Title: Home Insurance Claim: STOP! Don't File Until You Watch This
Downloaded: 2025-12-28 23:22:23

Welcome back everybody to another episode of the AutoAcctorneys podcast. I am your host attorney Ali and this show is sponsored by the auto accident attorneys group where we take care of you. As you all listeners know by now that this show is about so much more than just auto accidents. Today I have a very close and dear friend of mine as one of our guests. It is an after hours show. So we have poured ourselves uh Athens finest Tropicalia IPAs. Uh shout out to Tropicalia. Today we're joined by uh one of my closest friends, a disaster recovery specialist, Mr.

Adam Humphre. Adam, thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to meet with me today. >> Oh, it's awesome to be here with you, man. Seriously, I I'm super excited to sit down and and get to shoot the breeze with you some. >> I'm so excited that you finally decided to come on because I've always long thought that you had the perfect voice for a podcast. And I can't wait to listen to this in my own car. >> I love it. No, I've been sitting here thinking about how great your voice sounds, man. This is just too much.

>> Gosh, so much mutual love. >> I love it. If you guys are listening, you you don't see on video, but we also have uh our resident dog on the podcast today with us. So, Jetty is here. Hopefully, I'll try my best to keep her off of you, Adam. >> Oh, she's a sweetie pie. She's no problem at all. I love it. Brings a charm to the office. >> I like to think so. >> Yeah. >> Adam, do me a favor. Do our listeners a favor. Uh introduce yourself to our listeners and tell us about uh what has led you to where you are today.

>> Okay. Absolutely. It's pretty good story as well. Um, my name is Adam Humphre. Um, I've been in the Atlanta area for uh, 20 plus years now and I've owned a pretty successful disaster recovery company by the name of Essex Roofing and Restorations. A lot of you listeners may not know what disaster recovery is. So, when something goes wrong at your home or your business or your rental property, right? Tree falls through the house in the middle of the night, a tenant causes a fire, so on and so forth. Um, I'm actually the guy that you call.

We get out there in the middle of the night. We bring the crane, get the tree out of the home, get you uh temporarily sheltered, you know, a place to stay, and then most importantly, and this probably rings through to you, Ali, um, we help them out with dealing with the insurance, right? >> So important that first initial contact. And, uh, the way I like buy our listeners to think of me in my outfit is that, uh, we're kind of like a liaison when something goes wrong, right? We want to be out there on the scene as soon as it happens, making the best choices to safeguard your home and at the same time making sure that you are in the best position possible going into your insurance claim, you know.

>> Absolutely. >> Yeah. I have to ask you this, Ali. I'm sure you find this true with customers. Um, a lot of them don't know how to navigate the insurance process, do they? >> No. Well, I can't say none of them. We've we've had people that actually have called up and >> it's been a simple enough issue where I've I've told them it seems like you might be able to do this on your own. So, if you'd like to give that a shot, do it. I'm always here as a back stop. That's not really great advice for the majority of people, but there are certain people that have either gone through it before or someone like yourself who who has had to deal with insurance claims, albeit not on an injury side, but on property casualty, but you sort of understand how they're setting everything up against you.

So, you're a bit more conservative about how you approach it and what you turn over. >> I don't know. I'd like to add in a plug for you. Uh cuz quite honestly um you know yeah I've been doing property and casualty for 20some years now right but if I go to the dentist or if I have to deal with something with healthcare I don't have the first idea of what I'm doing you know and even though I do understand a lot of the nomenclature and what they might be talking about and be able to negotiate I don't know the intricacies and the law and the policy side the way that you do.

So uh no disrespect but I disagree. I think somebody like you is incredibly important. Yeah. I mean, you could go through and and come out with some bruised knees and banged up and be all right, or you could come out squeaky clean the way you should be set up for success in the future. >> Yeah. No, I absolutely agree and thank you for the plug. >> I It's always appreciated, but there are certain times if it's >> it's not catastrophic. They're a little bit gunshy about retaining counsel to begin with. It's the minority of circumstances.

I I certainly the one thing I say is especially on on my end >> it never costs you anything. >> At least meet with me. >> Let's have a conversation and it's possible that I tell you, hey, you >> it sounds like you might be able to do this or I had a phone call today where I advised the person on what to do. It was a low speed, minor impact, nothing going on. I was like, "Listen, you don't need an attorney. Just handle it this way." And I sort of gave him an outline on what to do. >> No, I love it. I try and do the same thing with my customers as well because you're right, not everything is always catastrophic, right?

