BUILDING MAINTENANCE FEATURE
Making the Most of
Your Insurance Coverage
by Gregory Bogart, Standard Claims, LLC
Houses of worship symbolize faith and offer a place
to communicate with God, but they have other, more
practical functions as well. They provide us with shelter
and allow communities to come together to share
their faith. Many sacred places have long and storied
histories; some are breathtaking feats of architecture
that inspire and move us. From intricate stained glass
windows to complex masonry, these buildings are
beautiful expressions of our faith.
At the same time, they are vulnerable to many kinds
of potential damage: interiors can flood due to broken
pipes, trees can fall onto buildings, stained glass can
be broken by gusting winds, roof shingles and slate
can blow off during violent storms, and fire damage is
an always-looming threat. For this reason, it is critical
that sacred places are able to fully utilize all of the
financial resources available to make themselves whole
after a loss or damage. Religious organizations have
unique insurance needs, and while most carry property
insurance, many are not adequately insured and most
do not know how to put their insurance policy to proper
use.
It can be difficult for congregations to determine the
level of insurance coverage they need and the proper
amount of reimbursement in the event of a loss. It can
also be challenging to identify when a covered loss
has occurred. This may be due to the large number
of volunteers that help with the administration of a
religious organization: while volunteers are vital to a
religious organization, they may lack expertise when it
comes to insurance.
The purpose of insurance is to protect owners from
covered losses. Insurance companies are supposed to
restore your religious institution to its pre-damaged
condition, yet after spending years paying a monthly
insurance premium, a congregation may not know
if a specific loss is covered by its policy. Leaders of
religious organizations should review their insurance
policies with their broker on an annual basis. In order
for the agent to adequately review the coverage of the
policy, the following information needs to be identified
and gathered:
• Addresses of all buildings – with relevant leases if
spaces are rented to other groups
• Types of spaces and the square footage of each space
• Building materials (i.e., stone, brick, metal, or
wood)
• Presence of sprinklers
STANDARD CLAIMS, LLC www.standardclaims.com
610-389-7355
Gregory Bogart is a licensed
Public Adjuster who received his Bachelors degree in Business
Administration from the University of Delaware. He is a native of
the Philadelphia area and owner of Standard Claims, LLC, which
handles property-related insurance claims on behalf of the insured
and specializes in representing religious institutions throughout
the insurance process so that they receive full compensation from
insurance companies. Bogart has recovered hundreds of thousands
of dollars for his clients. He is expert at identifying damages that
plague religious institutions, and finding the appropriate insurance
coverage for those damages.
Sacred Places • Winter 2