bry@n
Well-known member
Sorry to hear of the fire. Everything can be replaced, good thing nobody was in the garage at the time.
Garage Owner's Worst Nightmare- Fire
- Thread starter GTV
- Start date
brycez28
Well-known member
I'm sorry to hear your loss and hope the insurance process isn't too painful. I've asked my insurance agent about my project truck, in the case my garage burned down. His answer was that insurance would cover the parts NOT installed on the vehicle (I would need to be able to prove that I had said parts). The vehicle would need to be covered under its own insurance policy.
driftpin
Well-known member
I was thinking about the fire, and it made me recall something that I had in a continuing education class for my fire inspector licensing: the City of Scottsdale AZ requires residential fire suppression systems for new construction. The NFPA has pushed for this for many years. Sprinklered buildings, properly maintained, prevent deaths from fires. Usually only four or fewer sprinkler heads are activated in the event of a fire.
I'm guessing the residence was in the unincorporated county area where Prescott is? Thus, no municipal water supply, just a well?
Here's a document from the municipality of Prescott:
http://www.prescott-az.gov/_d/fireprotectionguide6-10.pdf
It covers fire prevention during the design, construction, and occupancy of a building.
I'm guessing the residence was in the unincorporated county area where Prescott is? Thus, no municipal water supply, just a well?
Here's a document from the municipality of Prescott:
http://www.prescott-az.gov/_d/fireprotectionguide6-10.pdf
It covers fire prevention during the design, construction, and occupancy of a building.
Itsahobby
Well-known member
I lost everything back in 2000. Insurance company was very good to me, my wife kept all receipts for all my tools and fishing equipment(I love that woman).
We gave them a list and they started sending me tools until they figured out it was easier just to have me order them and give them the receipts.
The adjusted said I could even replace my Craftsman tools with Snap-on, dummy me I just said Craftsman were fine.
I have State Farm ins.
The only issue I have with them is every time there is a incident on the news, I get a call pushing me to get coverage in case it happens to me. Flooding, broken sewer main, etc.
We gave them a list and they started sending me tools until they figured out it was easier just to have me order them and give them the receipts.
The adjusted said I could even replace my Craftsman tools with Snap-on, dummy me I just said Craftsman were fine.
I have State Farm ins.
The only issue I have with them is every time there is a incident on the news, I get a call pushing me to get coverage in case it happens to me. Flooding, broken sewer main, etc.
engineer2
Well-known member
Sorry to hear about your loss.
Linseed oil is dangerous too! Especially if linseed oil-soaked rags are left in sunlight. We had a Dumpster at work catch fire this way once.
Dr Stan
Well-known member
I've known others who experienced shop & house fires. Just the emotional impact is devastating. Hope you have a decent adjuster. BTW, another term for advocates helping individuals deal with insurance companies is arbitrators. May want to see who may be in your area.
Since I'm making a major redo of my shop your loss reminds me I should buy a flammable storage cabinet & vent it to the outdoors. Most, but not all of my flammables are in my storage building, especially the gasoline and oil based paint. If it goes, there should be enough room between it and my shop to be able to prevent damage to the shop.
Installing sprinklers is something I had not considered, but will look into it as part of the redo. My neighbor is a fireman and I'll get his opinion.
Since I'm making a major redo of my shop your loss reminds me I should buy a flammable storage cabinet & vent it to the outdoors. Most, but not all of my flammables are in my storage building, especially the gasoline and oil based paint. If it goes, there should be enough room between it and my shop to be able to prevent damage to the shop.
Installing sprinklers is something I had not considered, but will look into it as part of the redo. My neighbor is a fireman and I'll get his opinion.
Jeepster04
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2013
- Messages
- 3,098
Sorry to hear that. I dont have much of anything besides a good amount of tools and two vehicles that mean nothing to anyone else but mean a lot to me... I couldnt imagine a fire... I would be yelling at the firemen to spray the garage and not that house! My garage is attached...
I've also pondered adding just a couple sprinklers to my garage.. Just enough to slow down a fire so MAYBE it wont be a total loss...
I've also pondered adding just a couple sprinklers to my garage.. Just enough to slow down a fire so MAYBE it wont be a total loss...
myredracer
Well-known member
So sorry to hear that. Yes, as mentioned nobody was injured, or worse. As a fellow car guy with several vintage cars and many thousands in parts (many ultra-rare and irreplacable) in our attached garage/workshop, not to mention tools, I can't imagine how devastating that would be.
