I need help, long post (serious thread.) My apartment was destroyed.

[amdhunter]

Update: Spoke to the adjuster - after taking into consideration depreciated costs and my deductible, I came out losing by a little bit. I hope they can retreive my deductible from the rental company.

My landlord has made arrangements to start fixing my apartment this Monday.

I am not happy but what can you do? I can replace stuff and send receipts if it comes out to be more than I thought. As for the furniture, I can get a professional company to restore it, and if that doesn't work, get new cushions and submit receipts.
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Original Thread:

Need some help here.

They are doing renovations in the apartment directly above me and at 4AM last Wednesday - a faucet under the sink exploded open because of a improperly placed cap. I was with the super upstairs when he admitted that it was improperly placed.

My apartment has been destroyed along with some personal items. The ceiling in my living room and bedroom fell and there are brown water stains everywhere. No doors function in my apartment - they won't close.

I have renters insurance, but they won't cover damage to the apartment as it's the landords liability.

But they are coming tomorrow (a week late) to check my items.

I am very upset because the two laptops that were wet are functioning now. How can I prove that they took damage? Aside from a bad power button on my Surface, it looks normal now - it had condensation inside the screen, and touched itself before, but now looks and functions normally.

My wife's laptop took water in, but functions normally.

Will they not compensate me if the laptops are working. Is it my fault that they work even after water entered? Remember a week has passed. Only problem with my Surface is my power button is finicky.

I have an expensive sofa - two cushions have slight water damage. I am EXTREMELY anal about my furniture. The one sofa alone was $1500 - I do have the receipts. My black Polk speakers have white bleached out stains from water on the bottom - the speakers function normally. My bed is destroyed.

How will they deal with cosmetic damage? Am I going to have to live with it? Everything looks brand new still with water damage.

My floor standing air conditioner will not function anymore - it keeps saying the water is full - Googling around says the water sensor and circuit board needs to be replaced. It did not take in water, but functioned perfectly until the night of the flood. It keeps claiming the water is full.

I think the AC was damaged due to the intense amount of humidity in the apartment for days - we left the apartment for 3 days after the flood. Come back and it stopped working. How can I prove it was working before? I have a super high electric bill for the past few months.

My clothes smell. Will they just tell me to wash them? My wife has tons of delicate (and expensive) clothing that was damaged.

All the little things? I have $30 USB chargers, cables, bedsheets, suitcases and a ton of other stuff that are either dead or stained.

TLDR: Will I have to live with permanently stained leather furniture and once-wet electronics because the adjuster is coming a week after my apartment was destroyed?

 

[IronWing]

The first thing to sort out is whether your insurance company will pay you and then bill the landlord's insurance company or will they want you to file a claim directly with the landlord's insurance company. You may have to file a claim with both.

My very limited experience with adjusters is that they don't quibble about damage as long as the items are actually covered within the limits of the policy. If your insurance company decides to pay you first and then bill the landlord's insurance company and you have a deductible, it might be some time before you get your deductible back.

 

[gorcorps]

First, don't expect to be compensated for anything that still works. Your electronics work... so they weren't permanently damaged (which makes sense if you didn't touch them for days and they were able to dry out).

The only clothes you'd be able to get replaced (from my understanding) are ones that have specific care instructions not to get wet (ie: dry clean only). Otherwise there's no reason you couldn't have taken them out yourself right after it happened, washed them and not had a problem.

You might have a claim with the furniture, but I'll bet they'll try cleaning it first. If they can get rid of the staining I wouldn't expect a replacement.

 

[SunnyD]

In before the landlord denies everything.

 

[z1ggy]

Interested in the outcome of this, as I'm going to end up being a tenant again sometime soon.

I only have one experience with insurance companies, but it was damage to my home. The adjuster came over and surveyed all damage that I claimed, and I was paid according to his assessment.

I would assume that you landlord will cooperate, as he knows it's mainly his liability that your things were damaged. If your laptops work fine, I wouldn't expect to get paid for new ones. I would also expect that you may also get screwed and not get paid for new couches, since having cosmetic damage doesn't hinder their function, unless you can prove otherwise.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Backup everything you need from the laptops and then toast them. Open the case and half-remove all the connections or force them on backwards. The laptops should die in a puff of blue smoke. Or just get them wet again and turn them on. It's pretty easy to fry electronics.

The items with cosmetic damage should be easy, just don't accept no for an answer. They'll try to have most things cleaned, but don't settle for less than perfect. Go over everything carefully and force replacement of everything that isn't cleaned to your satisfaction. Generally insurance assessors are not trying to screw you, they're not the ones paying the claim. Work with the guy and he should treat you fairly.

This is insurance fraud. We do not want people recommending to the OP that he commit insurance fraud. -Admin DrPizza

 

[amdhunter]

First, don't expect to be compensated for anything that still works. Your electronics work... so they weren't permanently damaged (which makes sense if you didn't touch them for days and they were able to dry out).