>> And let's let's be real, you and I deal with people when they're not in their best state of minds. And so sometimes people just need to be kind of cooly talked through something and told what to do. And I think that's how you treat people. I applaud you for that, man. I appreciate it. >> Yeah. But getting back to your question, you had asked me what led up to me being here and what it is that I I did, my story, if you will. I studied architecture in college. thought I was going to come out and u be, you know, designing homes and communities and just uh having a lot of fun with all that.

And you get a little older and you realize, wow, architects don't always make the money that you want to make. And so I started going into construction management and I ended up getting a second degree with specialty in real estate land development. All that was great and well, but I came out during the downturn and people weren't bringing on interns, let alone, you know, broadeyed, bushy tailed kids that graduated with honors that want the world, right? They're looking for the uh the people with gray hair and big bellies that have the experience and they're willing to work for less because it's a tough time, you know, right?

>> But, uh, what was neat with that is that I I came out of school and I'm like, I have to find a way to be different than everybody else. I can't just be doing small remodeling jobs myself and bartending in the evenings, you know, like that's not the way to go. And uh I ended up opening up the newspaper and found a job knocking doors for construction sales and I said, "Hey, at least this is something. It's a little continuity." The reason I tell you all that is this. I discovered the disaster uh recovery industry from that.

You know, originally I was going out and knocking doors, asking people if I could inspect their roofs, you know, trying to scrge up business, but I learned about this process, how daunting it can be, and how everything that I went for school for really falls into it. And what I like is the challenge on the other side of it, having to deal with the insurance companies, having to be the expert. Even though you're up against them, you're still the expert. Having to to remember that and remind yourself of that and negotiate the situations as what as such.

I took a job uh out of college working for a small local company, helped blow him up, make him national. Ended up um going into business with a a good friend of mine um from college. I believe you know him boys Barzagar. >> Beautiful soul. >> Yeah, we started a heck of a company, let me tell you, man. And uh started working all over the southeast and um it's been great. You guys probably seen some of our vehicles riding around with the big lions on them. Uh we've been in this community for about 16 plus years.

I love it. um I wasn't master planning the communities and uh you know determining different social economic factors that will help our cities grow like I thought I would but uh I find it very challenging and uh most importantly it's very rewarding to me and I'm sure you can relate to this right handling somebody when they're at their worst and like getting to come in and like really help them make heads and tails of things it's pretty awesome it's pretty radical not everybody can do it you got to have some thick skin at times and you got to remember you know hey this could be you too you know what I mean but it's so rewarding getting people through that and getting them on the other side of something that could take months and months to get through, you know what I mean?

Um, it's rewarding. I love it. >> Well, whether it's injury side like what I do or property casualty with you, it's a it's an injury to their their home, >> their life as they know it. >> Everything has been turned upside down. In a moment, they don't know. At the end of it, you like myself, at the end of the process, they they come to know you, love you, trust you, and and they refer you out to others. But on the beginning, a lot of times, unless it's a repeat client, it you're a stranger. So, they're mad at everyone and they don't know exactly why or or who is responsible for what.

So, that delay process and uh getting the claim set up or or getting liability accepted or for yours getting things approved, they a lot of times they might lay that at your feet or at my feet. It is uh art and not science in trying to explain and and handhold and and comfort and >> really gain their trust to be like listen you I need you to trust that what I'm doing guiding you down this path is the correct way and the only there's no way you could do it for somebody or get someone to to understand it on the front end.

>> You have to go through that process with that person so that they can look back >> understanding the whole thing. >> Agreed. Agreed. It's like I tell my customers, I'm like, especially dealing with a large loss, right? Like a fire in a home or something like that. You're displaced 6 to 8 months, you know what I mean, >> right? And I tell them, I'm like, "You guys love me now. You think I'm the guy on the white horse, a blond curly hair riding it, I'm the hero, right?" What's going to happen is we're going to start and we're going to get you guys placed and then everything's going to stop and all the behindthe-scenes stuff with the insurance is going to take place, which I believe you were just referencing, you know, for your industry, right?

Yeah. all it goes quiet for a long while and then they don't know if the insurance is is taking forever or if you're taking forever. I tell them I'm like look I'm going to come in on the white horse I'm going to become a villain and then as soon as we get our approvals and we get to move and start working I'm the hero again and just know to expect this. I'm telling you guys, I've done this for too long. This is how it's going to go. And nine times out of 10, it does. And then they look back and say, "Thanks for telling me that upfront." You know, but that's something, as you know, with your firm that we only get from experience, right?