When I built our house, I installed a full commercial type fire alarm everywhere in the house & garage with a heat detector in every single room and a pull-station in my workshop. It's monitored by an alarm company and will dispatch the fire dept. immediately. Detectors don't fires out tho, and sprinklers would be the best thing. We're on a well and sprinklers weren't an option.
Wood burning appliances should have the chimneys perodically cleaned out otherwise creosote builds up inside them. I believe this is a standard requirement for insurance policies?
When I built our house, I installed a full commercial type fire alarm everywhere in the house & garage with a heat detector in every single room and a pull-station in my workshop. It's monitored by an alarm company and will dispatch the fire dept. immediately. Detectors don't fires out tho, and sprinklers would be the best thing. We're on a well and sprinklers weren't an option.
Wood burning appliances should have the chimneys perodically cleaned out otherwise creosote builds up inside them. I believe this is a standard requirement for insurance policies?
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I put heat detectors in the shop not smoke detectors. (Alarm company installer advise). These are tied into the alarm system. It sent the call to the FD and I also called 911 because I could not get the fire out. The fire I had was under a heat sensor. Thanks for that, as the FD already got the call from my alarm company. Well worth the extra money for the addition of my shop on the alarm system.
When I repainted, I put fire retardant in each 5 gallon bucket of paint as well. I tested it on a piece of OSB with a propane torch and it in fact sure slowed down the burn process.
As far as sprinkler systems that would be real hard if you live in the freeze zones.
When I repainted, I put fire retardant in each 5 gallon bucket of paint as well. I tested it on a piece of OSB with a propane torch and it in fact sure slowed down the burn process.
As far as sprinkler systems that would be real hard if you live in the freeze zones.
Ipassgas
Well-known member
Sorry to hear about your loss, and am glad everyone is OK.
I have a single fire extinguisher in my garage (and a few more in the house), but have been considering getting some of the fire extinguisher balls. The youtube videos are impressive.
This ones $40.
https://www.wish.com/c/56c81be2df10...ntry_code=US&gclid=COK__Ifg6tICFVYkgQod4zgLtA
Fire scares me. I feel a bit paralyzed though about what the appropriate level of protection is.
I have a single fire extinguisher in my garage (and a few more in the house), but have been considering getting some of the fire extinguisher balls. The youtube videos are impressive.
This ones $40.
https://www.wish.com/c/56c81be2df10...ntry_code=US&gclid=COK__Ifg6tICFVYkgQod4zgLtA
Fire scares me. I feel a bit paralyzed though about what the appropriate level of protection is.
Rod N
Well-known member
Wow. Very sad for your father. We have all spent many hours creating memories in our garages.
Here we have a WETT inspection for fireplaces that you are require to have done for insurance.
Remember what your insurance cover offers is what they think they can get away with. Recently I had a claim for a dock and marine railway denied. I had to go through 3 levels of Ombudsman before they agreed to pay for it.
Here we have a WETT inspection for fireplaces that you are require to have done for insurance.
Remember what your insurance cover offers is what they think they can get away with. Recently I had a claim for a dock and marine railway denied. I had to go through 3 levels of Ombudsman before they agreed to pay for it.
Jlbc212
Well-known member
I'm also sorry to hear of your loss. There's not much more devastating than a fire.
There's a general rule for materials which will spontaneously ignite. Any material made with animal or vegetable oils are subject to spontaneous ignition given the right circumstances. Paint thinners, turpentine, cooking oil and wet hay are a few common examples. Oxidizers, such as fertilizers, organic acids and chlorine can speed up the reaction. Motor oils made from mineral oils are generally not subject to spontaneous ignition.
Car batteries are well known to be an ignition source.
Sprinkler systems installed in accordance with NFPA standards are not cheap, but are very effective in controlling a fire.
There's a general rule for materials which will spontaneously ignite. Any material made with animal or vegetable oils are subject to spontaneous ignition given the right circumstances. Paint thinners, turpentine, cooking oil and wet hay are a few common examples. Oxidizers, such as fertilizers, organic acids and chlorine can speed up the reaction. Motor oils made from mineral oils are generally not subject to spontaneous ignition.
