[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by UptownBee

We're calling our Agent now because the landscaper (which is one of the major players in The Villages) is trying to blame the grading and when we called The Villages they just say the grading is fine (without actually inspecting it). We wanted to avoid a claim and potential increase in premium but we definitely need someone interested in our best interests at this point.

Good luck. Generally water seeps through mulch and should take a lot of mulch to create the drainage problem you encountered.

I was an insurance adjuster and worked for a lot of companies. If there is damage to your home and damages are light, they might not want to pay anyone to determine who caused the damages. In most cases, they only do this if the damages are significant and if the damages are covered by the policy. If they have to make a payment and if they feel that the nieghbor or the developer caused the problem, they might hire the appropriate expert. These experts cost +/- $200 an hour.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Larchap49

The only true and long term fix is to have a French drain between units. Otherwise it will happen again.

I so agree. That is the answer plain and simple. It shouldn't cost any more than two hundred bucks and the problem is solved.

[DaleDivine]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I so agree. That is the answer plain and simple. It shouldn't cost any more than two hundred bucks and the problem is solved.

A French drain is the solution to the water problem but not to her problem from the water damage.

[Car400]

Does the OP have gutters? We live in a patio villa and one of our neighbors had the same problem. Once he put gutters up, the side with mulch no longer flooded. Remember, patio villas are different and neighbors have the right to put mulch or stone right up to your foundation.

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by UptownBee

We're calling our Agent now because the landscaper (which is one of the major players in The Villages) is trying to blame the grading and when we called The Villages they just say the grading is fine (without actually inspecting it). We wanted to avoid a claim and potential increase in premium but we definitely need someone interested in our best interests at this point.

Not sure if FL has "private adjusters." They get between you and your insurance company adjuster and "work things out." Up in NJ when we had a roof collapse due to multiple snow storms they became a GREAT advantage. They take a few points off the settlement but work with the insurance company MANY times better than you ever could. They mostly deal with fire claims but take anything. They are the ambulance chasers of home damage claims. Kind of like the "CALL DAN" but for home damage claims.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

Not sure if FL has "private adjusters." They get between you and your insurance company adjuster and "work things out." Up in NJ when we had a roof collapse due to multiple snow storms they became a GREAT advantage. They take a few points off the settlement but work with the insurance company MANY times better than you ever could. They mostly deal with fire claims but take anything. They are the ambulance chasers of home damage claims. Kind of like the "CALL DAN" but for home damage claims.

Florida does have PA(aka Public Adjusters) I was in the insurance claim biz for 40 years. They can be helpful if the claim is denied(no coverage) or if a reasonable general contractor can not repair the damages for the amount of the insurance companys adjuster/estimator. You pay them a % of the paid claim.

Saw another(very long) post about not reporting to your insurance company. If you do not contact them, make sure that there is not any hidden damage such as mold if you choose to not contact your insurance company. They can deny coverage if loss was reported late to them and if they are not able to properly inestigate the claim.

[TNGary]

Originally Posted by Car400

Does the OP have gutters? We live in a patio villa and one of our neighbors had the same problem. Once he put gutters up, the side with mulch no longer flooded. Remember, patio villas are different and neighbors have the right to put mulch or stone right up to your foundation.

I have a question please: If OP were to install the french drain, as I am not certain of the lot lines for these type of homes, whose property would the french drain be installed? Recall the french drain with the diameter and such would entail about 8 inches of land along that side of the house. Who owns that land? OP or mulch neighbor guy?

[Fltpkr]

Do you mind posting any updates on how things are going, and what progress you are making? These issues can occur on any Villa or Veranda home and may be helpful to others.

[Number 10 GI]

Originally Posted by skippy05

I would highly avoid calling your insurance company regarding this issue. I am talking from personal experience. Any claim or talk of a claim with them will raise your rate to an astronomical amount. They also place you on a black list so that if you try to obtain a policy from another company; that new company will see your name on the list and refuse to insure you for up to 2 more years. Meanwhile, you are stuck on your current (now very high rate) policy! Home insurance should always be regarded as a catastrophic type of thinking, loss when it comes to filing a claim. Do you think filing a claim to recover maybe 15 k of damages is a good idea? Think again. A better way of thinking is I'll only file a claim if the claim need is around 60k or more. YOU pay when you file these small claims....you get their compensation check but then you pay over and over again each time you pay the new higher rate policy. Also, note that your insurance company could care less if you say or think....this claim is "not my fault" (and, therefore would be "nice" and not raise your rates as a result.) Also, note that any claim or even inquiry talk of a claim flags you on the shared insurance company database. Should you try to sell your home over the next couple of years and the prospective buyer tries to obtain an insurance quote....this will cause them to see even the talk of a possible claim and raise RED flags with your prospective buyer as to what happened to this house and do I really still want to purchase it. Why do I know this; again....it happened to me when I was trying to buy a Florida home 3 years ago and when I asked the seller what was this insurance inquiry: The seller said I only called to inquire about a possible claim and did not file one. Next, the seller refused to disclose to me what that inquiry was about, and therefore during my due diligence of the contract I canceled the purchase because I felt the seller was now hiding from me some important facts about the property that was important in my purchasing decision. In summary, I am not saying to never call or file or talk to your insurance company about a claim. I'm saying only do so if you are taking BIG numbers and not small amounts...because this is 'what' the home insurance policy should be regarded as used for.

I don't know what insurance company you have but I would be changing to a different one immediately. We have been with our insurance company for over 40 years and have had a few claims from storm damage, noting even close to $60K, and our premium didn't increase.