From serving our communities as long as you and I have. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> As a as a very good friend, you've listened to a few of the episodes. >> More than a few. >> Yeah. So, you know that uh the the podcast is set up to really expand on our our tagline, we take care of you. So, it is a direct to consumer podcast. Uh I've referenced saying dad vice a lot. >> So, when I have guests on, I like to discuss things that people may not know about or may not think about on the front end. What we were just talking about, they only trust you after you walk down that path, right?

it if there's a an opportunity to have a conversation for people to have before they're ever in that situation that helps them make decisions on that beginning part of the journey where the trust needs to come in before they walk that path down with somebody. I would love to have that from your perspective on the the disaster recovery side. >> Absolutely. I'd be more than happy to do it. And uh if I may, there's a few tips I might leave at the end too uh just to help out our >> It's like you already know the form is.

>> Yeah. There we go. I may have listened once or twice. Dealing with an insurance claim is never easy. Uh nor is it something that anybody looks forward to or wishes to do, right? And let's be real, it always typically happens after something catastrophic has happened, right? So, what I always like to tell people is just slow down and call somebody. Slow down and call your mom. Call your friend from church. Call your best friend. You know what I mean? Call calm down and give them tell them what's going on.

They're going to be real. They're going to talk with you, right? kind of take it down a notch or two. And then after that, it's really important to find somebody like me. What you don't want to do is go off and just contact the insurance. Hey, I see a spot on my ceiling. There's something going on, right? The reason for that is you end up giving information to the insurance companies about your home and about your property and you might trigger an unnecessary inspection. and you know, you had a stain on your ceiling that you called in about and you didn't realize that you filed a claim, but you did.

Now, you've lost a no claim discount, okay? Cuz you're not going to go through with it. They're not going to pay out above your deductible for a spot on the ceiling. And now they know that there's issues with your property, right? >> So, what a good responsible homeowner should do is maintain their property, right? Which is why I want to come out and look at everything, see if it's a small maintenance issue, right? I, being a member of our community, care about your no um claim discount, right? I don't want you filing a false claim um and hurting your pocketbook at the end of the day.

What I'd rather do is kind of like what you described earlier is come in and look at something and say, "Hey, this is a maintenance thing. Hey, this is small. You can do XYZ. I can have one of my guys do XYZ." With all that being said, let's say that we really have something catastrophic. There was a fire in the house, right? I want to contact your insurance company. Okay? Let's say that this fire was caused by an electrical storm. Tree branch hit the the above ground power wires, they hit your roof, they arc, and the house catches fire, right?

Well, a typical homeowner would call in and probably say, "Hey, I want to file a homeowner's claim." Right? Guess what? You're going down the wrong path. >> We want to go, we want to pull up weather services. We want to understand what's happened in the area. Why did that tree branch fall? Was there inclement weather? And a lot of times there is. And now we can file what's called a cat claim or catastrophe claim. And the neat thing about this that our average listener, a homeowner wouldn't know is that um when you file a catastrophe claim, something has happened in that geographic zip code that was affected to many homes and they consequently have to put out a bit of money for it, right?

So what happens is they say, "Hey, you know what? This was an act of God. there's no way that, you know, 20,000 homes in this zip code got affected. You know what I mean? And it was because of bad maintenance or poor maintenance, right? So, we want to go down that path because now it can't count against you. A lot of people don't realize that, man. And when you're dealing with a fire or you're dealing with your dishwasher flooding and you have to replace your floors, how this claim starts off going down that uh that path makes all the difference.

So, it's so much easier to get somebody who's knowledgeable, kind of weigh what's going on, give you the quick options, right? This is above your deductible, this is below your deductible, not just looking at the dollars and cents, but hey, if we do this, you know, it might trigger XYZ and your home is not the code and so be ready. You know what I'm saying, right? >> I feel it's really important to advise people of that. Uh because at the end of the day, as rates and premiums keep rising, as they do in this economy, right?

If you've got dings against your record, they're that much more important now. You know what I mean? So, having that advisement and going down the right path is definitely the way to go. But there are a few things that I would like to tell our listeners about um just simple small tips that'll save you a ton of money. You should walk around your home every 6 months and look at it. Even if you don't know what you're looking at, walk around the outside of your home. Look at your roof line. If you've got a crawl space, stick your head down in there.

