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Homeowner's Insurance help needed on property damage....

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This will be on your insurance, since it's your property that was damaged, not your neighbors. Don't accept the quick over the phone denial without filing a proper claim. Contact your agent and be insistant. Your insurace would normally cover this, but don't tell them it's hurricane damage, tell them it's damage from the neighbors chimney falling on your house.
 
Small claims court will be a good way to recover money too. They will be more reasonable and understanding of the situation. They will just look at it as "his stuff ruined your stuff".
 
since when is an act of nature not covered by homeowners insurance?

Boggle.. i know that if my house got hit by a tornado tonight, it would be covered..

Just had my roof redone because of hail damage.

Both acts of nature.

 
Thanks guys I meant to say tornado instead of hurricane!

It looks like I will have to pony up the $1k to get the roof/siding fixed. My neighbor told me she complained to the county about the shoddy fireplace work. But they basically said this applies to "newer" houses 2 years old and younger. And even then it would be my neighbor's issue and have nothing to do with my home. They did file a report though.

The adjuster is supposed to come by early next week to take a look at the damage. And she did state that the neighbor's chimney needs to be off my house by then.

I have the pictures downloaded but I don't know how to host.

Thanks for all the info guys/gals!

 
Originally posted by: v1001
Small claims court will be a good way to recover money too. They will be more reasonable and understanding of the situation. They will just look at it as "his stuff ruined your stuff".

I would think - and hope - that he'd lose there as well. Otherwise the courts would be completely bogged down by cases after every tornado. "Oh yeah? Well, his car was flipped 100 feet through the air and smashed my fence down. I want his car insurance to cover my fence."

what insurance company do u have? they suck

it should be like car insurance. someone hits u. u file a claim w/your insurance company. your insurance company fixes your car under collision, thus a deductible. when your insurance company collects from his insurance company, you get your deductible back.

That's simply what you think. Lola and sactoking covered how the real world works. It's an act of nature; his own insurance covers it. When his insurance covers something, he has to pay the deductible. That's how it works.

But, I find it hard to believe that a wooden chimney would cause much more than cosmetic damage to his house. He'd probably be better off just having it repaired out of pocket. Then again, I don't know what the going rate is down there for roofing & siding. IF he can get the same siding, and his house is new enough that the new siding/old siding down clash due to weathering, he'd probably be best off learning to do the siding himself. It's pretty simple unless he needs to rent tools to bend aluminum trim.
 
Unless I'm missing something, it doesn't even look like there is $1000 worth of damage to your house
 
Originally posted by: Jumpem
The real question is, why is your house so close to your neighbor's that his chimney reached it?

Yet Another Jumpem Hates Suburbs post :roll:
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Unless I'm missing something, it doesn't even look like there is $1000 worth of damage to your house

sure there is. that sidding is crap it needs to be replaced (at least power washed).

yeah i don't see that much damage either.
 
Thats correct, your insurance is responsible. I had a neighbors tree fall on my house, which cost $8000 to get off. My insurance was responsible for the part of the tree on my property, his was responsible for the few feet left on his. Thats just how it works. It probably saves the insurance industry alot of litigation from disputes about whose fault is what.
 
Can't really see the damage done in that picture, but doesn't look like it'd even be worth filing with either insurance company, provided either of you can handle a hammer.

But one comment: holy shit, that's about the cheapest construction I've ever seen! I'll defer to those on ATOT with more experience in the construction industry, but I've never seen construction where they use thermo-ply as sheathing. I'm in the wrong business! His entire chimney, excluding the aluminum, doesn't even contain $200 worth of materials and more than 3 hours labor, let alone reaching his $500 deductible!

(edit: but I'm sure plenty of contractors will be happy to charge much more, since they know insurance is going to cover it. Our van is in the shop due to deer damage. They have to paint 2 pieces. The van is new, so matching the paint won't be an issue. To paint the new hood and new bumper, the shop is getting paid for 12.3 hours of labor, and 12.3 hours of paint equipment. All I can wonder is, WTF? Are they getting paid to watch the paint dry?!)
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Can't really see the damage done in that picture, but doesn't look like it'd even be worth filing with either insurance company, provided either of you can handle a hammer.

