Background
After the Eaton Fire, this Pasadena home had heavy smoke contamination in the structure and contents. The roof also took wind damage during the fire, the roof and exterior were coated in soot, and the solar panel system needed specialized cleaning to restore performance.
Initial claim handling
We opened the claim, coordinated inspections and submitted a photo report and restoration estimate covering the interior, roof surfaces and solar panels. The carrier made an initial dwelling payment, but its estimate was far below the contractor's.
Coverage dispute
A gap of about $40,000 opened up between the two estimates for smoke remediation. The carrier said a third-party vendor would review the scope, but despite ongoing documentation the gap stayed unresolved. To move forward, the claim went to appraisal, the formal dispute process written into most property policies.
Appraisal outcome
Through appraisal the disputed scope and costs were evaluated independently, and additional funds were awarded for dwelling smoke cleaning.
Payments issued
| Initial dwelling cleaning | $17,571.56 |
| Dwelling cleaning supplement | $14,186.56 |
| Hygienist testing | $3,590.00 |
| Dwelling cleaning supplement | $16,809.12 |
| Contents cleaning | $10,886.93 |
| Dwelling cleaning supplement | $8,412.79 |
| Total settlement | $71,456.96 |
Every claim is different and no result is guaranteed.
Settlement checks
