations team of certified Level 3 Xactimate estimators, and Public Adjusters that have experience handling some of the most complex insurance claims. Each member of our team is committed to putting people first, making sure every question is answered, and an open line of communication is in place throughout the process. We value transparency to ensure all of our clients know exactly what to expect and are involved in any decisions or issues that may arise. Our team prides itself on producing a proven work product that relies on our fanatical attention to detail and data-driven results. This allows our work product to speak for itself, eliminating many carrier arguments from the beginning of the claim process to a quick and accurate settlement. 

Policyholders should not have to just settle when it comes to their property damage insurance claims. We believe they should Settle For Better.

Our PROVEN CLAIM Approach

Step 1

Inspection

Step 4

Negotiation

Step 2

Estimation

Step 5

Settlement

Step 3

Preparation

Common questions about
hurricane insurance claims

Understand the important things to consider and get answers to your top questions about your hurricane damage.

Hurricane Ian insurance claim
How can I mitigate damages to my property without exceeding my policy limits?

Roof tarping is a commonly accepted temporary repair. “Loose lay” is a term some mitigation contractors are using to reference brand new membrane roof material laid loosely on the roof and secured with rocks. While this may work, it’s extremely expensive and it could burn through your policy limits while not even providing a permanent solution. Another term is “shrink wrapping” where again, the fix can cost more than the actual repair, diminishing your policy limits.

How can I tell if my tile roof is damaged or not?

Tile roofs can appear unscathed after a storm but wind uplift tests can provide evidence unseen to the naked eye. Wind can cause the tiles to jiggle up and down or “chatter.” Even though the tiles themselves look fine, their repetitive movement can put small tears and punctures in the underlayment and loosen the fasteners, reducing the ability of the tile to resist future uplift events and remain water tight. Consider hiring a public adjuster or damage expert to perform the appropriate tests.

Why can’t a new roof fastener be placed in the same hole as the original fastener?

There are several reasons for this. First, the new fastener will not have the same holding capacity as the original fastener. Water tightness of the underlayment will be compromised where the original fastener was placed. Sealing the fastener hole is not putting the roof back into the position it was prior to the damage occurring. Lastly, installing a larger diameter fastener may not be possible without modifying the tile, which would invalidate the Florida Product Approval.

When and why would a structural engineer be needed for hurricane property damage?

The high wind blowing over the roof creates a low pressure in accordance with Bernoulli’s principle. This difference of pressure causes an upward thrust and the roof is lifted up. This is why C3 Group recommends that a licensed structural engineer inspect properties to determine if the pressure build up caused more severe damage than meets the eye. The insurance company may provide one of their choice. However, if you have professional fees coverage under your policy, you may be able to use this additional coverage toward hiring one of your choice. Make sure they are a licensed STRUCTURAL engineer (not forensic).

How do I know if a hurricane/wind damaged my windows?

The answer to whether or not wind can affect the performance of a window can be complicated and a proper inspection is essential. Furthermore, the effect of wind forces needs to be considered in context with other factors, such as window maintenance, material properties and possible issues in the original manufacturing. Consider hiring a public adjuster or damage expert to obtain the correct inspections.

How can I be sure my property is safe to occupy again after hurricane damage?

At C3 Group, we hire expert industrial hygienists on every water and fire-related loss to inspect, assess and resolve any health and safety issues.

Can I dispute my hurricane claim?

Who do you trust, your contractor or your insurance adjuster? If you have an active claim and you have a large dispute between the amount paid by insurance and what your contractor is stating, it’s a good idea to contact a public adjuster, who can assist you in disputing the claim.

What do I do if my claim gets denied or underpaid?

If you have a claim denial or a partially denied claim, it is a good idea to have a licensed public adjuster or attorney review the file to provide a secondary coverage opinion. Our team can review your claim for free.

How do I know if I need a public adjuster on my hurricane claim?

A qualified restoration contractor can provide an estimate and guide you through the residential claims process. However, if you own or manage a commercial property, policies become more complex and require more detailed reviews of coverage. Oftentimes, insurance companies will require detailed estimates written in a software program, Xactimate. And unfortunately, the vast majority of commercial property claims are underpaid. Our team is certified in Xactimate and includes one of only 48 Xactimate Certified Trainers in the nation. We also have the insurance knowledge and industry expertise you need to ensure your claim is filed accurately, negotiated professionally and paid fairly.

