Welcome to the Suck

Welcome to the Suck.

In Marine jargon, this means to consciously accept or appreciate something that is extremely unpleasant but unavoidable.

I can't think of a more appropriate way to describe filing and settling an insurance claim.  The entire process is designed to be opaque and demoralizing for the claimant, in order to preserve and increase the profits of the carrier.

The insurance claim experience, from the insured's point of view, creates levels of stress, frustration and despair on par with serious life events like buying your first home and losing a loved one.  In many ways it's worse. Some one has already lost everything. Now they must fight the very company that promised they were "in good hands" in order to be made whole(ish).  Even the smallest home fire can make the entire dwelling unlivable. People displaced by disaster are in no condition to rally a meaningful response to the onslaught of bullshit from their insurance company.  Most cannot afford to rebuild on their own.  Many never will.

The reality is that no one is made whole when an insurance claim is filed.  The best you can hope for is break-even.  Policyholders are met by a waves of "experts," adjusters and contractors; all with their hands out looking for a piece of the claim.  Everyone wants a piece.  After the contractor takes their profit, the public adjuster (yes, that's me) takes their percentage, the adjuster writes their lowball "opinion" and takes the depreciation, and the attorneys take their contingency, what's left?

Often the answer is: Not Enough.

My hope is that this book, and the stories and lessons portrayed within, will provide some level of relief and guidance to those who've experienced a recent loss and those working in the "Restoration" industry every day.

Let's start with some ground rules...