Car batteries are well known to be an ignition source.
Sprinkler systems installed in accordance with NFPA standards are not cheap, but are very effective in controlling a fire.
My dad is on the left, walking over the hose. I can only imagine him thinking at this point it wasn't going to be a total loss...
The garage door on the left. He must have closed it after he got it out.
Wow, many thanks to everyone who has responded with support and advice. You can bet that I am going to take every possible precaution when I start to outfit my shop. Thank you.
My dad was yelling at the fireman to save his car
Naturally they were more concerned about the fire spreading to the house and the forest. He of course understands that in hindsight. There was a lot more value in the garage than in the house, if he had a choice he would have rather watched that go down in flames. Unfortunately I live 1500 miles away and he is adamant about me not being there. So I'm doing what I can from here. I had a big 2332cc VW engine in parts that burned up. A close friend of mine in Prescott who owns a VW shop owed me a favor and was going to build it for me. That's obviously not a priority anymore, so instead I asked my friend to do the finish work on my dads VW, the only thing that he was able to save from destruction. It's a small victory.
My pops just turned 68 years old last Tuesday. He isn't in bad health, but I'm not sure how much fight he's got left in him to rebuild the garage, much less build another car. I guess it will depend on what the insurance company (Farmers) leaves him. He's been in contact with them every day, today the woman he spoke with said that they value out buildings at 10% the price of the home, which would be $17k, not remotely enough to replace just the structure as it was. He tells me an adjuster is coming out Friday who is a hot rodder, apparently he has a Model A. Hopefully he understands the gravity of the situation.
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06 DIESEL
Well-known member
Sorry to hear about your garage loss and the loss of the parts and projects. Glad no one was hurt.
While I have no experience with these systems, I would think that something like this would have saved the garage from the fire. While the initial cost may seem high, it sure is a lot cheaper than what a fire will cost.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CUJGML4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Here are other options on Amazon for fire suppression systems.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CUJGML4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
While I have no experience with these systems, I would think that something like this would have saved the garage from the fire. While the initial cost may seem high, it sure is a lot cheaper than what a fire will cost.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CUJGML4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Here are other options on Amazon for fire suppression systems.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CUJGML4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Halflunghuck
Member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2017
- Messages
- 8
My garage caught fire in 2016. A blocked dryer vent caused mine, and luckily I was home getting ready for work when it caught fire.
My garage is block construction for the first 10 feet up the wall and I was able to reach inside the door and flip the breaker for the garage and also open my bucket filling spigots and flood the floor fairly quickly which helped slow the fire. I also had a fire extinguisher just inside the kitchen door and by the time the fire department got there I had extinguished the fire and began venting the smoke.
Insurance company had me take pictures and send them in, total claim was small compared to a complete loss, but they paid for cleanup and replacing the washer and dryer that melted as well as some power tools that were destroyed from the combination of the smoke, water, and fire extinguisher hitting them.
I received a check in 3 days and my premiums only went up about $30 a year.
My garage is block construction for the first 10 feet up the wall and I was able to reach inside the door and flip the breaker for the garage and also open my bucket filling spigots and flood the floor fairly quickly which helped slow the fire. I also had a fire extinguisher just inside the kitchen door and by the time the fire department got there I had extinguished the fire and began venting the smoke.
Insurance company had me take pictures and send them in, total claim was small compared to a complete loss, but they paid for cleanup and replacing the washer and dryer that melted as well as some power tools that were destroyed from the combination of the smoke, water, and fire extinguisher hitting them.
I received a check in 3 days and my premiums only went up about $30 a year.
cowboyjosh
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2010
- Messages
- 1,066
I'm a builder and when my house was hit by a catastrophic hail storm last year, I hired a public adjuster. They catch things that are damaged that even builders miss. Cost me 10% of the claim, but they recover enough to cover their fee so I wasn't out of pocket on anything.
Thank you for this. I have advised my father to look into getting an adjuster. Currently the insurance company is trying to get out of paying for his '34 by calling his project a car, even though it has never been on a road, never ran, never had a VIN, been registered, etc. It has always only been parts in various states of disassembly.