Doesn't mean you got to get on your belly and crawl around, but just look, smell, see. Um, especially here in the south, we go through so much thermal and expansion contraction, hot summers, cold winters, and it's really hard on materials. And what might be something small that looks like a knot hole that might have a little rot in it, if you leave it unattended, you're not looking every 6 months, and you don't pay the handyman 150 bucks to pick to fix it, it can end up being a $23,000 claim down the road because you have rot and structural damage inside your home.

So guys, just walk around, take a peek at your house. You know, it's the the biggest asset in your life. So enjoy it a little bit. Another big thing that I would really recommend to people is if something doesn't seem right, don't wait. Don't push it off. You know, hop on the internet, hop on on Google, call up uh Adam Humphre. Um I'd be happy to explain it to you, but understand your home and and the systems that are in it and know how old they are. You know what I mean? Just a couple simple things like that could save you a lot of grief down the road.

You know, just like making sure your brake pads are good and and your brake lights are functional before you hop in the car. I mean, >> uh gosh, how many times did you do that today? You know what I'm saying? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, I think that one of the reasons that people are are gunshy to uh reach out to somebody if they do find something is that we live in a day and age where you think you're going to get got. >> Sure. >> Right. I don't want somebody to come in here, upsell me, or sell me something I don't need.

So, is there any way if you were in the customer's shoes, >> the homeowner's shoes, is is there a way that you would either vet people or uh how do you choose your vendor? Let me let me leave it at >> Yeah, I get it. I think word of mouth is a really important thing this day and age. And I'm not talking about reviews left on Google or looking somebody's up on Angie's List. I think uh being a part of your community, like I said earlier, something bad happens, stop, talk to a friend, talk to a member of your community, calm down a second, deescalate, catch your breath.

Most likely, they're going to say, "Hey, you know what? You got in this car accidenta group. They've helped out my aunt. They were amazing." Or, "Hey, you know, this trees through your house, call at him. You know, he helped out my my uncle's brother, you know, back 10 years ago." But stuff like that makes a big difference, especially in the community we live in, guys. I mean, Marietta East Cobb Roswell is special. It's not like um a lot of our downtown, you know, where people just don't know people. So, tech, get to know one another.

But honestly, I think word of mouth is great. And then also um you know, it's going to be hard for the uh average client uh to understand to look for this, but insurance with contractors, guys, are so important. So many contractors will buy what they call a general liability certificate, and they'll show it to you and say, "Hey, I've got insurance." And you think you're great and covered. That's just in case they knock a hole in your wall when they're working. You know, if their guy falls off the roof or, you know, god forbid something should happen, you're not covered.

You know what I mean? So, that's incredibly important. That's dad vice. A lot of people don't think about that. You're you're so busy thinking about the project, the price, and what it's going to cost you. You You forget that you need insurance for that project to go down, too. You want to make sure if things go sideways that there's coverage. That's the one thing that I don't think people think about. >> Yeah. >> So, what what would you I'm a homeowner. >> Um I've I've brought you in. We've uh diagnosed some repairs that need to be made.

Before I sign on the line that is dotted, what do I do to make sure that I'm protected as far as your your bonds are >> 100%. Yeah. And I'm glad you said that because uh bonds are something that are misunderstood actually um in the residential world. Bonds are typically for uh commercial jobs, larger jobs where you are expected to perform and if you don't perform, it's basically assured saying, "Hey, we're going to pay if this guy messes up." That's not something you see in the residential uh world, though.

No. Um things that that homeowner should be asking before they sign on anything is, "Can you please have your insurance company email me your certificate of insurance to my email address and name me as the party?" >> It's a very simple thing. Um, insurance offices are used to getting this day in and day out. It should be a very normal thing for your contractor. If they squeam or there's an issue, don't sign. There's a reason that they're screaming. >> And you want it directly from their insurance company.

>> 100%. Yeah. Because there's no way that they can go in and, you know, with computers and technology these days, you can change a date, make it look like you're you're current. You want it from their insurance company. >> And any good reputable contractor, this is daily practice. It's what we do. It's not a problem, right? So definitely look for that guys. >> That was worth the price of admission alone. >> I love it. I love it. Very good. >> I know that there's like disaster stories, not your stories to discuss.

But before we get there, I I want to talk about some of the uh practical logistics uh that customers face when they have to reach out to a disaster recovery specialist. To begin with, step one, uh, we're gonna pretend that somebody hasn't listened to this and they don't know Adam Humphre. Sure. >> When they go to Google, what is it that they should be googling? Yes. >> Step one after a And you give me the scenario first. Are we doing fire? Tree through the roof. >> Let's do a tree through the roof. >> Okay.

