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Helpful Repair Hints from Our Man on the Inside

Still overwhelmed by hurricane recovery projects? My friend Dennis Anga, a roofer and landlord, offers some insight into getting repairs done on your home:

  1. Don’t put off urgent repairs if you have the means to get started before your insurance claim is processed. Document everything carefully, and your insurance company will reimburse you after the fact for completed repairs.
  2. There are three main categories of insurance adjusters:
    1. Those who work on salary for an insurance company. They tend to be very conservative.
    2. Independent adjusters contracted by an insurance company. Believe it or not, they get paid more for writing higher claims, so they have no vested interest in cheating you.
    3. Independent adjusters who work for you. They’ll fight the insurance company for bigger claims on your behalf and collect a commission. …[Read more]

Hurricane Ike: How I Found a Silver Lining in My Own Refrigerator

This is NOT Gayle's refrigerator.Hurricane Ike was quite an experience! I am still trying to get back on an even keel since the storm tore through the Houston area in mid-September. I was without power for 15 days. I had to sleep on the living room floor to escape the roar of my neighbor’s gasoline-powered generator, and because most of my clients were also without power, all my appointments were canceled for three weeks. But I eventually found a silver lining in this dark cloud: a fresh perspective on the benefits of organizing.

Like many of my clients, friends, and neighbors, after about four days I found myself emptying my refrigerator and freezer …[Read more]