Losing Power Is Not The Worst Thing
At Tenhulzen Residential, we understand that losing power can be a significant inconvenience. Our recent experience with the November 19th storm has shown us that it’s not always the worst-case scenario. This powerful easterly wind event affected over half a million PSE customers, toppling trees and disrupting power supplies across the region. The unique aspect of this storm was not wind speed, but wind direction.
Nearly all of our customers were affected by the storm. Some lost power for a couple hours, most for a few days. Fortunately, those we reached out to in our current book of business were not crushed by a fallen tree.
Most storms in our region come from the southwest. Trees have been conditioned to resist winds from that general direction. Winds came from the east in this case, uprooting and breaking more trees with less wind speed.
‘TR’ has been know for “Tree Response” over the years and are making room in our production schedule to rebuild storm damaged homes over the next several months.
Building On Experience
In preparation for the 1993 Inaugural Day storm, our crews stocked up on tarps, plywood and fuel for the chainsaws. The next morning, we literally went door to door on English Hill in Redmond to prevent further damage to affected homes.
Ever since that response, we have been on call to provide assistance for our community.
Insurance Company Involvement
What to expect after a tree strike:
- Remove the tree & tarp the damaged structure
- Initiate insurance claim & schedule adjuster for site visit
- Contact contractor for initial consultation
- Receive adjuster’s report and settlement offer
- Expect contractor’s repair estimate to be 3x more than insurance company
- Allow contractor to advocate for increased loss compensation
- Begin repair process
- Settle with insurance company for actual costs
Understanding Your Policy
In our experience, the insurance company wants to close the claim as quickly and cheaply as possible. When we advocate for our customers, repairs are often completed before the claim is closed. This ensures the insurance company reimburses more closely to the actual costs incurred.
Most home insurance policies will cover storm damage repair. Adjusters simply don’t account for everything required, and the estimating system they use is less than half the average of localized costs.
At Tenhulzen Residential, we’re committed to supporting our community through these challenging times. Our experience in storm response, combined with our understanding of the insurance claim process, allows us to provide comprehensive assistance to homeowners affected by severe weather events. Remember, while losing power is inconvenient, it’s our preparedness and response that truly matter in the face of nature’s challenges.
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