Tree through the roof, which is we're we're full of pine trees in Georgia. >> Yeah. >> So, that happens. What What does a homeowner do when they wake up with a tree through the roof? >> Absolutely. A first thing I would do is call the local fire department and have them come out and make sure all the utilities and everything are safe and good. And then after that, uh, don't go calling a tree company. So many people would think step one, have the tree taken off my home. There are so many fly by night tree companies out there, it's not even funny.

Um, I would recommend contacting a general contractor, somebody like myself, somebody. Seek out storm damage contractors, read a couple of quick reviews, and then call two or three people. And if you've got a legitimate disaster recovery company, it shouldn't be, "Hey, I can get out to you in a couple days," or, "Hey, I'm going to send a tarp crew by." It should be, "Hey, we're coming out to put eyes on this right away, and we will assess what needs to happen next." If you don't see that urgency, there's definitely something wrong there.

Or it might just be a truck in a truck trying to trying to pick up a job. Rock in a truck. Oh, yeah. You know, a lot of people don't know this, but in uh the state of Georgia, you don't have to have licenses to do all the construction work that's done out here. Roofing is a big part of that, right? >> Literally have to have a business license and that's it. So, anybody could be doing this work. So, you definitely have to have some wherewithal when you're selecting people. >> We actually found that out on the you you mentioned tree removal companies.

We found that out for uh tree cutting. >> Mhm. >> Uh we had we we represent a family in a wrongful death case. >> Oh, wow. uh involving a down tree. And I had no idea up until having that case that there is no licensing. And and what's really interesting about the tree industry, there's there's really great actors. There are the truck in a truck for sure, but there's really great actors in that industry. And I say that because I I've I've come to to learn about them. I've met a few of them. They are going and being proactive.

They, as an industry, are leading the the charge. They're spearheading the request for the state to have licensing and registration requirements. They they're asking the state to come in and regulate >> 100%. It's the same way with roofing. There's been petitions that have been going around for seven, eight years now, and people like me are like, "Please pass this. We need some regulation." You know what I mean? And uh on the flip side of that too, you know, I can't even tell you how many claims that should be awarded for insurance damage due to storm damage for roofs get denied because it improper install.

Literally, the installer didn't put the line the nail on the right line and they come out and they look at it and say, "Sorry, this wasn't installed the right way." >> So, from years prior, >> correct? >> They're gone. It was installed improperly. a storm comes in, you have a valid claim, but because that installer from way back when, oh, that's wild. >> Correct. So, that's why people like me, like true specialists in this industry, right, were like, we need this. >> Yeah, >> we need this. And it's honestly not fair to the homeowners, and it's not fair to the insurance companies either.

And we can get into a whole side conversation on that, how insurance companies should be inspecting homes before they insure them. But, um, but no, it's it's not a good scenario for anyone. I was just thinking about the fact what if somebody buys a house and the roof was installed incorrectly. Uh I'm assuming you would in you would hope that your inspector catches that, but I don't remember the last time I ever saw a home inspector go on a roof. They don't. They fly a drone or they look a bedroom window and snap a couple pictures.

Some of them might go as far as to take a ladder and put it up to the gutter line and snap a couple pictures. Make it look like you're looking up the roof. >> Yeah. Um, but that's it. They're just looking at, hey, overall appearance, what does this look like? Does that look funny? Let's put a note. Have a licensed roofer. Look at this. You know, >> um, and it's unfortunate. Um, roofing is one of the largest maintenance expenses a homeowner will have to go through in home ownership. Um, the average person gets a roof replaced 1.5 times in their life.

But this is something that cost, you know, tens of thousands of dollars. An average home these days is about, you know, 18 to 20 grand to put a roof on. >> Wow. >> Yeah. That's just an average home. So, if you think about that, there's a lot of surface not getting up there, not looking. And there's so many simple small things that could be taken care of with a tube of or a wrongful denial of a claim could be avoided by somebody just getting up and lifting a couple shingles and looking underneath them.

>> Yeah. I interrupted your flow of uh our scenario that we had set up as a pine tree through the roof. Yes, >> they go to Google, they make a couple uh fire department first, >> fire department and then uh please call somebody like me and we start talking about how if you talk to that friend, that family member, somebody in the community, most likely they know somebody who's been through this and they have a referral for you. >> Um, and this is how I do my business. That's why I recommend it. I I'm great.

