Insurance questions re:water damage from another condo unit

When we had our roof replaced due to a hail storm, our insurance company made the check out to the roofing company. I think the insurance company wanted to make sure that we didn't take the money, pocket it, and not repair the roof.

IMO, I don't think the insurance company should make the check out to you. I don't think they should make it out to other unit owner either, IMO. But what HIS insurance company does really isn't your concern. Your #1 priority is making sure the repairs are done.

I would not allow other unit owner into your unit to inspect the work. If a claims adjuster from the insurance company paying for the repair wants to come and look at it, I'd be willing to do that. After all, they're the ones paying.

It really depends on the insurance company’s claim procedure. Some will issue the check to the claimant, others will issue to the contractor. The request to be on the spot, though, is odd, but I guess some people are just that way. In any event, your daughter is under no obligation to allow him inside her home. I’m guessing she’s acquiescing simply to end the matter. A potential issue, though, is if the neighbor makes a fuss about the repairs, that’s one thing to keep in mind. At the end of the day, it’s not up to him to ascertain whether the repair is satisfactory or not. Once the claim has been settled, whereby the insurance company has issued payment for the repair, that’s the end of it.

I'm trying to put myself into this situation. I really wouldn't care *how* he paid for it. Why does it matter if he wrote a check, paid by credit card or unloaded bag upon bag of pennies? If the repair company can verify the work is paid for, that's what matters, right? I can't see how the form of payment would make a difference to you...what am I missing?

And yes, if I was somehow involved in a claim with my neighbor's property I would want to make certain it was resolved and that my part of the transaction was complete. Personally I would be fine with pictures but I would want to know the problem was taken care of. I'd ask the property manager to come at an arranged time so there was an impartial third party there.

I don't know about the payment, but I don't think it's unreasonable to allow him to see the repairs were made. What if there is a leak in the future? How would he know if it was new damage or old damage?

I own a small business and have had a couple of bogus chargebacks go through even though I had all the documentation required, so I still worry about it.

Why? What if he doesn't want to run it through his insurance? What if he wants to pay out of pocket?

something is hinky here. They would not pay him for your damages. Did you or daughter file a claim against his policy? If not, no check would be issued to anyone for damages to your property. The insurance company would not be off the hook if they do not get a release from the claimant. Even if they issue a check to the repair people, you would have to sign a release.

Also, are you hiring the repair people or is he? I would think you would want to be hiring them. Otherwise they are working for him, not for you. That could come into play when it comes to warranties or how you want the work done or materials.

I read your thread title and exclaimed "oh no" out Loud!

Just over a year ago my upstairs neighbor's water tank failed on week two of my monthlong trip to Morocco. It wasn't discovered until it leaked through my place and into the condo below mine....as those neighbor's were quite literally on their way out the door for a two week trip to Turkey. Just a mess for both of us! Needless to say the damage was extensive, and dealing with it while I was literally in the middle of the Sahara was quite an undertaking. Ugh.

Our association management was only involved to the extent of getting our places ripped apart and dried out while we were away. We both came back to our ceilings, walls, and flooring torn apart and drywall dust everywhere.

Anyhow, getting paid turned into a bit of a pain as I attempted for the first several months to just deal with the owner's insurance company. I finally turned it over to my insurance to deal with because the other owner's company was depreciating my one year old wood floors (I had just purchased my place the year before and had all the floors replaced before moving in) and also wouldn't pay my deductible.

During this time I paid out of pocket for the repairs (about 11k), and my reimbursement check came directly from the insurance company to me. They did require photos of the damage, but not of the repairs. They also did come and pick up a piece of furniture that was damaged and that they paid to have replaced (it too was only a year old).

The gist of this is that if you're feeling uncomfortable with what's going on, I'd recommend turning the whole thing over to your insurance agent to deal with. In the end it didn't cost me a penny and my rates didn't go up. I wish I had let them handle it from day one. Good luck!