See? This is complete BS. If I had water in my devices, they should be replaced. I am willing to give them up. I don't want them.

My apartment is destroyed. Completely. Electronic stuff (like my AC) is dying days after the fact. What happens when my Surface decides later on to die? It's brand new.

And I absolutely refuse to have stained furniture. I paid $4000 for 2 sofas. Both sofas are in pristine condition where water didn't touch. It's cool if they fix it - but who is responsible for finding a company to clean it properly, or walk in to replace the cushions? I don't have time for that shit.

My Polk speakers had a nice black finish, now they are white on the bottom. Stuff like that kills me. I simply don't want them. How can that be repaired even?

Ugh, the more I think about how I am going to get screwed I am losing my mind. None of this is my fault.

 

[amdhunter]

The only clothes you'd be able to get replaced (from my understanding) are ones that have specific care instructions not to get wet (ie: dry clean only). Otherwise there's no reason you couldn't have taken them out yourself right after it happened, washed them and not had a problem.

I had no ceilings, water everywhere and was asked to leave the apartment by the insurance company. I didn't go back to the apartment until 3 days later. I am supposed to go back and wash everything?

I'll post pictures after I talk to the insurance company tomorrow. I have a video of the flood as it happened.

 

[purbeast0]

wow that really sucks OP. i have no clue how it will work out but hope you get all your stuff replaced that needs to be.

 

[tailes151]

Backup everything you need from the laptops and then toast them. Open the case and half-remove all the connections or force them on backwards. The laptops should die in a puff of blue smoke. Or just get them wet again and turn them on. It's pretty easy to fry electronics.

This would of course be insurance fraud and a felony in most states. Fairly easy to prove also now that you've posted online about the electronics mostly working.

I'd advise to tell the adjuster you'll surrender the laptops and expect to be compensated for what has clearly been damaged and could potentially be a fire hazard now that's it's been exposed to water.

 

[mikeymikec]

See? This is complete BS. If I had water in my devices, they should be replaced. I am willing to give them up. I don't want them.

Do you realise that water evaporates? If it didn't cause a short in live circuitry and had a chance to evaporate, then the appliance should work. If the appliance works, why do you deserve compensation?

I realise that insurance companies don't generally have a reputation for scrupulousness, but I think if the insurance company tried to pull as dodgy shit on you as you'd like to pull on them with this, you would be screaming murder about how hard-done-by you are (and rightly so). How about treating others as you'd like to be treated?

I once spilled a mug of tea onto a PC motherboard (it wasn't on at the time). I disconnected the PC from the mains and kept it upside down for a few days, and it worked fine.

 

[amdhunter]

This would of course be insurance fraud and a felony in most states. Fairly easy to prove also now that you've posted online about the electronics mostly working.

I'd advise to tell the adjuster you'll surrender the laptops and expect to be compensated for what has clearly been damaged and could potentially be a fire hazard now that's it's been exposed to water.

I talked to the adjuster already and voiced my concern about the electronics working after the fact. He didn't seem to care - he just said pile whatever I have up for him to check out.

I am not trying to commit fraud at all. I just want my stuff looking and working as they did before this happened.

 

[Brainonska511]

I'd read your insurance policy over too. Sometimes there are dollar limits on certain categories of stuff.

 

[cabri]

I talked to the adjuster already and voiced my concern about the electronics working after the fact. He didn't seem to care - he just said pile whatever I have up for him to check out.

I am not trying to commit fraud at all. I just want my stuff looking and working as they did before this happened.

So if the electronics are working; then "it is looking and working as they did before this happened".

You are not having a loss for the laptops.

It is up to you to prove the damage to the adjuster.

 

[_Rick_]

So if the electronics are working; then "it is looking and working as they did before this happened".

You are not having a loss for the laptops.

It is up to you to prove the damage to the adjuster.

I'm pretty sure that when the ceiling's caved in on your appartment, the onus of proof isn't quite that high, as long as the amount/value of damage isn't beyond what you would expect in this situation.

 

[gorcorps]

I had no ceilings, water everywhere and was asked to leave the apartment by the insurance company. I didn't go back to the apartment until 3 days later. I am supposed to go back and wash everything?

I'll post pictures after I talk to the insurance company tomorrow. I have a video of the flood as it happened.

Without knowing the situation I'm just going off of what I thought happened. If they told you to get out until it's sorted, then any ruined clothes is also their fault. If you had the option to get some shit out of there that you just left I can see them being dicks about it. It all depends on what your landlord claims happened. Since it's a deductible for him either way, I don't see him having any reason to be a dick about it though.