I know I'm probably going to get called in this community. You know, you want to have that contractor. You want to call two or three people. You want to see them have that sense of urgency. I think what I was saying before is like it shouldn't be, hey, I'll get to you in the next couple days or we're going to put a tarp by and we'll be buying next week. It should be let's get out right away and see what's going on. We've got somebody in route. They'll be there within an hour, you know. Um and then at that point in time, look up that contractor.

They're going to come out. They're going to say, "Hey, we need to move. We need to do this. We need to do that." That's when that contractor should be having a phone call with you to your insurance company to initiate a claim to uh verify certain coverages that you may or may not have so you're not stuck with a $20,000 tree removal bill at the end of the claim. Right? So, that's definitely the next step is there should be a conversation together with that contractor and with your insurance company. And then I would say the biggest thing after that is um you do have to have a little trust in them and you're going to have to sign a contract because if you're doing emergency service work, it's not something that you get to wait and schedule.

It's hey, there's a pine tree through the house. Most likely if there's a pine tree through the house, it's probably raining or there's other bands of rain that are coming. So let's be swift, let's be quick. Let's keep this from becoming something worse. You get what I'm saying? >> Yeah. It needs to move. It needs to move quick >> 100%. And so, you know, depending on the weather conditions and the structural condition after a tree has struck a home like that, it might be that it's best to tarp it off, cut some limbs, make it so you have a reasonable tarp that'll function through the night and get out there in the morning.

Sometimes, like we I kid you not, probably about eight, nine years ago, we had a hurricane blow through and we had a bobcat out pulling a tree out of my friend Sean Griffin's house. If you're here in the Sean, hey, it's good to see you. Shout out Sean Griffin. Right. Right. But uh we had to do it because there was just so much rain coming in such high winds. There was no way to be able to tarp it off and make it through the night. Swiftness is definitely the thing and they should be they should have all their resources lined up.

You shouldn't be hearing, hey, I couldn't get a crane to come, >> you know? But this is why you work with a general contractor because they know who the Chuck and the trucks are in the community and they know who the real players are, right? and they have the relationships because they've worked with them for years and years and you can pick up the phone. I can call um you know my good friend and he'll hop in the car and come out and make it happen. >> You know what I mean? So yeah, you're you're paying for a lot more than somebody who just says they're a GC and stands around with a cup of coffee in their hand, you know, >> right?

It's a true community resource. >> 100%. That's what it is. Now, things I will say if you're having to sign that contract, uh, a few things to look for. Okay, as with any kind of service contract in the state of Georgia, it should clearly state it on there that you have a three business day cool down period. If it doesn't say it on their contract, they're probably not the professional company that you're looking for. Um, another important thing is, um, it should state in there that there is not any cost to you outside of your deductible with the exception of any kind of voluntary upgrades.

So, if something happens to your home, your contractor should not be coming back down the line and saying, "Hey, I would love to put the marble back out on the floors you have, but it's gone up because of, you know, inflation and this and that, so we're gonna have to put some for mica in." No, it doesn't work that way. The insurance pays for like kind and quality and any uh insurance contractor such as myself that is worth their weight and salt will know how to get that taken care of with the insurance company.

So there should be no negotiating, no bargaining, no none of that should be clearly stated in that contract. And I think the last important thing to look for when you're signing it is going to be a payment schedule. Um this is where a lot of companies vary. Okay. Um, a good financially sound company that does this will treat you just like any body shop will. There'll be a deductible they expect you to pay. When the insurance company sends the first check, you give it to them, they begin the work, they take care of the work, right?

Um, if something is found that wasn't covered in that initial report, you know, there's a bad fender or something that we didn't know about, right? Then they add a supplemental check. You get another payment for that. And then at the end when everything's done and you've signed off, they send that last payment. So, it should work that way 100% of the time. But there's a lot of companies out there and especially the ones that are responding to stuff in the middle of the night. They want you to sign and they want a credit card number right then and there.

>> It's dangerous because if you think about it, they're putting their interest before your interest. They're just like, "Hey, I just want to do this job and get paid, >> right? >> I don't care about where that money comes from." >> And somebody who's a professional at this is going to say, "Hang on a second." They're going to have the wherewithal and know, "Okay, do we have this endorsement? Can I do X amount of work up to so many dollars without the home? You get what I'm saying? >> Yeah. You're checking to make sure that there's going to be coverage so that the homeowner is not coming out of pocket.

