Went through something similar when our basement flooded after a contractor messed up the drainage. Photos weren't enough either—insurance kept pushing back, claiming it might've been an existing issue. Ended up pulling timestamps from security cam footage and emails where the contractor acknowledged the mistake. Lesson learned: always document everything meticulously, even if it seems minor at the time. Insurance companies aren't necessarily out to get you, but they're definitely not going to make it easy...
Had a similar headache a few years back—contractor installed a green roof incorrectly, and water started seeping into the attic. Insurance initially balked, claiming it was a maintenance issue. Here's what worked for me: first, got an independent inspector to document exactly what went wrong. Then, gathered all emails and texts with the contractor admitting fault. Finally, presented everything chronologically to insurance. Took patience, but eventually they covered it. Moral of the story: insurers aren't villains, but they're definitely skeptical...so cover your bases.
That's a solid approach, especially getting an independent inspector involved. Had a similar issue myself, but it was with a deck installation. Contractor messed up the drainage slope, and after a heavy rain, water pooled right against the house foundation. Insurance gave me the runaround too, claiming it was faulty workmanship rather than accidental damage. Ended up having to chase down the contractor's insurance instead, which was another headache altogether.
Makes me wonder though...in cases like these, is it usually better to push your own homeowner's insurance first, or go straight after the builder's liability coverage? Seems like homeowner's insurance always tries to dodge responsibility if they can pin it on someone else. Curious if anyone else has had better luck going directly through the builder's policy from the start.
In my experience, homeowner's insurance always tries to wiggle out of stuff like this by blaming workmanship, so going straight for the builder's liability coverage might save you some headaches. Had a client a while back whose kitchen cabinets warped because of a plumbing mistake, and their homeowner's insurance was zero help—builder's policy stepped up eventually, but only after some back-and-forth. I'd lean toward builder's insurance first...cuts out the middleman and might speed things along.
Good points, but I'd say don't completely write off homeowner's insurance right away. A few things to consider:
- Sometimes homeowner's insurance can surprise you—I've seen cases where they stepped up quickly, especially if the damage is sudden or accidental rather than clearly workmanship-related.
- Builder's liability coverage can be a bit tricky too...they might push back initially, claiming it's wear and tear or homeowner neglect. Had a friend whose builder's policy dragged their feet for months before finally agreeing to cover water damage from faulty flashing.
- Also, going straight to the builder's insurance might limit your options later if they deny coverage outright. Starting with homeowner's insurance at least gets your claim documented officially, which could help down the road.
I'd probably start with homeowner's first, just to cover all bases. If they balk, then pivot quickly to builder's liability. Keeps both avenues open and gives you some leverage if things get sticky.
