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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Save Your Money, February 8, 2007
This review is from: Top Dollar Property Claims : Secrets to Successful Insurance Claim Settlements (Paperback)
The author of this book has a hidden agenda and it is not to benefit the insured. The author hammers public adjusters (who are consumer advocates) with a comment that public adjusters charge 15-50 percent. Many states have statuatory requirements that a fee cannot exceed 10 percent and at least one state is lower.
"No other class of adjusters is more at odds with insurance companies than the public adjuster", states Mr. Author. Why would someone spin this? Of course the public adjuster is at odds. The public adjuster obtains a full settlement. To negoitate and insurance claim: "Perhaps your best choice is the qualified restoration contractor because he/she is primarily involved in day to day contact with insurance companies negotiating and adjusting property claims". Sounds like adjusting claims without a license to me and ... can you really trust your contractor to obtain a good personal property or additional living expense claim?
The author further dreams up statements like this: "If you are not in the position to be advancing payment for services and expenses, the need to retain a restoration contractor is even more important". Nonsense. Get an advance from your insurer.
Get the insurance company's settlement first and then hire a contractor. That way you will know how much you have to work with. Further, if you have had a fire, now is the time to change what you don't like about your house with your rebuild money. Do what is best for you, not some guy with a hammer and saw.
The name "Top Dollar Property Claims" should be changed to "Top Dollar Property Claims for your Contractor".
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9 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top Dollar Property Claims, July 8, 2000
This review is from: Top Dollar Property Claims : Secrets to Successful Insurance Claim Settlements (Paperback)
One of the 10 Best Real Estate Reads of the year By Robert J. Bruss Los Angeles Times How to settle insurance claims for top dollar TOP DOLLAR PROPERTY CLAIMS, By Les Watrous Many homeowners have recently been hit with storm damage. Les Watrous' excellent new book comes just in time to help them settle their claims for top dollar. An example in the book involves a homeowner whose residence suffered water damage due to a broken pipe. The insurance company adjuster offered $740 to settle the claim. But she followed the steps outlined in the book to document the extent of the insured damage and wound up with a settlement check of over $31,000, to restore the home to pre-damage condition. If insurance companies were smart, they would buy up every copy of this book to keep it out of homeowners' hands! This great how-to book should be in every home and public library. It is authoritative, accurate and filled with practical advise for consumers on how to handle the big, impersonal insurance companies On my scale of one to 10, this outstanding book rates an off-the-chart 12.
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2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely well written......, April 2, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Top Dollar Property Claims : Secrets to Successful Insurance Claim Settlements (Paperback)
Many homeowners have recently been hit with storm damage and other insured residence claims. Les Watrous' excellent new book comes just in time to help them settle their insurance claims for top dollar. An example in the book involves a homeowner whose residence suffered water damage due to a broken pipe. The insurance company adjuster offered $740 to settle the claim. But she followed the steps outlined in the book to document the extent of the insured damage and wound up with a settlement check of over $31,000, to restore the home back to pre-damage condition. Having had an insurance claim last year that was denied by State Farm with a 22-page denial letter, but later paid in full for $3600, I wish this new book had been available then. If insurance companies were smart, they would buy up every copy of this book to keep it out of homeowner's hands! The author shows homeowners how to properly make their homeowner's insurance claims; how to carefully document the damage; how to handle first line adjusters who are trained to m ake a quick, cheap settlement; how to find contractors experienced with insurance repairs; how to be sure of complete payment, including required building code upgrades; and what to do at each step to avoid complications. This extremely well-written book is a fun read with great graphics, illustrations, lots of examples, necessary forms for damage documentation, and summaries of what is insured and what isn't. Although the book is full of details, it isn't bogged down with technicalities. This great how-to book should be in every home and public library. It is authoritative, accurate and filled with practical advice for consumers on how to handle the big, impersonal insurance companies. It even lists Internet Web sites where you can get more help. The author, while noting that many insurance companies handle claims very fairly, warns homeowners to be prepared for the worst; if no problems develop, they can be pleasantly surprised. On my scale of one to 10, this outstanding book rates an off-the-chart 12. Robert J. Bruss, National Syndicated Columnist Used by Permission
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