>> 100%. 100%. >> You're reviewing policies. >> 100%. Well, I'm legally not allowed to review policies, but I do know the endorsements that have I know the buzzwords. >> Okay. You know, but legally I'm not allowed to review policies as a contractor. So, that's another thing. If you >> I did not know that. >> Yes. If you have a contractor who's coming and saying, "Oh, I know the insurance company and uh I'm going to review your policy and do this, that, and the other, and we're going to maximize this." That's a conflict of interest.

It's actually illegal in the state of Georgia. You're supposed to be a licensed PA and be a contractor, but not two together. So, >> and PA is public adjuster. >> Very good. You got it. Absolutely. >> I've been looking at Google. >> Have you? I love it. I love it. If people come in and they start saying uh things of that nature, um they typically are there to milk the insurance company. They're going to come in and squeeze it for all they can and do your repair and be on the way. And honestly, I think what you guys need is a good, honest person who has a track record of working with the insurance company, um who can get things done, but they're not going to tell you, hey, you know, I can wave your deductible.

Hey, I can do this. Hey, I can do that. because they're successful businesses that have been established for a long time. And I'm sorry, but in this industry, you don't exist if you play those tricks, you know. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, that was something I was I was going to actually ask and you just uh went ahead and provided the response. But just to recap it, my question was if we talked about earlier, people are gunshy because they don't want to be upsold. They don't want to, you know, get caught having to have this unexpected expense.

Even though it's an emergency, you have this unexpected expense. But what you're saying is that's why you have those insurance policies in place with the assuming you have the appropriate endorsements. >> Correct. Glad you said that. >> And you you hire a professional. When you hire an Adam Humphre, you will make sure that the only out-ofpocket cost after this catastrophic event is their deductible. >> That's correct. >> Everything should work 100%. And if it doesn't work that way, that contractor is either trying to make extra money off of you.

They're just they're skezy. They're trying to squeeze everything they can out of the insurance company. And I don't think there's room for either one of those, honestly. So, >> I tend to agree with you. >> Yeah. >> But it's it's interesting to me on the personal injury side where we represent people that have been involved in auto accidents and we get them recovery. It's nothing out of pocket for them. >> Uh it's very similar. >> Yeah. 100%. Yeah, >> we're using at fault insurance as opposed to the self insurance, but >> certainly I get what you're saying.

>> Conceptually, it's the same. >> It is. And uh again, it's a daunting process. And I mean, you you're a master of your craft. You didn't this didn't happen overnight. You know, you have many years of law school just like I had many years of study to get my professional licensing. And then not only that, but you you have to go and cut your teeth and make a name for yourself and and figure this out. I think the biggest thing is is yeah, it's great to have these licenses and be a part of these associations, but I think that tenorship and that uh that track record is really what gets it done because at the end of the day, what they teach us in the books are great, but those books aren't in the real world.

Right. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> And there's so much that the insurance companies can they're dynamic private entities and and they change the way that they conduct business. They changed the way that they will interact with clients, with people submitting claims, and you're you're not going to know how to handle all of those things unless you're constantly in it dealing with it. >> Oh, yeah. >> On the cutting, you you really have a figurative finger on the pulse of how claims are being submitted and what gets approved.

>> 100%. And I know just like uh just like you do, you know, I travel at least five or six times a year for continuing ed just to keep my finger on that pulse and what's happening in surrounding markets. You've got your view of what's happening there. But if you can see the global view or the national view um in this circumstance kind of lets you know what's coming and who you need to talk with and where you need to go educate yourself. And you're right, it's ever changing, man. And at the end of the day, I hate to say it, but all these insurance companies report to shareholders.

>> Yeah. >> You know, >> that's right. >> So it's about making that profit. It's not about the quality of the service. >> Yeah. >> You know, >> and they're publicly traded companies. So, I I I like to tell people uh on on our end, >> we have clients that don't want to submit, for example, an uninsured motor >> claim or they don't want to have their property damage started with their own insurance. >> They're they feel like they're going to get punished somehow. I just want you guys to go and look to see how much money the insurance companies are are taking in >> 100%.

and and what those uh the C level executive compensation packages and how those compensation packages are tied to not paying claims. >> It's asinine, is it not? >> It's criminal in my opinion. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I I won't give away any names or say anything, but it really does work that way. >> Yeah. >> I've been doing this for so long. You know, all the adjusters speak and talk and and what you said is 100% accurate, man. couple weeks ago, I don't remember who was the guest on the show, but I was saying, you know, it what's really ironic is that if insurance companies did what they purported to do, at least on my end as as an attorney that has to go and essentially enforce these policies, my job would never exist >> 100%.

