BUILDING MAINTENANCE FEATURE
(continued)
Most religious institutions are unaware of what is and
is not covered by their policies. Because of this, it is
common for a religious institution to pay hundreds of
thousands of dollars to make repairs that should have
been covered by its insurance. Many institutions that do
file insurance claims receive considerably less than they
are entitled to or, even worse, are denied payment for
legitimate claims.
To prevent negative outcomes, it is important, if
you have any damages, to consult an expert such as a
Public Adjuster, who will work as an advocate for your
congregation from start to finish, interpreting policy
coverage and striving to obtain the maximum payment
a congregation is entitled to under its insurance policy.
The Public Adjuster will also ensure that the necessary
claim work is done properly in order to prevent
insurance companies from cutting corners.
The Recovery Process
Immediately after any damages occur, your policy
mandates that you do two things. First, it is important
that you mitigate any damages that could cause the
initial damage to become worse. Next, you must
promptly notify your insurance company of all
damages. When reporting a loss, do not try to be overly
descriptive because the wrong use of words could result
in an immediate denial. If you do choose to use a Public
Adjuster, it is best to let them handle reporting the
claim.
You will need to find the correct experts (who can be
found through your Adjuster) to review and evaluate the
full extent of the damage. Work with them to develop
detailed reports of and estimates for the necessary
repairs. The insurance company will send its own
claims adjuster to the site to compare assessments in
order to negotiate a maximum settlement.
Always negotiate with the insurance company’s adjuster
for the best settlement possible. This will allow your
congregation to perform the necessary repairs to return
your religious institution to its pre-loss condition. d
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. Congregations need to
ensure that unique features, such as a slate roof, can be restored if damaged. Photo: Gregory Bogart.
19 • Sacred Places • www.sacredplaces.org • Winter 2013