We Defend your insurance claim
with hard data

You don’t have time for dragged-out insurance claims that end in low or denied settlements. We use the right technology and objective data to drive timely and accurate results.

A few of our past success stories

Hurricane damage – Naples, FL.

A multi-family condo association with 14 total damaged buildings. Prior to C3 Group’s involvement, the COA received an offer that only covered minor repairs months after filing the claim. The board and property manager was referred to C3 Group who was able to properly investigate the claim and negotiate a settlement that was millions of dollars higher than initially offered by the insurer. 

Hail damage – Colorado Springs, CO.

Rockrimmon is a strip-style shopping center with five buildings each with varying roof materials that sustained damage in a hailstorm. After the claim was denied by the insurance company, C3 Group was hired to assist in negotiating a proper settlement. Communication was critical due to the many tenants on the property that were affected. C3 group took over the communication and to ensure all parties were up to speed and successfully negotiated a settlement of $1,031,332.75.

Tornado Insurance claim settled

Tornado damage – Dallas, TX.

An EF3 tornado impacted 0ver 80,000 SF between two buildings of this private school. A settlement offer of $3M was initially made by the insurance company for the damages. As previous clients of C3 Group, the policyholders engaged them immediately to assist with the claim process. The property’s extensive damage caused a loss to the interior contents and ultimately required temporary structures for the school to remain operational. C3 Group was able to navigate the multifaceted loss and work with the insurance carrier’s experts to negotiate a final settlement of almost $6M. 

 

What should i do after a hurricane damages my property?

Document damage
01 Before filing the claim, photograph and video all the damages. For example, record leaking water, damage to roofs, etc.
Inspect & estimate
02 Request a complete copy of your property policy from your insurance agent if you don't have one readily available. Contact a qualified damage expert like a public adjuster to inspect, verify and quantify damage with an estimate. Avoid submitting frivolous claims where damages don’t exceed your deductible or the property didn’t sustain a covered cause of loss under your policy.
Mitigate damages
03 Policyholders are required to protect covered property from further damage. Failure to do so may result in denied coverage. Be sure to document and photograph everything, limit the amount of demo a company performs and avoid doing anything to permanently alter the structure or exceed your policy limits. Roof tarping is a commonly accepted temporary repair.
File the claim
04 Once you’ve determined the need for a claim, submit the claim to the carrier. Include all of the detailed information you have compiled in the steps above. Also, be aware of time limits that may apply, including:
    • Making claim for replacement cost value (RCV)
    • “Suit Against Us” provisions
    • Proof of Loss
    • Statutory requirements
    • Business interruption/extra expense
Start a claim diary
05 List every person/adjuster with whom you speak and the date they inspect the property. Keep an account of conversations and always get as much possible in writing. (Pro tip: summarize important phone conversations in an email back to the insurance adjuster making sure to verify any verbal commitments in writing.)
Prep for the adjuster
06 Consider hiring a public adjuster, who will prepare the estimate and claims package for you before the adjuster even steps foot on the property. Be aware of common “red flags” and contact a public adjuster or attorney if any of the following occur:
    • A need for engineers
    • Short inspections
    • Mentions of damages under deductible
    • Reservations of Rights
    • Claim denials or delays
    • Examination under oath (EUOs)
Get a valuation of damage
07 Twenty-two of the 25 major U.S. insurance companies rely on the estimating software, Xactimate, to quantify damage. If your contractor does not use Xactimate, that’s okay. However, consider bringing in a public adjuster who does use this software in order to produce the most thorough, accurate estimate and ensure every nook and cranny is included in the scope.
Get payout/complete repairs
08 Before you sign a waiver of rights or a Proof of Loss, make sure you are satisfied with the proposed settlement. Signing documents like these can oftentimes prevent you from recovering anything further, including supplements.
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What should I do after my property is damaged by a hurricane

Agriculture

Get your business operational again with a fair agricultural insurance settlement.

Commercial
business owners

Get the right settlement for your industrial, SMB or REIT claim.

Property
managers

Let us take on the claim process and reach a fair settlement for your HOA or multifamily complex.

Contractors

Save time, ensure your clients get what’s rightfully owed to them and get paid faster with an insurance partner.

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together
is progress; working together is success. “
- Henry Ford

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