[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by The Shadow

If they are going to inspect the homes around the home to be insured I think they need a search warrant.

Huh? The new/current homeowner provides permission to inspect for new insurance. Happens all the time. I used to do some for insurance companies part-time.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Bill32, our homeowners coverage was underwritten by Security First Insurance. They required a sinkhole inspection prior to committing to providing that piece of coverage when we got the policy late last year. The inspection was done by a third-party organization that specializes in such things - SDII http://www.sdii-global.com/sdii-dnn/ . The insurance company split the cost of the inspection with us so our out-of-pocket for the inspection was $75 - and this 'split' was mentioned up-front and voluntarily by our insurance agent.....no arm-twisting on our part. Seemed fair to me! Our house passed muster and we got the coverage. If there were issues found or if the company felt there was reason based on whatever to deny coverage, I guess that would be their prerogative to decline providing the sinkhole coverage.

Our insurance agent told me earlier this fall that more and more companies are moving towards requiring inspections prior to underwriting any sinkhole coverage for their policyholders.

Bill

[The Shadow]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

Huh? The new/current homeowner provides permission to inspect for new insurance. Happens all the time. I used to do some for insurance companies part-time.

Try again...

If they are going to inspect the homes around the home to be insured I think they need a search warrant.

[graciegirl]

http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/hydrology/sinkholes/

http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/pag...158/f11158.htm

[784caroline]

They can easily do a "record" check of homes around the home. Most if not all insurance companies enter a data base of certain types of claims they paid out and the dollar amount. If there was sinkhole claim paid on your street, neighborhood or zip code they would know.

Also PLEASE check your policy for there are 2 types of SINKHOLE coverage and they are vastly different in both coverage and cost.

SINKHOLE LOSS....Gradual settlement or weaking of the earth supporting your property including structural damage to the building or foundation caused by gradual settlement. (THIS is the most common form of sinkhole loss in The VIllages and is the most expensive)

CATASTROPHIC Ground Cover Collapse....THis is also known as sinkhole insurance but it is the "ABRUPT" collapse of ground cover that requires a structure to be condemed and ordered to be vacated by government authorities. This does happen in The Villages but not as frequent as a gradual settlement.

[buggyone]

Shadow, I do not think anyone is talking of an interior inspection of surrounding houses but an exterior inspection is a prudent idea.

What would you do if you saw that on your property? Run them off with your water hose?

[CarGuys]

Also PLEASE check your policy for there are 2 types of SINKHOLE coverage and they are vastly different in both coverage and cost.

SINKHOLE LOSS....Gradual settlement or weaking of the earth supporting your property including structural damage to the building or foundation caused by gradual settlement. (THIS is the most common form of sinkhole loss in The VIllages and is the most expensive)

CATASTROPHIC Ground Cover Collapse....THis is also known as sinkhole insurance but it is the "ABRUPT" collapse of ground cover that requires a structure to be condemed and ordered to be vacated by government authorities. This does happen in The Villages but not as frequent as a gradual settlement.[/QUOTE]

Great Information thanks

[CarGuys]

Do all of you on line now have the coverage for settlement problems. I have heard of this. One day you can't ope windows or tile cracks drywall cracks appear.

I seems sink hole insurance is as important as hurricane or wind insurance?

[The Shadow]

Originally Posted by buggyone

Shadow, I do not think anyone is talking of an interior inspection of surrounding houses but an exterior inspection is a prudent idea.

What would you do if you saw that on your property? Run them off with your water hose?

Suppose the City Farm Ins. Co. is checking out the house four doors a way to possible sell them a new policy they come in my CYV yard thru my privacy fence gate at the front of my yard, a private area, they look for cracks in my CYV. I already have insurance with City Farm Ins. Co. and they find a crack, one that does not concern me but they cancel my insurance or refuse to renew it in fear that I will file a claim and the homeowner four doors a way does not get insurance because of my crack. I do not want to risk my insurance.

Interior inspection, I think it was stated they inspect the garage floor.

But that does not answer you question, 12 or 20 gage or a 38 what ever is close at hand, run off no that’s trespassing. 911

[jblum315]

There are sink holes in south Florida too. In Coral Gables and Kendall that I know of from personal experience

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

I was just referring to the fact that The Shadow resurrected the thread by putting a 'bump' post out. (For any newbie, a bump is just a way of saying nothing but it puts the thread back with a new times-stamp so people will see it again.

There is no reason to bump this thread. We have numerous other threads about sink hole insurance. BTW my sinkhole coverage for 2012 only went up a couple of bucks from 2011.

Russ Thank you

[rubicon]

A poster made mention of self-insuring for sink hole. Many states ahve made attempts to provide n insurance pool for their residents (auto, property) and inevitable it fails because it becomes too expensive. Repairing sink holes is a very expensive understaking and the reason why insurers are tightening up and raise premiums. They had a surge of sink hole claims in the Tampa/St Petersburg area.

[Carla B]

Are cracked slabs only caused by sinkholes or can there be other reasons in this part of Florida for the slab to crack? If an insurance company looks at a crack do they automatically blame it on sinkholes?

I thought it was the nature of concrete slabs to eventually settle and suffer cracks. We had a house in Texas built on a slab that cracked due to a huge oak tree consuming massive amounts of water underground. It wasn't a sinkhole.

[CaptJohn]

Originally Posted by Carla B

I thought it was the nature of concrete slabs to eventually settle and suffer cracks. We had a house in Texas built on a slab that cracked due to a huge oak tree consuming massive amounts of water underground. It wasn't a sinkhole.

This is very true. Concrete cracks on it's own. That's why they put in expansion joints but that still won't stop them all.

[CarGuys]

Great Capt-

I have a whole row of Oaks in my back yard! Maybe it good I'm at the bottom of the hill and water runs down to them?