>> We wouldn't have billboard attorneys if the insurance product did what it does. So, the fact that you consumers are seeing billboards for attorneys for auto cases, for example, auto accidents, the only reason that that exists is because the insurance companies aren't doing what they're supposed to be doing. >> 100%, man. 100%. Um, same thing on my end. You know what I mean? Quite honestly, back in the day, you know, people had people build their homes. They were their own general contractors. You know, they knew people that did XYZ and all this stuff.

And, um, it just doesn't work that way anymore, man. And unfortunately, uh, insurance companies are companies. It says it right there in their name. You know, they try to hide it and say, "Hey, you're in good hands and like a good neighbor and all this other stuff, right? But at the end of the day, they're a company." And uh, they're there to approve so many and to deny so many. And honestly, I think that's why having a good local reputable contractor is so important. Yeah, it might be cool to have a a national name or something like that, but that local contractor works with all those adjusters day in and day out.

He works with that desk adjuster day in and day out. They work with this branch. They develop those relationships, you know, and it's something I like to tell people, tell my customers, you might get a kick out of this. I'm like, yeah, you can get a really bad speeding ticket, a super speeders, and you can go and try and deal with it in court yourself and get out of it. Maybe you get it reduced. Wonderful. Right? But you could also hire an attorney who went to school with the DA that has lunch with the judge that knows the whole ecosystem there and you could probably not have to go in and it's just all going to be dropped, >> right?

>> You know, and um I think it's really important to look at insurance in that same way and look at these large repairs on your home in that same way. Just get a professional. You'll be happier, you know? >> Yeah. >> Get a landscaper. is your are you going to be happier with your yard or you know I mean come on that's just that's just the reality of it you know >> Adam I could talk to you for hours on end and we have before >> certainly >> but for purposes of this show cuz we only have so much uh available bandwidth to actually get this stuff uploaded.

Uh I'm going to wrap it up but you've seen the shows before. At the very end what I like to do is turn it over to the guest. If there's a question that you feel like I should have asked you that I didn't, or if there's something valuable that you believe the listeners can take away, or if there's just something left in your heart that you feel like needs to be said that hasn't been said yet. >> That's awesome. >> I turn it over to you. >> That's awesome. I think you did a great job covering this for our listeners and I think you asked some very pointed questions that hopefully they took some notes on and will serve them well in the future.

I think the biggest thing I would say is that, you know, we do live in this day and age of technology. And while technology is such a wonderful thing, I don't think we all use it the right way. And it's great to get a review online or to look up an opinion on something, but talk to your community, be a part of your community, you know what I mean? Like get to know one another and and that kind of word of mouth is what really what makes the difference with everything. Um, you know, I thought it was great you hosted your uh giving back to the uh community.

I believe it was your fourth year doing this if I'm not mistaken recently and came up and had a great time. Like that's what it's about, guys. Get out and meet some people. Do it. You know, know your neighbors. Um, and I think the world would be a better place if we do. But, uh, outside of that, man, I'm really happy that I got to finally come on and do this. Hopefully, this won't be the last. And, uh, love what you're doing. Love the message that you're spreading. And, uh, guys, I can tell you I've known Ollie a very, very long time.

He's a first class gentleman and truly a master of his craft. If you guys have any issues, you definitely should call him. Me, all my employees, my family, we do. So, >> I appreciate it. >> And I I don't mind it at all. I appreciate it. I'm I'm humbled with with uh the gratitude what you said about getting out there and and meeting people in the community and uh being in touch. I think right now I think that's such an important message. Uh it seems like the world's problems are get growing bigger and larger every day and it it's very easy to feel like we're helpless because we're taking on problems on like a national or global scale.

You're not going to be able to do that. It's it's appropriate to feel helpless. You know what you can help? Your home, >> your neighborhood, your subdivision, >> your community. You just start there. >> We're going to be okay. >> That's it, man. It's free to be kind. It really is. You know what I mean? So, yeah. >> I appreciate you, Adam. Uh, great messages, ton of dad advice. >> You're a girl dad just like me. So, you you had great dad vice. I knew you would. Um, listeners, if you got anything valuable from this, please share, uh, comment, subscribe.

It really helps me out. I I'll continue putting out more content. There is a subscribe button. That's really going to help me out, especially on YouTube. my number one listener. Mom, thank you for listening. Uh, I know that you're going to have a lot to say to Adam after the show. We'll get in touch and have dinner. I love you so much. Everybody else, I will see you next week. Take care, everybody. Thank you, Adam. >> Thank you.