Ask An Expert

Hi Janet,

Using the ‘preferred’ remediation company suggested by your insurance can have both benefits and potential drawbacks. Ultimately, you are entitled to use the repair contractor or remediation company that you would like; a carrier in California cannot obligate you to use a specific vendor for claim related repairs.

Many carriers do offer remediation vendors to insureds because:

-it cuts down on time/work for you to find a reputable vendor; the carrier has vetted the vendor at some basic level

-It can reduce time for repairs to be made

-A preferred vendor has an established relationship with your insurer, which can make the claims process smoother and faster

-Payment arrangements are often pre-established with the vendors so you do not have to address invoicing issues

There are potential pitfalls to using these preferred vendors, including:

-A preferred vendor’s primary relationship may be with the insurer, not you

-The vendor might be incentivized to keep costs down for the insurance company (to keep business)

-They may not be strong advocates for all necessary work needed at your property if it’s borderline covered

We recommend that you vet these ‘preferred vendors’ as you would do anyone else working on or in your home (check references, licenses and company reviews). You can also secure independent estimates alongside the insurance-recommended vendor’s estimate. You will want to make sure that the scope of work is the same and the carrier’s vendor has not excluded anything needed to your home.

And lastly, it is common practice to remove insulation before a final cleaning because the removal process can create dust and debris, which can be removed with the cleaning before new insulation is installed.