Homeowner’s Academy
This is your guide to interesting facts, tips and general homeowner information. We hope you find the information useful – and feel free to share with friends!

The Downside of Calling a Restoration Company After a Water Emergency

Spring cleaning often comes with a fresh coat of paint. Painting can be a great way to change the feel of a room or give your home some great curb appeal. Painting also plays a role in home repair by protecting the wood of your home against the elements, essential here in Florida.

If you decide to try your hand at painting this spring, People’s Trust has some tips that can keep the experience enjoyable and safe for everyone in your family.

Try Some Eco-friendly Paint

Spring conjures up the sniffles for many people in the great outdoors, but paint may do the same thing inside of your home. Household paints have previously contained up to 300 toxic chemicals, including the hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that release particles into the air for years after you paint.

Try a low-VOC paint, which tends to be water-based, for any home interior painting. These have taken off in recent years and come in every shade and finish imaginable. Some brands also create no-VOC paints by replacing chemicals with more natural ingredients. These no-VOC paints are often pet-safe, but always check the label and never leave your pet unattended in a room where paint cans are open.

Home Repair Supervision

If you have children, never let them be in a room with open paint cans by themselves. If children are under the age of 10, they should never be in a room with any open painting materials. Even eco-friendly paints are extremely dangerous if ingested. If you believe your child has ingested any paint, immediately call poison control at 1-800-222-1222.

Try Cloth Catchers for Indoor and Outdoor Painting

You can pick up plastic sheets to protect your floors and lawn, but these often move and tear as you walk around painting. Turn to cloth or canvas drop cloths that will stay in place easier and can be weighed down with objects without the risk of tearing.

For painting the outside of your home, try a tarp with tie-holes. These can be staked into the ground to provide a steadier surface for a ladder.

Ventilate: Make Room to Breathe

If you’re painting inside, open the doors and windows. If your room has a fan, turn it on. You want proper ventilation for any space you’re painting to help air out the room and not breathe in paint fumes. If you can’t ventilate where you’re working, get a respirator and only paint in short stints.

Ventilation is essential to most common home repair improvements.

Stick to the Shade

If painting outside, you know that you need to take a break in the shade, but what about your materials? Paint, paint thinner and lacquer all need to stay in the shade as much as possible when painting outdoors.

Not only can heat and sun alter some of these items when they’re sitting in the can, but heat can also be a big problem for these flammable items. The city of Las Vegas actually warns its citizens to be careful when painting their homes or canvases outside because paint thinner has been ignited by the sun and started home fires.

Clean Up after Home Repairs

When you finish painting for the day, clean up the entire space. This will prevent spills and any accidental exposure.

Latex paints can typically be cleaned from surfaces and your skin with soap and water. Oil-based paints will have specific cleaning instructions located on the paint can itself. Take a look at your can before you start painting and write down what it says, because paint often spills on the outside of the can during the painting process.

Gasoline was once used to clean paint off of brushes, but this should never be used. Gasoline is extremely dangerous and should never be used as a cleaner for any object.

It’s always a smart practice to clean up and watch your space clearly when doing any home repair project.

From burst pipes to leaky appliances, there’s nothing worse than coming home to a water emergency… or is there?

In recent years, we’ve witnessed some disconcerting trends among water remediation and restoration companies that are costing Florida home insurance companies and policyholders… and the problem is only getting worse.

Assignment of Benefits Abuse

In an effort to streamline the payment process between insurers and general contractors, Florida passed a law permitting homeowners to fill out an “Assignment of Benefits” form so they wouldn’t have to pay for repairs up front.

Unfortunately, shady contractors have used this law to take advantage of Florida homeowners. Before making repairs, these contractors require the homeowner to sign a broadly worded contract. Then, they overstate the repair bill and work with trial lawyers to file hefty lawsuits against the homeowner’s insurer.

Another common problem occurs when homeowners call a plumber to repair a leaky pipe, faucet, or appliance. The plumber refers the homeowner to a water remediation company (which typically pays the plumber a finder’s fee) to get rid of excess water and to repair damage. The water remediation company offers to make the repairs for minimal cost, in exchange for the homeowner signing over their right to pursue the corresponding insurance claim. The company inflates the bill and files an exorbitant lawsuit against the homeowner’s insurer.

How big of a problem is the assignment of benefits abuse?

Former Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Westcott warned that assignment of benefits abuse raises homeowners’ insurance rates by nearly 20 percent each year.

Beware of Unlicensed Contractors

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. We’ve seen a rise in unlicensed contractors, who often post low bids to entice homeowners, and then cut corners to make a quick buck. Instead of providing quality service, these contractors conduct fast, sloppy work and charge for falsified damages.

In some cases, these crooked contractors will demand advance payment, usually in cash, and then leave the job unfinished. According to Detective Jan Cary of the Florida Insurance Fraud Division, “hundreds” of unlicensed contractors target unknowing homeowners looking to save some money on repairs.

Selecting a Reputable Contractor

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ensure you select a contractor you can trust to get the job done right.

Don’t rely on ads. Consult with friends and neighbors who have had similar repair work done.
Search prospective contractors on the Better Business Bureau website. Several complaints and a low rating are potential indicators of shady business practices.
When reviewing references, verify that the contractor is insured and licensed to do the work.

It is also recommended to be on the lookout for the following red flags when considering a restoration contractor:

Their address can’t be verified and/or is not listed in the telephone book.
They are not affiliated with any recognized trade association.
Their license or insurance information cannot be verified.
They won’t provide references for similar jobs done in your area.
They offer a substantial discount, but don’t state the total cost of the repair.
They use scare tactics to pressure you into signing a contract.

Policyholders – In the Event of a Water Emergency… Call People’s Trust First

Our preferred contractor is ready to deploy 24/7* to mitigate water damage to prevent further loss. With just one phone call, they can be there to make emergency repairs in the event of a covered claim.

With more than 200 employees, our preferred contractor is one of Florida’s largest insurance restoration contractors. They will respond to any home insurance-related emergency and provide outstanding repairs for almost any everyday claim with an unparalleled 3-year, 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.

This service is already included as part of the People’s Trust policy*, and it’s why we ask all policyholders to “Call Us First!” at (561)-609-1002 to report a claim.