But one comment: holy shit, that's about the cheapest construction I've ever seen! I'll defer to those on ATOT with more experience in the construction industry, but I've never seen construction where they use thermo-ply as sheathing. I'm in the wrong business! His entire chimney, excluding the aluminum, doesn't even contain $200 worth of materials and more than 3 hours labor, let alone reaching his $500 deductible!

yeap. that seems to be how they were getting made over the last few years.

as i have said a lot of times i would rather have a 20+ yr old house that is built solid then some of these cookie cutter mcmansions that are thrown together.

my old farm house was over 100 years old. it was fricken solid. if it didnt need new wireing and another bathroom i would still live in it.
 
Originally posted by: slag
since when is an act of nature not covered by homeowners insurance?


Boggle.. i know that if my house got hit by a tornado tonight, it would be covered..

Just had my roof redone because of hail damage.

Both acts of nature.

It is covered.

By YOUR insurance. NOT your neighbors.
 
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: mugs
Unless I'm missing something, it doesn't even look like there is $1000 worth of damage to your house

sure there is. that sidding is crap it needs to be replaced (at least power washed).

yeah i don't see that much damage either.

Actually the house was power washed about 2 months ago. It was raining while I was taking the pictures and thats probably what you see.

I will include a couple of better pictures once the chimney is off the house.

But I does seem the build quality of that chimney is pitiful to say the least!
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Can't really see the damage done in that picture, but doesn't look like it'd even be worth filing with either insurance company, provided either of you can handle a hammer.

But one comment: holy shit, that's about the cheapest construction I've ever seen! I'll defer to those on ATOT with more experience in the construction industry, but I've never seen construction where they use thermo-ply as sheathing. I'm in the wrong business! His entire chimney, excluding the aluminum, doesn't even contain $200 worth of materials and more than 3 hours labor, let alone reaching his $500 deductible!

(edit: but I'm sure plenty of contractors will be happy to charge much more, since they know insurance is going to cover it. Our van is in the shop due to deer damage. They have to paint 2 pieces. The van is new, so matching the paint won't be an issue. To paint the new hood and new bumper, the shop is getting paid for 12.3 hours of labor, and 12.3 hours of paint equipment. All I can wonder is, WTF? Are they getting paid to watch the paint dry?!)

Welcome to the world of DC metro area construction. Ryland, Ryan, K Hovnanian, Pulte, NV Homes spare no effort to build the crappiest houses they can get away with.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Can't really see the damage done in that picture, but doesn't look like it'd even be worth filing with either insurance company, provided either of you can handle a hammer.

But one comment: holy shit, that's about the cheapest construction I've ever seen! I'll defer to those on ATOT with more experience in the construction industry, but I've never seen construction where they use thermo-ply as sheathing. I'm in the wrong business! His entire chimney, excluding the aluminum, doesn't even contain $200 worth of materials and more than 3 hours labor, let alone reaching his $500 deductible!

(edit: but I'm sure plenty of contractors will be happy to charge much more, since they know insurance is going to cover it. Our van is in the shop due to deer damage. They have to paint 2 pieces. The van is new, so matching the paint won't be an issue. To paint the new hood and new bumper, the shop is getting paid for 12.3 hours of labor, and 12.3 hours of paint equipment. All I can wonder is, WTF? Are they getting paid to watch the paint dry?!)

It's sad when the chimney liner adds structural integrity to a chimney. 😉
 
Originally posted by: TEEZLE
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: mugs
Unless I'm missing something, it doesn't even look like there is $1000 worth of damage to your house

sure there is. that sidding is crap it needs to be replaced (at least power washed).

yeah i don't see that much damage either.

Actually the house was power washed about 2 months ago. It was raining while I was taking the pictures and thats probably what you see.

I will include a couple of better pictures once the chimney is off the house.

But I does seem the build quality of that chimney is pitiful to say the least!

