Insurance carriers often try to avoid paying for a covered loss by claiming the damages predated
the loss and were caused by misplaced policy exclusions such as wear, tear, deterioration,
marring aging, mechanical defects, or other pre-existing issues. To help homeowners combat
these common defenses, we are prepared to use expert opinions regarding the cause of damage to
the home, and we also present evidence of the shape of the home before the loss occurred.
To paint the best picture that your home was in good condition before the loss, we like to
provide the insurance carrier with a variety of evidence regarding your property. This includes
photographs of the damaged property taken before the loss, pre-sale inspection reports, historical
aerial photographs of your home, wind mitigation reports, repair/maintenance reports, and
underwriting reports from the carrier.
If you have saved such documents regarding your property history, this will significantly help
combat the insurance carrier’s defense regarding pre-existing damages. Moreover, providing a
comprehensive history of your property to the carrier can often help settle your claim and get you
the insurance proceeds needed to fix the covered damages. It is not vital to have a meticulous list of
property records, and sometimes we can find information regarding your property’s history
through different sources. However, it certainly helps to expedite the resolution of your case when
good records of your home are available.
Should you have any questions regarding your property’s history or the insurance company’s
denial of a claim, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to fight for you and prove
your loss!
PATRICK CASSADY, ESQ.