My public adjuster was free if I used their contractors or 20% of the claim. The strange thing was their contractors were some of the best in the state. I was amazed, it worked out well because I wouldn't normally wouldn't be able to afford that level of contractor.
weadjust
Well-known member
Ask the adjuster/insurance co. if they will go ahead and settle the Other Structures (garage) total loss in the amount of $17,000 and issue payment. Reason being if you hire a public adjuster later to help with the personal property portion of the loss. The public adjuster doesn't take a % of the Other Structure settlement that is not going to be in dispute.
The personal property part of the loss may cause you some problems. Read your HO policy under Section 1 - Property Coverages - Property Not Covered- Motor Vehicles.
The personal property part of the loss may cause you some problems. Read your HO policy under Section 1 - Property Coverages - Property Not Covered- Motor Vehicles.
K13
Well-known member
Sorry to hear about the fire but that is pretty much standard policy with any insurance company. If it's a vehicle it is not covered under homeowners policy regardless of whether it is a project or not. It's unfortunately why people need to read and understand their insurance policies as you see this a lot with garage fires people think their project cars are covered and they are not.
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fteufert
Well-known member
I had a garage fire back in 2013.
Luckily I had full replacement insurance.
They called a specialized adjuster in for the garage contents because of the tools, car parts, electronics, shop manuals, etc.
It took a few months, but I got paid for it all at current prices. My compressor I bought in 1990 for $300 had a replacement value of over $600. I found the same on on Craigslist for $50.....
My structure was settled separately from the contents.
Be patient.
Luckily I had full replacement insurance.
They called a specialized adjuster in for the garage contents because of the tools, car parts, electronics, shop manuals, etc.
It took a few months, but I got paid for it all at current prices. My compressor I bought in 1990 for $300 had a replacement value of over $600. I found the same on on Craigslist for $50.....
My structure was settled separately from the contents.
Be patient.
moneypit_k5
Well-known member
This is a great idea!
Coolerman
Well-known member
Man, I would just shoot myself if my garage caught fire and was a total loss. I completely understand how your dad is feeling.
I installed a wood stove in my shop about a year after it was built. When the insurance company found out about it while doing an audit, they immediately dropped my insurance on the shop, and would not cover it period. Something about having a wood stove in a garage where vehicles are parked full of gasoline.
I had went to great lengths to make the stove safe for use in the shop: I mounted the stove 18" above the concrete floor, using concrete blocks. This was to prevent gasoline fumes from easilty igniting. I plumbed in outside combustion air. My shop is a all steel building with metal roof, but I still used triple wall stove pipe. I was afraid something would fall up against the pipe and ignite. I installed the stove 24" from the rear wall and 36" from the side wall. I also installed a sheet of plasterboard stuff behind the stove to protect the plastic insulation cover. Last I installed a heat sensor and tied that into my home security system. I live so far out, that having the system monitored would be pointless. If it catches fire, and I'm home, at least I will have advanced warning.
Though I don't keep cans of gas or diesel in the shop, I do park my daily driver in there. My FJ40 Land Cruiser project is there too, and it has a small gas tank.
Wish your dad the best of luck in getting paid what the contents were worth!
I installed a wood stove in my shop about a year after it was built. When the insurance company found out about it while doing an audit, they immediately dropped my insurance on the shop, and would not cover it period. Something about having a wood stove in a garage where vehicles are parked full of gasoline.
I had went to great lengths to make the stove safe for use in the shop: I mounted the stove 18" above the concrete floor, using concrete blocks. This was to prevent gasoline fumes from easilty igniting. I plumbed in outside combustion air. My shop is a all steel building with metal roof, but I still used triple wall stove pipe. I was afraid something would fall up against the pipe and ignite. I installed the stove 24" from the rear wall and 36" from the side wall. I also installed a sheet of plasterboard stuff behind the stove to protect the plastic insulation cover. Last I installed a heat sensor and tied that into my home security system. I live so far out, that having the system monitored would be pointless. If it catches fire, and I'm home, at least I will have advanced warning.
Though I don't keep cans of gas or diesel in the shop, I do park my daily driver in there. My FJ40 Land Cruiser project is there too, and it has a small gas tank.
Wish your dad the best of luck in getting paid what the contents were worth!
j p smith
Well-known member
Wow, I cannot imagine what your dad is going through. When we started our shop in 2003 we discussed a sprinkler system and the cost was just too far out of our budget.
