Insurance restoration: private contractor or through insurer?

[Jeeebus]

Well now that the tree is cleared off from my family room, the process begins to hire a contractor and restore the room... and Jeeebus is confused.

We essentially have two options:

1. State Farm has a preferred contractor list... the contractor supposedly works for you, does all the work, and then bills State Farm directly. You don't get cut a check, and don't sign off on his payment until the job is done. This certainly seems like the easier path and probably least complicated in terms of dealing with the insurer.

2. Hire our own contractor and have State Farm cut a check. There's a certain level of uncertainty here, but it removes any doubts as to who the contractor is working for, and there exists the possibility that your contractor can do the job for less than the check amount (profit), but of course the same possibility that he ends up going over the check amount (fail). Of course State Farm says not to worry, if it costs more, we'll cut another check... but I doubt it's all that simple to extract more from them.

I'm torn like an old sweater. Anyone ever gone through this process before?

 

[ViviTheMage]

If I recall the contractors that state farm prefer, are the cheaper ones...not that it means they do crappier work, but they are preferred for a reason I guess.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I have not had a tree, but a lake.


Best is to have both a preferred contractor provide an estimate and a private.
get the written estimates and go with you you would feel will do the better job.

If the job exceeds the State Farm estimate, then have them send an adjuster over and talk to the "private" contractor.

By using a preferred, this removes that step.

By the preferred not getting payed until you sign off, then the quality issue should not be a concern.
Warranty handling after the fact would be quicker through the preferred because of follow on business with the insurance.

By using the private, you may be able to do some of the work yourself and recoup the deductible.

 

[Rike]

The possible advantage of going with the insurers list is that if you're not happy with the work that's being done, you can raise hell with the contractor and the insurer. If you have a good agent, they can apply additional pressure on the contractor because it won't just be about your job but about all the future jobs that contractor may get from the insurer.

Check out the contractor list and call some of them. Get references from them and call some of them.

Who ever you go with, watch them like a hawk. There are right ways to do things and short cuts you can take when you build. Do what you can to make sure they take their time and do it right. If something doesn't seem right to you, it probably isn't and call them on. Make them explain it to you and do right. And if you're still not happy, complain loudly and often until they make it right.

 

[Vette73]

Yep get several estimates, at least 3. make sure oyu tell them you don;t want a patch job but you want it done right so it last and will hold up.

Then after you get those 3 compare. Make sure 1 did not leave something off.
Then go to your insurance compnay and give them the 2 higgest estimates. Let them cut you a check and go from there.