Upholstery Fire Damage

[kaatkinson122]

Hi eveyone. Looking for some advice. I have a boat that was stored at a facility that burnt down and I have damage from flying embers to my cover and several pieces of my vinyl and carpeting. Has anyone ever had a situation like this and how was the process handled? Not every piece of my upholstery appears to be damaged but most do and I don't want them to try to make me piece meal the pieces together because i know they wont be able to match it exactly. Do they automatically say that all the upholstery needs replaced or do they try to force you to only fix the ones that are damaged? I just got this boat like 4 months ago and I want to make sure its in as good of shape as when I got it. Thanks in advance.

 

[Scott Danforth]

what did your insurance adjuster tell you?

 

[kaatkinson122]

what did your insurance adjuster tell you?

He hasn't said anything. The process just started today and I'm just looking for anyone that has been through anything similar to this. If I already knew the answer from the adjuster i wouldn't have asked the question on here. Was asking for people who have been through this and just an overview of the process and what their experience was, not just an opinion of someone who hasn't.

 

[Scott Danforth]

each situation is unique. follow your adjuster, however also get comparable prices yourself. since the damage was the result of a fire at your storage facility, if you were paying storage, their insurance would most likely have to cover the damage.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Theres also smoke damages and heat damage that you might not see you might be lounging around in it next summer covered in sunscreen and find all of you now smell like smoke as a hot summer day starts bringing it out of everything an the heat from a fire can cause issues down the road with everything.

Make sure before you accept any final no more liability forms from the insurance company that your happy with everything that was repaired replaced or compensated for.

 

[ahicks]

I've dealt with some REALLY good adjusters in the past, but I can share that just because an adjuster says or thinks something doesn't make it right. Despite the impression they may leave with you, they don't always have the last word. Think car salesman....

I can also share there's a very good chance the appraiser isn't going to have a clue regarding how to estimate the damage on a boat. You'll likely have to seek estimates on your own.

 

[wahlejim]

Insurance companies have one goal, give out as little money as possible. Never take the first offer unless it is more than estimates you have received to do the repair to your satisfaction.

Example: I had an oak tree fall down on my property a couple of weeks ago in a storm. Uprooted and slammed directly onto my neighbors boat house. Since it is a result of a storm and I didn't cause the tree to go down, it is his insurance claim. appraiser said cost of the tree removal and lowballed a thousand dollars to replace a "shed". What he did not account for was that the boathouse is grandfathered into local DNR guidelines in regards to being on the shoreline. They are very specific in what you can and cannot do. Tearing down and building a new one is a big NO from them. You are allowed to replace the roof, the siding, repair studs, and inside fixtures. All require separate restoration permits, not a single rebuilding permit. The cost is much larger when you go this way. Thank goodness he is a carpenter by trade and knows some guys to give him estimates. He finally just got the insurance company, after 3 weeks of back and forth, to give him the money to do it right. He will do all the work himself, but needed the quotes from someone who knows what they are doing.

Get competitive quotes from reliable upholstery companies that work on boats. Also, get a professional cleaning quote and ask for a marine survey to be done. Squeaky wheels get the grease in insurance claims.

 

[rojeho]

Insurance is intended to make you whole as you were before the accident. That doesn't mean a totally new interior on an old boat. My guess is that if you work with them and get a quote for the total interior job they will pay a % of the amount to address the damaged parts. At least on those you get new material - a true "make you whole" would be to source used cushions in the same condition as original.