National restoration expert warns Ringle tornado victims about insurance claims

A restoration expert who toured the Ringle tornado damage says homeowners may have more leverage than they think when dealing with insurance claims.

Clay Rice of Northstar Restoration with national restoration expert Andrew McCabe. The two toured tornado-damaged areas of Ringle last week as McCabe spoke with contractors about helping homeowners navigate insurance claims.

Andrew McCabe has spent 20 years in the restoration business. He speaks nationally, and has provided restoration services from some pretty famous names you would recognize.

Even he seemed surprised seeing the devastation in Ringle on a recent drive-through.

McCabe, who lives in Bend, Ore. and speaks on restoration topics nationally, wasn’t in the Wausau area on a sightseeing tour. On Wednesday he rode through the damaged area with Clay Rice of Northstar Restoration. Thursday and Friday he spoke to contractors, hosted by the restoration business.

The main thing he wants to get through to them, and to homeowners who suffered damage from the Ringle storm: be wary of the insurance companies.

Often what the insurance companies will tell you is in the company’s interest, not the homeowners’, McCabe told The Wausonian from a dinner table at Day’s Bowl-a-Dome in Wausau before the drive-through.

The truth is homeowners often have more rights than they think, McCabe says. And part of his visit is to convey that to contractors who can then convey that to the homeowners.

Most would see the obvious damage. But McCabe points out that even homeowners who think they escaped the worst damage might want to have an assessment done. Sometimes a homeowner might not realize minor damage would lead to larger damage over time, and by then it might be too late.

At a meeting in Ringle hosted by the town and the Community Foundation of Northcentral Wisconsin, leaders there said many hadn’t been able to start any restoration work because an adjuster hadn’t come out yet.

But it’s actually in homeowners’ best interest to start repairs right away, McCabe countered. In fact, insurance policies often require a homeowner to mitigate further damage, such as from water or mold.

McCabe strongly recommends homeowners pay for a professional estimate of the damages; ideally one that’s notarized. “A free estimate is worth the paper it’s printed on,” McCabe says.

The restoration expert said having an official estimate can dramatically increase insurance payouts to homeowners.

Another tactic, McCabe points out, is that insurance companies will often offer a much smaller settlement to settle a claim. Homeowners, who already just went through a traumatic experience, might be eager to simply have things resolved. But they’ve paid a lot of money via their premiums, and McCabe said homeowners should make sure they receive the full amount they are owed under the policy.

“The insurance company wants you to think that they have all the power,” McCabe says. In actuality, “contractually for the policy, you have the power as the insured. And the clock is ticking on them.”

He cautions that Ringle residents should be aware and cautious, and take steps to protect themselves as they navigate the next steps in restoring their homes and getting back to normal life.

Public-service note: The Wausonian is making the key storm-recovery advice in this story available to all readers. If your home or property was damaged in the Ringle tornado and you need access to the full story, email brian@thewausonian.com and I’ll send you a free link as soon as I am able.