Mold, Fire, Flood & Other Topics: Homeowners Insurance Explained [Paperback]

R. A. Martinez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004

Frustrated with your insurance company? Wondering if your house is underinsured? Want to know what to expect when you file a mold claim? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then "Mold, Fire, Flood, & Other Topics: Homeowners Insurance Explained" is for you. This is the book many insurance companies don’t want you to read.

Packed with 101 short, easy-to-read, informative topics, it’s a valuable tool for everyone wanting to know the essentials about homeowners insurance but don’t want to be bogged down with technical mumbo-jumbo. Topics of particular interest include how adjusters interpret the policy, what to do when your claim is denied, and how to ensure that your policy has enough coverage.

Part One answers such questions as:
-Is my house UNDERinsured?
-Will my policy be cancelled? and,
-Do I need a public adjuster?

Part Two decodes the policy to a simple, understandable level. Topics discussed in this part of the text include:
-What is covered, and what is excluded.
-Limits (structure, contents, etc.)
-Replacement Cost and Actual Cash Value

Part Three delves into the realm of losses by describing in detail the most common types of claims and what you should expect from your insurance company. You will read about:
-Plumbing Failure
-Sewer Backup
-Earthquake
-And of course mold, fire, flood, and many others.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

R. A. Martinez is an expert insurance adjuster, agent, and author who has been interviewed on live television, radio, and the internet, and has been featured on CBS MarketWatch and several other media outlets. He lives in San Diego with his wife and daughter.

Product Details

• Paperback: 235 pages
• Publisher: R. A. Martinez; 1st edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974848506
• ISBN-13: 978-0974848501
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,180,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Darn Good Book, November 1, 2004

By 

Gustav (Worcester, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mold, Fire, Flood & Other Topics: Homeowners Insurance Explained (Paperback)

My parents got me a copy of this book after hearing the author on a Boston radio station. At first I wasn't interested in the subject matter, but when my dad told me that he learned a lot more than his agent had ever told him, I decided to read it. It's a quick read (I read it in three days) but don't let that fool you because there is so much useful information. I particularly like the section entitled, "Is Your House Underinsured," and for that topic alone, I recommend this book to everyone that owns a house.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Authority On Homeowners Insurance, April 11, 2005

By 

fruth "fruth" (Bloomington, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mold, Fire, Flood & Other Topics: Homeowners Insurance Explained (Paperback)

I'm an insurance Claims Manager for one of the biggest insurance companies on the planet and have been in the business for 33 years. My company is not thrilled about Martinez' book because it gives the homeowner a tremendous advantage, so I am writing this using an alias.

Instead of just scratching the surface and treating homeowners insurance as just another "financial issue," as everyone else who's written a book about it has, the author delves deep into every aspect of the subject matter and does it in a really clear and simple manner.

It's about time. I've never read a more comprehensive book on what I do for a living that's more easy to read and understand than thisone.

This is the homeowners insurance book for dummies.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helped me during a mold claim, December 9, 2004

By 

CF Lerson (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mold, Fire, Flood & Other Topics: Homeowners Insurance Explained (Paperback)

This book has all of the information I was looking for when my insurance adjuster for my recent mold claim "dropped the ball." When he realized that I was aware of his mistake (which I think the average person would have overlooked), and I was poised to get resolution by applying the author's advice, my claim was quickly and miraculously settled to my satisfaction. Needless to say, there's tons of valuable information in it.