Thanks for bringing the awareness of the destruction of a fire, I need to check my extinguishers.
The other thing I am getting out of this is the need to have some kind of record of what we have acquired. We already have a rider on our building because of "we only pay 10% of the value of the home"(shop is twice the size of our house) but I am not sure of the contents coverage.
Grateful no one was injured!
Thanks for bringing the awareness of the destruction of a fire, I need to check my extinguishers.
The other thing I am getting out of this is the need to have some kind of record of what we have acquired. We already have a rider on our building because of "we only pay 10% of the value of the home"(shop is twice the size of our house) but I am not sure of the contents coverage.
Grateful no one was injured!
Moosefire66
Well-known member
My sisters garage caught fire a few months ago with my dad's classic in the back... after getting a lawyer, it seems as if the insurance company doesn't cover any "motor vehicles" in my sister or her husbands name, however since the car is in my dad's name, they have to cover it. Not sure why, but any of YOUR things in your dad's garage might be covered the same way... of course they don't want you to know about that, their best interest lies with not paying you anything.
Although it's still a hassle, we've scrounged up receipts from 10+ years ago, needed photos, old insurance docs, we also had a private company appraisal on the vehicle years ago we needed to find and send in. Still waiting on the check, but should be wrapping up soon.... good luck, and hopefully this will be taken care of soon
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Although it's still a hassle, we've scrounged up receipts from 10+ years ago, needed photos, old insurance docs, we also had a private company appraisal on the vehicle years ago we needed to find and send in. Still waiting on the check, but should be wrapping up soon.... good luck, and hopefully this will be taken care of soon
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
ratdoggy
Well-known member
Glad to hear no one got hurt....Even though it ***** it's stuff not a life
This is a chance for people to use this and look at themselves...
Is my garage neat? Is there flammable stuff laying around like rags, paper or woodchips from that shelf I made? What do I do with solvent soaked rags? Do I have a fire extinguisher around when I weld or grind.. Do I wait around after welding or grinding or just go to bed immediately after? Do I have a second exit in case fire blocks one way out?
This is a chance for people to use this and look at themselves...
Is my garage neat? Is there flammable stuff laying around like rags, paper or woodchips from that shelf I made? What do I do with solvent soaked rags? Do I have a fire extinguisher around when I weld or grind.. Do I wait around after welding or grinding or just go to bed immediately after? Do I have a second exit in case fire blocks one way out?
OP-Wow that's a sad story and I'm glad everyone is ok and the fire was not more destructive as it could of been. Great work by the Fire Dept. to keep it contained and under control. Property can be replaced, lives can't.
L5wolvesf
Well-known member
Very sorry to hear this, and glad there we no lives lost. Being a car guy, VW racer, and considering ll I have in my garage I would be crushed. I'm kind of surprised I didn't haer about this on the radio.
I would be cautious about what they say to the insurance company - paying OUT isn't something they really like to do. What might happen will depend in part on the type and amount of coverage they have. Hopefully they have some sort of inventory of what was in there. Over the last couple years I have been keeping an Excel sheet(s) of my tools and vehicles values.
The emotional value people have in projects is difficult to deal with.
I would be cautious about what they say to the insurance company - paying OUT isn't something they really like to do. What might happen will depend in part on the type and amount of coverage they have. Hopefully they have some sort of inventory of what was in there. Over the last couple years I have been keeping an Excel sheet(s) of my tools and vehicles values.
The emotional value people have in projects is difficult to deal with.
Glad to hear nobody was hurt as that is the most important thing. Back in the last century my kids were playing with rags, matches and gas and you guessed it the next thing that happened was the garage was on fire. Thankfully the kids didn't get hurt but what a mess.
Our two cars were damaged and portion went on the auto policy or it wouldn't have been covered. The structure was covered under the basic policy and we ended up with a nicer garage then we had before. The personal property was the hard part we ended up taking pictures of all of the burnt items as they headed to the dumpster which really helped with insurance company. The other thing is your agent is your best friend through this adventure as the company is only interested in minimizing the payout.
