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Insurance & Legal Matters

Experts on insurance and legal matters in the restoration and remediation industries offer advice and guidance for legal issues facing your company, and liability insurance questions you may have.

The Real Risk Ahead for Insurance

March 27, 2025 8:43 am

At INTRConnect 2025’s Media Roundtable, the conversation centered around one growing concern: the future of insurability. As natural disasters grow in frequency and severity, the ability to provide and afford insurance coverage is becoming more difficult, not just for policyholders but for the entire system supporting them. The discussion highlighted how these challenges are impacting property owners, real estate markets, and service providers across the board, including those in restoration. The big takeaway is the system is straining under the pressure of catastrophic loss. While wildfires get the headlines, experts say earthquakes and floods

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A Troublesome Contents Line Item

March 22, 2025 11:36 am

A contents packout is typically billed as time and material using the Xactimate labor line item CPS LAB. The supporting F9 note might say something like, “five technicians X seven hours/day X three days”. In this example, this would normally be enough to justify the 105 labor hours. Unfortunately, there is a circumstantial context that a straight labor hour cannot produce on a contents estimate. Sometimes F9 notes and labor logs are not enough justification for how the time on the packout was used. An adjuster reviewing the estimate might imagine that the time

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What’s Best for Your Bottom Line: The Hire vs. Tech vs. Outsource Debate

February 25, 2025 8:23 am

Almost all business leaders face common challenges — scaling, improving profitability, and maintaining business health. The restoration industry is no exception, though approaches can vary. For some, success hinges on a strong workforce. Since this is a service-driven industry, hiring skilled employees, offering competitive pay, and fostering a positive work environment are key to retention and stability.  Better technology can be built into the machines you use (at a price) or found in apps that provide advantages in both the field and in the back office. A third strategy is outsourcing to specialized partners

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Playing the TPA Game

February 19, 2025 8:56 am

For some restorers, just hearing the word ‘TPA’ is enough to raise their heart rate, stir up some deep-seated rage, and maybe even a little perspiration. That may be a slight exaggeration, but the truth is that TPAs can illicit some passionate feelings within the restoration community. Don’t get me wrong, the documentation requirements, performance metrics, and frequent pushback can definitely pose some challenges and frustration. However, as someone who has grown multiple restoration businesses through TPA work, including one that scaled from $0 to $15+ million in just 4 years, I want to

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The Hidden Costs of Misclassified Workers: How to Take Control of Your Premiums

February 6, 2025 8:22 am

When I first became a business owner, managing workers’ compensation felt like navigating a maze. It was a necessary expense but one I didn’t fully understand. For trade businesses like mine that had multiple labor codes for various roles, the potential for overpaying is significant. Misclassifications and inaccurate reporting can lead to inflated premiums and surprise audit bills that disrupt cash flow. Managing workers’ compensation is more than just a compliance requirement; it’s an opportunity to control costs and protect your business’s cash flow. This proactive mindset can save thousands of dollars annually while

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The Future of Customer Connection: A Revolution in Cleaning and Restoration

January 31, 2025 8:25 am

According to the Insurance Information Institute, water damage strikes one in 50 homes annually, with claims averaging a staggering $11,098. But here’s the real crisis – traditional restoration companies are struggling to keep up with modern demands. This industry stands at a crossroads, and the transformation is nothing short of revolutionary.  The Customer Service Revolution Those frustrating days of desperate voicemails and agonizing waits are quickly becoming a relic of the past. Thank the heavens above, because industry experts have just dropped a bombshell – water damage can escalate from a mere Category 1

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From Binders to AI: Revolutionizing Insurance Estimating in Restoration

January 30, 2025 7:50 am

Twenty years ago, when I started in the insurance industry as a carpet cleaner and flood technician, insurance estimating meant a lot of physical paperwork to lug around from job site to job site. By the time I started estimating myself a few years later, you’d have heavy three-ring binders full of carrier protocols that you’d constantly have to consult. Need photo documentation? Sure, just wait for us to get them back from the photo lab and we’ll mail you the duplicates! It all took forever. When insurance estimating began to go digital with

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Navigating the Evolving Insurance Landscape: A Glimmer of Hope for Restoration Businesses

January 27, 2025 7:45 am

The global insurance industry significantly impacts restoration companies on a local level. Natural and man-made disasters can have a cascading effect for 5-10+ years. In 2024 alone, there were at least 26 separate billion-dollar disaster losses. The roughly $102 billion paid in claims through Q3 2024 was a hefty burden for insurance companies, while 2023 saw a record-breaking $123 billion in losses. However, a glimmer of hope emerges on the horizon. After five years, the pendulum in the insurance industry may be starting to swing back. The Changing Landscape:  Insurance companies are primarily concerned

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2025 Restoration Trends

January 20, 2025 8:08 am

As we enter the new year, it’s a great time to reflect on how far the restoration industry has come and where it’s heading. Last year, Phillip shared his predictions for 2024 and recently published his scorecard on his predictions, providing an honest and insightful look at the trends that have shaped our industry in the last year. You can read 2024’s scorecard here on our website. I started working in the restoration industry on spring break of my senior year of high school back in 1988 and have spent my entire professional career

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California Implements One-Year Moratorium on Home Insurance Cancellations in Wildfire Zones

January 13, 2025 3:56 pm

https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2025/releasea005-2025.cfm In response to the unprecedented devastation caused by recent wildfires in Southern California, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has enacted a mandatory one-year moratorium preventing insurance companies from canceling or non-renewing homeowners’ policies in affected areas. This measure aims to provide immediate relief to residents facing the dual challenges of property damage and potential loss of insurance coverage. While this moratorium offers temporary respite, it effectively sets a countdown to January 9, 2026, when insurance companies may resume policy cancellations and non-renewals. This looming deadline could lead to a surge in policy terminations, leaving

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