Maximize Your Insurance Payout After Water, Fire & Mold Damage

When water, fire, or mold damages your home, the cleanup is stressful enough — fighting with your insurance company shouldn’t be part of the process. Yet many homeowners in Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Liberty Lake, and Spokane Valley often feel underpaid because the first offer doesn’t reflect the full scope of damage.

Crazy Clean stands with homeowners. Our job is to advocate for thorough, correct restoration — not to cut corners for insurance carriers. Our transparent billing and detailed documentation give your claim the best chance at full coverage and keep negotiations clear and fair. Follow these tips to help protect your claim rights and your home.

1) Hire Licensed, IICRC-Certified Pros So Mitigation Starts Immediately

Insurance policies require you to prevent further damage once an issue is identified - delays can reduce or even deny coverage. Hiring licensed professionals means emergency water extraction, structural drying, smoke/soot cleanup, or mold containment begins right away and follows recognized standards.

Crazy Clean is IICRC-certified and follows IICRC S500/S520 standards, so your mitigation is documented, defensible, and aligned with what insurers expect across Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Liberty Lake, and Spokane Valley.

2) Know Your Policy: Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value

Understanding your declarations page is key to getting a fair payout. Review your policy to understand what you’re entitled to.

Replacement Cost Value (RCV): Pays to replace with similar materials at today’s prices (you often receive depreciation back after the work is completed).
Actual Cash Value (ACV): Pays current value minus depreciation.

If you have RCV, don’t leave money on the table—make sure you recover depreciation once repairs are complete.

3) Don’t Automatically Accept the First Settlement

The first estimate isn’t the final word. If the offer seems light on flooring, drywall, cabinetry, smoke odor removal, or mold remediation, ask how the carrier calculated it and where line items differ from the required scope to return the home to pre-loss condition.

Carriers often present a “comparative estimate” to justify a lower number—but early versions are frequently not truly comparable. Common gaps include:

Missing line items (e.g., containment, equipment decontamination, HEPA filtration, code-required materials).
Lower-grade materials or omitted doors/trim, baseboards, or underlayments.
Ignoring manufacturer specs or IICRC standards (e.g., removal vs. “clean in place” where removal is required).

Ask the adjuster to revise any comparative estimate so scope, materials, and standards match.

4) Prevent Lowballing

Most insurers evaluate claims using Xactimate, the industry-standard pricing platform. Crazy Clean builds line-item estimates in Xactimate, which:

Speaks the same “language” as your carrier.
Ensures pricing reflects local market rates in North Idaho and Spokane Valley.
Makes it easier to resolve differences based on facts, not opinion.

5) Know When to Escalate

If your claim is delayed, underpaid, or denied without clear justification:

Request a review by a claims supervisor/manager.
File a complaint with the Idaho Department of Insurance or the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
Consider a licensed public adjuster for complex or high-value losses.

Why Homeowners Trust Crazy Clean

Homeowners across Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, Spokane Valley, Hayden, and Liberty Lake choose Crazy Clean because we:

Fight for proper restoration — We work for you, not your insurance company. Our goal is to get your home safely and fully restored, never to cut corners.
Deliver bulletproof documentation — Detailed moisture logs, photos, and line-item estimates help strengthen your claim and reduce pushback.
Use recognized industry standards — Our IICRC-certified team follows proven protocols so adjusters know the work is done right.
Know the local market — We understand regional pricing and building codes so your claim reflects real North Idaho & Spokane Valley conditions.
Make a stressful process easier — From day one, we communicate clearly, meet adjusters on-site if needed, and help you avoid costly delays or denials.

With Crazy Clean, you’re gaining a partner who protects your home and helps you get the coverage you’ve already paid for.

Need help with a water, fire, or mold damage claim? Call now!
Idaho - 208-704-8880 // Washington - 509-218-5079