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Mold Claims Require Multi-Pronged Attack
The following is an
article from Claims Magazine regarding the restoration of
personal property affected by mold.
The article discusses the costs to insurers of
mold claims, noting in particular that restoration is often a less
costly alternative to replacement of textiles and clothing, and
that restoration, if done properly, often leaves the restored items
with fewer mold spores than prior to the covered loss incident.
Please see the following links for additional
information.
http://www.claimsmag.com/Issues/May02/ace_preview.asp
http://www.claimsmag.com/
In a single year in Texas, from
2000 to 2001, mold claims increased by more than five times,
according to data from the Insurance Information Institute. That
trend is picking up momentum across the nation due, in part, to
more energy-efficient construction methods, and to the spotlight
that the media has turned onto the issue. As an adjuster, how do
you begin to deal with the various components that a water loss or
mold claim presents? Water Loss/Mold Claims - A Step-by-Step
Approach, one of the seminars being offered at this year?s ACE?SCLA
conference, breaks down the problem into manageable steps. From
initial evaluation, through the drying and remediation process,
restoration, and final analysis, a panel of experts will outline
the process of adjusting mold and water loss claims. The largest
expense related to such claims is the restoration and repair of
clothing and textiles, according to panelist Wayne Wudyka,
president and CEO of Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network.
?Garments and textiles represent 23 percent of what?s coming out of
the home that?s affected by any type of a loss,? explained Wudyka.
?What we?re finding is that contents that are affected by mold are
largely salvageable.? The careful cleaning of garments, upholstery,
and rugs can save 16 percent of replacement costs, on average. ?So
the savings are significant, if you can get the right textile
expert in,? he said. Restoring a policyholder?s textile goods,
rather than buying a whole new wardrobe or living room suite, not
only saves the insurer replacement costs, but provides better
customer service, he said, citing statistics that 95 percent of
homeowners would rather have their possessions restored and
returned to them, than to have them replaced. Wudyka also will be
presenting the results of a recent 7-month study on contents and
cleaning after mold contamination, conducted by Indoor Air Quality
Management, of Livonia, Mich. The study compared the mold levels of
articles before and after cleaning, and found that the levels after
cleaning were more than acceptable and safe for the general public.
?We are able to give back contents to the homeowners that exceed
their expectations and are significantly lower, as far as mold
spore count goes, than what was in the home before the loss,?
Wudyka explained. Textile restoration, however, is but one of the
problems facing adjusters handling water losses. Wudyka will be
joined by Ray Prunty, property manager for Ohio Casualty, and Jerry
Provencher, president of Property Loss Consultants, who will
explore some of the other aspects of dealing with such claims. To
hear more about handling mold claims, or for other seminars on the
increasingly important issue of mold, register for the first-ever
combined conference presented by Claims and the Society of Claim
Law Associates. This year?s ACE?SCLA conference offers a variety of
programs on mold and claim management, as well as legal and
technology issues. For a complete conference schedule, or to
register, visit our web site at www.claimsmag.com.
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