Judging by the foundation bricks and siding I'd say that your chimney will have been up the exact same way, perhaps you should look into getting it reinforced.
 
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
No wonder insurance companies make so much money...

Insurance companies cause everyone so much extra money in all sectors of society. Ever complain about the high cost of medical care? Insurance companies are the root of evil -- just ask people who went through Katrina.
 
I understand why a lot of people believe his neighbor's insurance should pay, but from the POV of an insurance company is there really a difference between this incident and incidents involving debris that flies a farther distance before damaging a house?

On that note, I think it is a great his neighbor is trying to help regardless. He's a good man.
 
Originally posted by: AndrewR
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
No wonder insurance companies make so much money...

Insurance companies cause everyone so much extra money in all sectors of society. Ever complain about the high cost of medical care? Insurance companies are the root of evil -- just ask people who went through Katrina.

That is a rather ignorant statment. Sure, insurance companies have screwed people over in the past. They have also helped people out. For example, if I didn't have health insurance, no way in hell could I have affored the costs associated with my daughters birth.
I paid $0 for pre and post natal care for my wife and $0 for the delivery/hospital care for my daughter.

I understand you can argue that insurance companies cause hospital/doctors fees to be so much, but medical malpractice insurance is expensive as hell, and that is because doctors get sued all the time for trivial things (and in some instances for valid things).

I got fucked over by my homeowners a couple years ago when my roof was being replaced and the contractors did not properly tarp things off when a storm came through.
I paid my deductible, the insurance paid for the damage and my rates went up. So be it.

Insurance works by pooling everyone's money together and by doing so keeping our rates lower. Imagine if they didn't take that approach and charged you individually without pooling resources? No way in hell would you be able to afford insurance.

And yes, for the record I do work in the insurance industry - underwrite private D&O/EPL/Fid. I have no vested interest in any of the P&C companies. I just get sick of constantly hearing how the big bad insurance company is out to get you.
 
Judging by the foundation bricks and siding I'd say that your chimney will have been up the exact same way, perhaps you should look into getting it reinforced.

Luckily I don't have a fireplace. I would be concerned if I did though!

Neighbor yesterday was ranting about how he wants all new siding?! He siad he didn't want to have new siding that doesnt match his old one.

You guys are great!
 
Originally posted by: TEEZLE
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: mugs
Unless I'm missing something, it doesn't even look like there is $1000 worth of damage to your house

sure there is. that sidding is crap it needs to be replaced (at least power washed).

yeah i don't see that much damage either.

Actually the house was power washed about 2 months ago. It was raining while I was taking the pictures and thats probably what you see.

I will include a couple of better pictures once the chimney is off the house.

But I does seem the build quality of that chimney is pitiful to say the least!


ok it could be rain. looked like the bottom was getting mold or something.

we power wash every few months. THOUGH i live in the country. the house gets stuff from the corn when its harvested. its nasty and can make the house get nasty.





 
Originally posted by: AndrewR
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
No wonder insurance companies make so much money...

Insurance companies cause everyone so much extra money in all sectors of society. Ever complain about the high cost of medical care? Insurance companies are the root of evil -- just ask people who went through Katrina.

Proof please? Katrina was a mess for the government and military as well. This country has NEVER had a disaster of that magnitude and nobody was prepared. From disaster relief, to the government, to the military, to the insurance companies. The issue with Katrina was a lot of the damage was caused by flooding, which is from the National Flood Insurance program. Private carriers do not sell flood insurance. Oh and can you find me one policy that states it covers "wind driven water", which is what most of the damage was caused by (hurricane is a wind storm, and causes the storm surges and such). Also you can hate insurance companies for being the "root of all evil" and they "cause everyone so much extra money", but I would like to see proof of any of your statements.

The high cost of medical care is because of insurance? Really? How do you figure that one? Medical care is expensive, and insurance doesn't add to the medical care costs. Insurance helps PAY for those expenses.

You don't have to have insurance. Feel free to not have it because they are the "root of all evil" and make everything so expensive. Be sure to post in ATOT though when you have your home destroyed and needs to be rebuilt.
 
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