"Tim Wescott" wrote in message
...
Existential Angst wrote:
Awl --

As some of you may know, the NY, NJ area got clobbered by a windstorm
last week (75+ mph), after quite a snow storm a couple of weeks before.
Damage was extensive, thousands of trees blown down, some people without
electricity for a week. Imagine if the trees were fully leaved in the
summer....

So the insurance adjuster finally came today, and just left, after **3
hours**, doing a very detailed survey, inside and out -- much more
detailed than the roofing companies that came out -- and left me with a
pile of papers and a check, for about $10K, about half of that for
branch damage to the slate roof, the rest for inside water damage, A/C
damage, other stuff.

The Q is:

What if the contractor prices come in, and exceed the insurance company
estimates?
What happens if damage is later encountered that the adjuster didn't see?
Recourse? How to handle? War stories??

As a DIY-er, I don't know much about "real" prices, but the wife is
already ****ed, thinks it's way too low.
I guess it's reasonable to assume that the insurance company bias is to
lowball stuff.

And, I won't be DIY'ing most of this, that's f'sure, so any lowballing
could really hurt.

Appreciate all input.

Usually when they offer that sort of thing they give you a form to sign
saying that you're paid up, and you're not going to make any further
claims.

Did you sign it?

If no, then you can just go back to them.

Nope, didn't sign anything.
Sort of wondering if I should even cash the check, as sometimes cashing a
check can be construed as implicit acceptance of "the terms", offer, etc.

Should I haggle, or let the selected contractor haggle?

--
EA



If you did, then you have to go before a judge and jury, and explain how
it is that you're a smart guy _and_ you signed a contract that you didn't
understand.

--
Tim Wescott
Control system and signal processing consulting
www.wescottdesign.com