RIP VIN 4762902521, 1976 Sunflower 2.0.. Barn Fire Options

[Brian Mifsud]

Hi All,

Sad day.. my barn when up in flames Tuesday night and burnt with the ferocity of an erupting volcano. The two structural steel I-beams holding up the roof collapsed and looked like wet noodles (16" tall by 6" wide by 25' long....)

I haven't gotten closer than 20' from the car as the Claims guy wants an untouched scene before he shows up. My dad's Bridgeport Mill had the Aluminum Motor covers melted off. The newly rebuilt transaxle that I hadn't even filled with oil yet is somewhere under a smoldering pile of plywood and who knows the engine's fate which I had out on a dolly. The engine cart I had a small block chevy on folded in half. My son's Olympic weight set is still on the power rack with the two 45lb plates sagging at 45 degrees from horizontal looking like some deranged strongman went crazy...

Then the bomb dropped.. I had never thought that my registered as non-operational car still needed insurance.... not covered...... yep I'm a dummy...

Sorry 4762902521 I let you down..... you had a pretty good life. Born in Germany, shipped to Carlsen Porsche Audi in S.F. Bay Area's "South Bay". spent your whole life nearby in decent weather.. only a couple rust spots under the battery and base of windshield.... so much for my "retirement project" of restoring her...

RIP "Sunflower".

[Coondog]

I was assigned to our departments Fire investigation unit for many years. The one thing I learned is you need to set down and make a list of everything that was in the garage to include 914 items that were not in the car. Go ahead and embellish the condition and value, when things are destroyed in a fire it's pretty hard for a insurance adjuster to argue its condition. Remember there job is to play you the lowest amount while your job is to get the highest return.

It's to bad that Raby motor on the cart got melted in the fire.......... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

[dakotaewing]

Brian, my apologizes in advance.
The best piece of unsolicited advice I can give you is to expect this loss to take several months to resolve. It won't happen in 2 weeks, or a month.
More like 4-12 months, depending on how complete of an inventory you can provide the insurance adjuster, and if you can provide photos of the barn, and any of its contents prior to the fire.
The more documentation you provide, including inventory lists with age, and price, as well as photos will immensely help the adjusters involved.

Remember there job is to play you the lowest amount while your job is to get the highest return.

It's to bad that Raby motor on the cart got melted in the fire.......... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

Coon,
I, and others in the insurance biz take personal offense to such statements.
I have been an adjuster 7 years, worked for over a dozen different carriers, and NEVER have been told or instructed to pay the least amount possible.
It has always been pay what is owed, not less. If there is a question regarding what is owed on the adjusters side, and a reasonable investigation cannot make a determination,
usually more is paid than what appears to be reasonable.
Most adjusters, and most carriers seek a way to pay an insured all they are owed under the coverages on the policy.
There are a few bad apples, and that has to do with the carrier, more than the people who have the unfortunate luck of working for them.
The problem typically lies when a party expects to be put in a much better position than prior to the loss, or the insured / claimant overstates the obvious for financial gain.
Want to be reimbursed for the new $23K motor on the stand?
No problem, just provide proof of payment.
Paid cash? Really? No bank statements. Really?
That would not be considered reasonable... in other words - (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bs.gif)

I digress.

[Brian Mifsud]

Brian, my apologizes in advance.
The best piece of unsolicited advice I can give you is to expect this loss to take several months to resolve. It won't happen in 2 weeks, or a month.
More like 4-12 months, depending on how complete of an inventory you can provide the insurance adjuster, and if you can provide photos of the barn, and any of its contents prior to the fire.
The more documentation you provide, including inventory lists with age, and price, as well as photos will immensely help the adjusters involved.

I believed from the beginning this would take at least a year to figure out. I'd like to bulldoze the wreckage ASAP to a clean slab and am getting quotes so we are ready to go when its appropriate.

I've taken lots of photos of projects built with the tools, and there may be the odd chance it's in the background. I've already found my routers.. (well, its the motor rotors that remain.. all the aluminum/magnesium must have burnt)

There's is no mistaking the Milling Machine and Lathe, etc.

I'll check in if I start encountering too much friction if you don't mind.

Thanks for the advice!

[dakotaewing]

Brian, my apologizes in advance.
The best piece of unsolicited advice I can give you is to expect this loss to take several months to resolve. It won't happen in 2 weeks, or a month.
More like 4-12 months, depending on how complete of an inventory you can provide the insurance adjuster, and if you can provide photos of the barn, and any of its contents prior to the fire.
The more documentation you provide, including inventory lists with age, and price, as well as photos will immensely help the adjusters involved.

I believed from the beginning this would take at least a year to figure out. I'd like to bulldoze the wreckage ASAP to a clean slab and am getting quotes so we are ready to go when its appropriate.

I've taken lots of photos of projects built with the tools, and there may be the odd chance it's in the background. I've already found my routers.. (well, its the motor rotors that remain.. all the aluminum/magnesium must have burnt)

There's is no mistaking the Milling Machine and Lathe, etc.

I'll check in if I start encountering too much friction if you don't mind.

Thanks for the advice!

Brian,

Don't do anything regarding the site until the adjuster has inspected the site physically,
And you have it in writing (usually email) that you can start the clean up. To do so prior will jeopardize your claim. Your policy clearly states the carrier reserves the right to inspect the loss, and there is no stated timeframe in the policy language when that has to occur. Try to have as much documentation regarding the contents at the time of that inspection, showing the damaged remnants of those objects if possible. This will expedite handling.