Adjustor helps people with insurance claims
By Jay Meisel
Associate managing editor
After working 30 years as a general contractor, Steven Lewis Philipson knows a lot about the costs of construction and repairs. With that experience in mind, Mr. Philipson noted that after the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005, a lot of people needed help in getting enough money to fully repair their hurricane-damaged properties.
Knowing the true cost of repairs because of his work as a contractor, he decided to become an accredited public insurance adjustor. As an adjustor, Mr. Philipson said, he works to convince the insurance companies to provide property owners with enough money to make all the repairs.
His relationship with his property owners is one where the client can’t lose. “If I can’t get them additional money, I don’t charge them anything,” he said. “Only if I get additional money, do I collect a fee. It’s a no-lose situation.”
His wife, Lois Philipson, who assists him in his work, said customers are appreciative of not having to pay an upfront fee. Generally, Mr. Philipson said, a person, whose property was damaged by a hurricane, contacts him after he or she is dissatisfied with an offer from an insurance company.
Mr. Philipson said he then does an extensive inspection of the property and creates a line item list of the damages and what he believes are the costs to fix each problem. His estimates are based on accepted costs for the area in which the property is located. Only then does he ask the client to sign a contract.
He finds that the insurance company’s offer often doesn’t cover the repair costs. He said in most cases he does obtain more money for the clients. “Twice the amount (of what the insurance company offers) has been more typical than not,” he said. In a couple of rare cases, his findings showed that the insurance company’s offer was correct. But a case involving a house up the st reet from where he lives in Wabasso is more typical. That house had a lot of damage because of a leaky roof after Hurricane Jeanne.
The water damaged cabinets, drywall and electrical fixtures.
His evaluation showed the damages were about $200,000, although the insurance company only offered $90,000. In the end, Mr. Philipson said, the insurance company agreed to pay $183,000. After he submits his estimation — if the insurance company doesn’t agree with it — a mediation process begins, which often takes about 10 weeks. “Usually it is settled at mediation,” Mr. Philipson said.
But if an agreement can’t be reached at mediation, the situation goes to an appraisal where he and the insurance company agree on an umpire. The umpire’s decision is final, he said. That process can take 10 weeks.
Mr. Philipson represents clients on the Treasure Coast, and as far south as Fort Lauderdale. He said clients appreciate that they deal directly with him from the start. Besi des getting help from his wife, he is assisted by Sandy Groth, a family member, who does clerical work.
He can be reached by telephone at (772) 696-5585 or toll free (877) 274-2352. His e-mail address is apiafla@comcast.net and his Web site is www.apiafla.com.
