Cohousing-L Mailing List: AMICA [ was Calculating unit rebuild cost

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Nov 18, 2023, at 9:25 AM, Bryan Bowen <bryan [at] caddispc.com> wrote:
> 
> Seems like each community finds out a lot about
> which insurance companies have integrity and which don’t in the aftermath.

The reason I stick with AMICA through thick and thin is how well they have 
handled claims. I haven’t had a claim in 15 years but I’ll never forget their 
service. 

I called them 23 years ago when I had had condo insurance for less than a month 
and they settled a $8,000 claim in less than a week. I had only called for 
advice on how to negotiate over a flood on my brand-new wooded floors, but they 
insisted that it was their responsibility to get reimbursement from the other 
person. I was instantly transferred to claims, an adjuster was there the 
following Monday, and I had a check in a few days. 

A few years later, I sold a car and cancelled the registration but since I had 
only had 3 months left on my car insurance I just didn’t renew it. That was 
less hassle than finding the phone number to cancel it. Amica called me later 
because DC had reported it to them. I explained and expected that that was 
that, but they insisted on refunding me _retroactively_ 3 months of car 
insurance fees. The amount was less than $50 and it must have cost them more 
than that for the phone call and paperwork.

I called them a few years ago to be sure I had enough insurance. The agent 
looked over everything and said the only thing I see that you don’t have is 
insurance for special assessments. For $35 a year, I’m insured against extra 
assessments for whatever. My community is well-managed financially but I added 
it anyway. It would be worth it if the train across the street went off its 
elevated tracks and flew through the air.

I found out about AMICA in the 1980s after a major theft from a wealthy 
friend's house. Her insurance adjuster handled the claim for fine silver and 
jewelry very nicely and everything was completed. Six months later AMICA called 
her to find out if everything had been handled properly because her insurance 
adjuster had suddenly died. When they discovered that he had been fatally ill 
for some time, they contacted everyone he had settled claims for in the last 
year to be sure everything had been done well.

I don’t know how one finds stories like this from HOAs but it would be worth 
someone’s time to solicit them. I don’t think AMICA does insurance on the HOA 
side but I think everyone should have them for personal insurance.

A possible source of information could be independent claims adjusters. AMICA 
then used independent claims adjusters who investigated claims for several 
insurance companies. The adjuster who came to look at my floors said AMICA was 
one of the best companies. I was worried because my unit has an open floor plan 
like a loft. Replacing the flooring in one area would be obvious. It would all 
have to be replaced. The adjuster said, “Of course” and included the closet 
floors in the square footage.

Perhaps insurance agencies know how to find an independent adjuster in your 
area that you could interview.

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org