Good luck
Dave
Our two cars were damaged and portion went on the auto policy or it wouldn't have been covered. The structure was covered under the basic policy and we ended up with a nicer garage then we had before. The personal property was the hard part we ended up taking pictures of all of the burnt items as they headed to the dumpster which really helped with insurance company. The other thing is your agent is your best friend through this adventure as the company is only interested in minimizing the payout.
Good luck
Dave
Where are you located? I'd be surprised if we haven't met.
It did make the front page of the Prescott Daily Courier last Tuesday.
My dad is already looking into a metal replacement building, and searching for deals for tools on craigslist. Can't keep him down!
L5wolvesf
Well-known member
I'm on the other side of Mingus Mt in the Verde Valley, the local radio stations cover Prescott to Flag. I get over to Prescott area some especially if I'm dating some lady there or picking up tools from CL
I'll assume your dad knows about the used tool place in PV. Its getting to be yard sale time too - good for accumulating some tools.
Sorry to hear -- it's overwhelming initially. Don't rush ... I had a massive fire back in 2012 -- lost 3 cars .. the whole house. Almost 2M claim. Claims take time .. not over in a week.
Your dad needs to understand his policy -- Ask the adjuster .. they have to tell you. Don't sign anything .. and don't give away the easy money to a public adjuster as was pointed out in an earlier post.
Too many people keep a standard policy. If 10% is 17k he had 170k policy .. at 50% .. he has 85k in contents. You can't get more out of a policy vs what you paid in. Cleanup and disposal is part of the limit.
Most people think. I had a fire and lost my car .. my fire insurance will pay ..... Nope. Your auto will pay -- and only if you have comprehensive. Some items must be listed .. and some company just will not cover some items .... cars and car parts being high on the list.
Same with tools (not used for business) .. some policies have sub-limits. They don't cover the amount up to the policy limit. Some policies have many sub-limits. A sub-limit is when they say .......we will only pay for X amount of something. Often you will find a sub-limit on a sub-limit. We cover rugs up to 10k .. but will only pay 1k for each. It's the details.
I did not use a Public Adjuster. Read the policy - understand the policy. Get your contents lists together. Sadly, after the fire is the wrong time to inform on how this works.
I had Chubb .. they hire an army of people. I had 4 guys with laptops counting everything in my house within the week -- also had pictures of everything. Took them 4 days in the mess -- detailed down to the rolls of toilet tissue. Then we had some back and forth on value -- that took weeks. I not only had replacement value -- my policy allowed for cash at full value without replacement. The contents was easy .. the building was not.
I had Public Adjusters showing up at my office -- in another state (No idea how they found me) .... they are like ants. They are there to make money .. remember that. Same with the preferred contractors and discounts.
Figure out what your coverage is -- what you have and what they agree to pay for. That's were to start.
Your dad needs to understand his policy -- Ask the adjuster .. they have to tell you. Don't sign anything .. and don't give away the easy money to a public adjuster as was pointed out in an earlier post.
Too many people keep a standard policy. If 10% is 17k he had 170k policy .. at 50% .. he has 85k in contents. You can't get more out of a policy vs what you paid in. Cleanup and disposal is part of the limit.
Most people think. I had a fire and lost my car .. my fire insurance will pay ..... Nope. Your auto will pay -- and only if you have comprehensive. Some items must be listed .. and some company just will not cover some items .... cars and car parts being high on the list.
Same with tools (not used for business) .. some policies have sub-limits. They don't cover the amount up to the policy limit. Some policies have many sub-limits. A sub-limit is when they say .......we will only pay for X amount of something. Often you will find a sub-limit on a sub-limit. We cover rugs up to 10k .. but will only pay 1k for each. It's the details.
I did not use a Public Adjuster. Read the policy - understand the policy. Get your contents lists together. Sadly, after the fire is the wrong time to inform on how this works.
I had Chubb .. they hire an army of people. I had 4 guys with laptops counting everything in my house within the week -- also had pictures of everything. Took them 4 days in the mess -- detailed down to the rolls of toilet tissue. Then we had some back and forth on value -- that took weeks. I not only had replacement value -- my policy allowed for cash at full value without replacement. The contents was easy .. the building was not.
I had Public Adjusters showing up at my office -- in another state (No idea how they found me) .... they are like ants. They are there to make money .. remember that. Same with the preferred contractors and discounts.
Figure out what your coverage is -- what you have and what they agree to pay for. That's were to start.