 

[Elixer]

Usually, you need to prove everything, so, start taking pictures of everything you think is "beyond repair".
For electronics, once water is out, there is no reason why it wouldn't work--unless, they were all powered on the time the water came down on them, and shorted out stuff.
Just make darn sure it works, run a battery of tests on them.

For the other stuff, you have to take the initiative, and call people to see how much it will cost to restore them.
You don't just take their adjusters word for it.
You also need multiple bids.

Then, usually, you bring that to the insurance guy, and they will usually have a counter offer, or just accept what you showed them, and cut you a check in a few weeks.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Backup everything you need from the laptops and then toast them. Open the case and half-remove all the connections or force them on backwards. The laptops should die in a puff of blue smoke. Or just get them wet again and turn them on. It's pretty easy to fry electronics.

The items with cosmetic damage should be easy, just don't accept no for an answer. They'll try to have most things cleaned, but don't settle for less than perfect. Go over everything carefully and force replacement of everything that isn't cleaned to your satisfaction. Generally insurance assessors are not trying to screw you, they're not the ones paying the claim. Work with the guy and he should treat you fairly.

Was basically going to say this... Backup your data, then....
1. Spill water on your laptop. Preferably water that smells like shit
2. Turn on Laptop.
3. If #2 is successful, return to #1

Do not advocate insurance fraud. -Admin DrPizza

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

First, don't expect to be compensated for anything that still works. Your electronics work... so they weren't permanently damaged (which makes sense if you didn't touch them for days and they were able to dry out).

The only clothes you'd be able to get replaced (from my understanding) are ones that have specific care instructions not to get wet (ie: dry clean only). Otherwise there's no reason you couldn't have taken them out yourself right after it happened, washed them and not had a problem.

You might have a claim with the furniture, but I'll bet they'll try cleaning it first. If they can get rid of the staining I wouldn't expect a replacement.

Personally I would take ALL clothes to the dry cleaner and send insurance the bill. As part of the incident, it fucked up your clothes. They should pay for it - which includes labor and material cost of washing/cleaning ANY and ALL clothes.

Don't let insurance companies skimp out on the smaller things in life.

 

[amdhunter]

I'm pretty sure that when the ceiling's caved in on your appartment, the onus of proof isn't quite that high, as long as the amount/value of damage isn't beyond what you would expect in this situation.

I have video of my feet submerged in water on my floor. I took on thousands of gallons of water. Thousands - this was not a small leak at all.

 

[amdhunter]

Personally I would take ALL clothes to the dry cleaner and send insurance the bill. As part of the incident, it fucked up your clothes. They should pay for it - which includes labor and material cost of washing/cleaning ANY and ALL clothes.

Don't let insurance companies skimp out on the smaller things in life.

That's a good idea - thanks.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I talked to the adjuster already and voiced my concern about the electronics working after the fact. He didn't seem to care - he just said pile whatever I have up for him to check out.

I am not trying to commit fraud at all. I just want my stuff looking and working as they did before this happened.

And rightfully so. Your laptop might be working, but I don't want a fucking laptop that smells like someone's toilet water that they took 2000 shits in. I would fry that shit for a replacement, there is no way I would let anything suffice other than a replacement if my laptop smelled like shit. Compensating me $50 isn't going to make the smell go away.

 

[Scarpozzi]

You might want to consider calling a lawyer to feel out their suggestions on the situation. This kind of damage liability should be covered under the homeowners policy of the landlord and it shouldn't be your insurance at all. (I know that may not be how it plays out)

As for the electronics. You can state that they were damaged by water that flowed through the ceiling. For that matter, you don't know what insulation or gypsum or other materials that may have been in the water. Therefore, you should get replacements for all electronics as they have been exposed to water for an extended period of time and their warranties have been voided.

 

[lk2500]

I had something similar happen to me - burst sprinkler pipe in the wall flooded my apartment.

All furniture, mattresses, etc.. , even with cosmetic damage were compensated at replacement cost. Depending on the brand of your furniture - I was allowed to buy similar quality furniture and submit the receipts.

As far as clothes, bedding, etc.. - I washed most of them myself and just submitted claims for the hours it took me. You should also be able to submit compensation for any time it took your and your wife to clean up stuff from the damage. You may also be able to document time spent looking for alternate living arrangements. I would just document the hours and submit them without asking. They can always just deny it.

As far as electronics - I would be honest and submit anything that isn't working including the ones with condensation "damage". Take pics before they dry out maybe?

My apartment was still livable - I was not charged rent until the apartment was totally restored back to it's original state.

Good luck!

 

[boomerang]

The most important thing is to try your best not to get yourself all worked up based on assumptions of what might happen going forward. We have a tendency to do that as humans and it's not just counterproductive, it's bad for us on many levels. The stress does not do us good. The situation will work itself out. It may take time, it may take being forceful, but a resolution will eventually be reached.