You open the front door to your home only to step into water. There’s a leak. Who repairs the damage caused by the leak? Or you’re in an accident and need a body shop to repair your car. Who do you take your car to for the repair work? I get these questions from clients before or after the insurance claim is filed whether it’s a home or car claim.
In all these instances, my clients simply want to know who they can use to have their home or car repaired. The good news for Texas homeowners and drivers is according to Texas insurance law, you can have anyone perform the repairs on your home (licensed trades are recommended for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work) or auto. You get to pick.
There’s also another option many people aren’t aware of. Most of the major insurance companies have relationships with local companies who can repair your home or car if you file a claim. You don’t have to use their recommended service providers, however there are two key benefits if you do.
Faster Processing: This is more noticeable when it comes to car repairs rather than home repairs. In these cases, the body shop is directly connected with the insurance company’s claims department systems. Estimates are reported to the claim adjuster, approved, and paid online. This reduces the time it takes for approvals, provides administrative savings for all parties and usually means your car is repaired more quickly.
Work Guarantee: The second big advantage of using the insurance company’s repair partners is the work is guaranteed to your satisfaction. This applies to home repairs as well as auto repairs. This gives you leverage the repair will be done properly. If the floor isn’t done right, your claim adjuster can enforce needed changes with the contractor to make sure they’re done right. A flooring contractor, roofer, plumber, or electrician has a nice incentive to make sure repairs are done to code, to the standards of your insurance company, without corners being cut or being overcharged.
Is there a downside to using your insurance company’s recommended service providers? On the home side, I don’t believe there is. The trades will licensed, insured, and usually bonded. They have an incentive to perform, bring the home up to current codes, and not inflate prices.
The only potential downside of using a certified car repair facility, is the parts used (fenders, bumpers, doors, etc.) may be third party rather than original equipment manufacturer or OEM parts (see https://wiseinsurancegroup.com/third-party-parts-and-car-insurance-claims/). If you want the crumpled fender on your vehicle replaced with one made by the same company that made your Chevy, Honda, BMW, etc. then you may be able to add this option to your car insurance policy. There are some repair shops who will push to have OEM parts used if the third party part doesn’t fit properly.
What do you think? Share your thoughts, comments, and experiences with me on my Facebook, Google +, and LinkedIn pages. I’d love to hear from you!
