Miami and Fort Lauderdale Hurricane Preparation

In case you suffer the affects of a hurricane we want you to know that you are not alone. Residential Leasing & Management is very concerned about the well being of our community and we are here to protect your rights. Before The Storm keep these insurance issues in mind

• Find your insurance policy and in the event you must evacuate, take the policy with you along with the contact information of your local insurance agent and insurance company.
• With the continuously increasing property values of South Florida, your existing policy may not be adequate enough to "replace" your home in the event of a catastrophe.
• Always be prepared. You may want to call your insurance agent today to ensure that you fully understand your coverage and the procedures they want you to follow in the wake of a catastrophic event.
• If you haven't reviewed your policy's coverage limits recently then you need to do so as soon as possible.
• Before the Hurricane hits, you should take pictures of or videotape the interior and exterior of your home.
• You also want to take pictures of your personal belongings so that you will have an inventory of your household and belongings to help document any losses you may sustain.

After a Hurricane: Dealing With Your Insurance Agent
Never rush to give the insurance company any kind of a "release." Make sure that you have discovered all damages first.

• Never accept any on-the-spot payment unless you are 100% sure that it is an "advance" and not a final settlement.
• Save all your receipts for any temporary living expenses, repairs or restoration work. You will most likely be reimbursed for them.
• Insurance checks are typically issued to the homeowner and mortgage holder. To actually receive any money, you will have to endorse the check and forward it to the mortgage company who will then add their endorsement. Your mortgage company may also require you to submit a contractor's estimate of cost for repairs to them before they will release any funds.
• The mortgage lender may choose to retain the insurance proceeds for disbursement during the repair process. The lender will normally release a portion of the funds as a down payment to get repairs started and will release the remaining funds according to a pre-arranged schedule or when the repairs and inspection are completed.

Contractor Fraud
In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, law enforcement agencies received hundreds of complaints from victims who had been duped by unscrupulous home repairmen making promises they never kept.

Advice for Homeowners who has suffered Property Damage
If your home has been damaged in a hurricane, do not rush into any repair contracts.

• Do not allow yourself to be taken advantage of by dishonest people because you are anxious to have your home repaired.
• It is still a business contract you will be entering into, and thousands of dollars are likely to be involved.
• Be wary of people who knock on your door and offer to fix your roof or replace your windows.
• Even though you are eager to get you home repairs started, it is very prudent that you obtain more than one estimate and to investigate the credentials of anyone offering to perform repairs on your home.
• You should contact the your County Code Compliance Department and the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to establish if the contractor is licensed, insured or has complaints or violations on record.

Before finalizing any deal, closely examine the payment terms and other provisions of the contract.

• Be cautious if you are asked to provide too much of a down payment or there are a lot of requests for money during early stages of construction.
• Take the opportunity to have the contract structured to your advantage. For example, if you agree to an up front payment in order to get the repairs started, consider having the payments broken down into thirds. One-third up front, one third upon completion of an agreed upon amount of work and one-third when the project is finished.
• Also, be sure to factor in some satisfactory time frames as to when the work should be finished.

Beware of Unlicensed Contractors, Always hire licensed contractors

• If you are asked to obtain the permit, be cautious. Contractors in good standing will always obtain the permits.
• If you are told the job does not require a permit, be cautious.
• If the contractor only offers a verbal contract and is not willing to put all terms in writing, be cautious.
• If you are asked to make payments in cash or make checks payable to individuals instead of a company name, be cautious.
• If you notice the absence of a license number on contracts, newspaper ads, business cards or yellow pages, be cautious.

Also Remember:

• That all payments should be a reflection of the work that has been done.
• File notices of commencement in order to avoid paying twice for the same service.
• Arrange the payment schedule in conjunction with inspections.