After a faulty dishwasher flooded his kitchen, Mr. Amadi was referred to us by a mutual friend. When we first met with him in November, the damaged floor coverings and baseboards had been removed, and the adjuster had provided his estimate for the cost of repairs. One big industry secret with insurance loss claims is that the first estimate a homeowner receives from an insurance adjuster is oftentimes much lower than the actual cost to repair. While the adjuster is trying to get the homeowner some financial help as quickly as possible, he usually understands that the actual cost of repairs will likely be higher than his first estimate.
In Mr. Amadi’s case, his adjuster was only allowing for the replacement of the damaged base cabinets. However, because we were unable to find replacement base cabinets that would match the upper cabinets that were expected to remain in place, we spoke with Mr. Amadi’s adjuster on his behalf, and requested full replacement of all the cabinets. After all, our client had a matching kitchen before the water damage, so shouldn’t he be entitled to a matching kitchen when the repairs have been completed?
After our team spent weeks in discussion with the adjuster and his supervisors, Mr. Amadi invoked his right to Appraisal. In this process, an independent adjuster is named for each side. They each create their own estimate for the cost of repairs, and then work to resolve the claim so the homeowner is fully indemnified for their loss, within the limits of the policy.
Because Jim Hicks Home Improvement is an expert in dealing with these types of insurance claims, we were able to get Mr. Amadi additional coverage for the kitchen repairs – including replacement of the upper cabinets. This allowed us to move forward with the kitchen remodeling project he wanted.
Once the claim was settled, it was time to go shopping! The original kitchen was very brown: traditional stained wood cabinets, brown granite countertops, and stained wood floors. Mr. Amadi chose to go with a much lighter palette for his new kitchen. The white shaker style cabinets and a light grey luxury vinyl floor create a fresh, contemporary look, while the new Black Pearl granite countertop sets off the black and stainless appliances nicely and adds a pop of color to the space.
As Mr. Amadi told us, it was “quite a ride” to get his kitchen restored, but we love the new look. Our kitchen remodeling team is here to help when unexpected damage turns into an opportunity for a fresh start.
If you, or someone you know, finds themselves going up against an insurance company on their own, please contact us. We’re here to help!
