LESLIE: Bonnie in Minnesota, you’ve got The Money Pit. What can we do for you today?
BONNIE: We had a hose on our dishwasher that somehow came loose and when we came home there was water all over the floor. And in addition to that, of course, then it had leaks and we had damage now on our lower level – because we have a ranch-style – and anyway, along the ceiling as well as down the wall in a basement bathroom. Now we’ll need to do some repairs and I’m just wondering would you have any kind of an idea what the cost might be to know whether to even turn it on insurance? Or sometimes I’ve been told you’re almost better just to pay for it because your insurance rates can go up.
TOM: Well, I mean if it’s done significant damage, that’s why you have insurance …
BONNIE: Right.
TOM: … and I don’t think the occasional claim like that is going to impact you. If it does, shame on your …
BONNIE: Well, I imagine it’ll have to be the ceiling and then, like I said, down a wall.
TOM: Yeah, and what I would do is I would consider hiring an independent insurance adjuster because this way they’ll make sure that you’re not missing anything. If you just use the insurance company adjuster, they’re going to probably try to do the minimum. But if you use an independent adjuster, basically the more you claim, the more they make; so they’re motivated to make sure that not only do they get every possible thing but they report it in a standard that the insurance company is used to seeing.
BONNIE: Oh, OK. I appreciate it.
TOM: You’re welcome, Bonnie. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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