When good trees go bad. (1)

1
When good trees go bad.
Call for your free consultation.  Claims
Delegates is always here to answer the tough
questions.  Should I turn in a claim?  Who should
I call first?  Who should I trust? Trust the
Badge.  888.745.7568
2
Neighbors Tree, Your House. Its that time of
year again here in the Northwest.  The weather is
turning and the wipers need replacing.  And, with
the last storm system that blew through, a lot
more than the leaves are falling. As I was
driving into work I saw several largebranches
strewn on the roads and in the ditches.  That
reminded me that Fall is officially Tree vs House
Season. Ive handled many hundred insurance
claims involving a tree falling from one yard and
damaging (sometimes smashing) someone elses
home.  Almost without fail, I hear the same
things from the victims.  There is a lot of
misunderstanding out there when it comes to OPP
(Other Peoples Property) and home insurance, so
I thought I write this little public service
message for you.
3
 Things to know when a tree hits your
house          You cant insure OPP.  And
your neighbor cant insure your house.  That
means that the only insurance that could cover
damages to your house from a fallen tree, no
matter where said tree came from, is YOURs.
          Tree removal has limits. Most
insurance policies contain maximum coverage
amounts for tree removal, usually 500. 
Depending on the size of the tree, you could
spend 500 very quickly.  Make sure that whomever
you get to remove the tree is aware of the limit.
Shift coverage when possible. This means that you
likely have coverage under your policy for things
like board-up and tarping.  If the same company
that removes the tree also places a tarp for
weather protection, have them separate their bill
for both activities.
4
When in doubt, leave the tree in the yard.
Remove the tree from the house to prevent
further damage, but leave the rest in the yard
instead of racking up removal charges.  You can
always come up with a solution down the
road.           Dont rush to repair or
settle.  The likelihood of hidden damages is high
when trees and roofs are involved.  Ive seen
well-built houses stand up to some big trees with
little visible damage from the exterior.  That
does NOT mean that other things, like earthquake
tie-downs and foundations, escaped
unscathed.Retain an insurance restoration
specialist.  Preferably someone who understands
structural damages and has the ability to refer a
high quality structural engineer