Insurance Restoration Process for Farmington, Lakeville & South Metro Homeowners
When insurance is paying to repair your home, it helps to know what happens next.
- Family owned & operated since 2005
- BBB accredited
- Licensed MN contractor BC634092
- Based in Farmington, MN
- Free estimates
Bischel Building handles the construction side of insurance restoration for homeowners in Farmington, Lakeville and the south metro: we inspect and document the damage, write an itemized estimate, meet your adjuster on site if you'd like us there, and then do the work.
You stay in charge of your claim and work directly with your insurance company. Here is the process from the first call to the final paperwork.
Who does what on an insurance job
- You decide whether to file a claim, file it with your insurer or agent, and make the decisions about your claim and your home.
- Your insurance company sends an adjuster, decides what your policy covers and issues payment.
- Bischel Building inspects and documents the physical damage, writes the repair estimate, meets the adjuster on site to discuss the damage and repair scope, and does the construction.
The insurance restoration process, step by step
- Make the home safe. If water is coming in, call us for emergency tarping or board-up. Take photos before anything is moved and keep receipts for temporary fixes.
- Free inspection. We look over the damaged areas, inside and out, and photograph everything we find.
- Documentation and estimate. We give you our dated photos and a written, itemized estimate of the materials and labor needed to repair the damage properly.
- You contact your insurer. If you decide to file a claim, you do that directly with your insurance company or agent. You can share our photos and estimate with them.
- Adjuster visit. Your insurer sends an adjuster to inspect the damage. If you'd like, we meet the adjuster on site to walk them through the damage we photographed and explain the repairs our estimate calls for, from a construction point of view.
- Your insurer's estimate. Your insurer sends you its own estimate of the damage. If our inspection found damage that isn't in it, we document that damage with photos and an itemized estimate that you can send to your insurer. Questions about what your policy will pay go to your insurer or agent.
- Approval and contract. Before you sign a contract, you receive our itemized estimate and Minnesota's required written notice for insurance-paid work. You approve the scope, and we schedule the job.
- The work. We pull permits when required, complete the repairs and keep your property clean along the way.
- Final walkthrough and paperwork. We walk the finished job with you and provide the final invoice and photos for your records and your insurer.
What we do, and what we don't
Minnesota has clear rules about what contractors can and can't do on insurance jobs, and they're there to protect homeowners. Here's how that works with us:
- We do inspect, photograph and document damage, write detailed itemized estimates, meet with adjusters on site to discuss the physical damage and repair scope, and complete the repairs.
- We don't interpret your insurance policy, tell you what is or isn't covered, or negotiate or adjust your claim for you. Only a licensed public adjuster can do that.
- We don't pay, waive or "absorb" your deductible, and we don't offer gifts, cash or discounts for letting us inspect, filing a claim or referring neighbors. That is against Minnesota law, and a contractor who offers it is putting your claim at risk.
Questions about coverage, deadlines or your premium are best answered by your insurance company or agent. If you want someone to represent you in the claim itself, you can hire a licensed public adjuster.
Your rights as a Minnesota homeowner
Before you sign a contract for repairs paid with insurance money, you should receive an itemized, good-faith estimate, along with a written notice explaining Minnesota's rules for contractors on insurance work (Minn. Stat. 325E.66). For roofing contracts paid by insurance, Minnesota law also gives you the right to cancel in writing within 72 hours after your insurer tells you your claim was denied (Minn. Stat. 326B.811). Minnesota requires these notices on insurance-paid work, and we provide them so you know exactly where you stand.
What to keep for your records
- Your claim number and your adjuster's name and contact information
- Photos and video of the damage, taken before anything was moved or repaired
- Receipts for emergency or temporary repairs you paid for
- Copies of our estimate, your insurer's estimate and any letters from your insurer
- Your signed contract and the final invoice
If a storm just went through, our checklist for what to do after a hail storm covers the first steps.
Damage we restore
Wind and hail damage
Roofs, siding, gutters, windows, soffit and fascia after hail and high winds, plus emergency tarping and board-up.
Learn more ›Water, fire and mold damage
Rebuilding after burst pipes, ice dam and appliance leaks, fire and smoke damage, and mold remediation.
Learn more ›
Why work with Bischel Building
We're a family-owned general contractor based at 100 8th St in Farmington, accredited by the BBB, licensed in Minnesota (License BC634092) and working in the south metro since 2005. One team handles the inspection, the documentation and every trade on the job, so you aren't juggling several companies. Owner Mike Bischel and his team take the time to document damage carefully and explain it clearly. We answer the phone after the job is finished, too.
Frequently asked questions
Should I call my insurance company or you first?
That's your choice. Many homeowners call us first for a free inspection so they know what damage there is and what it will take to repair. Whether and when to file is your decision; your insurer or agent can help with that. If you do file, you'll contact your insurer directly.
Do you meet the insurance adjuster on site?
Yes. Let us know when your adjuster is scheduled and we'll be there to show the damage we photographed and go over our itemized estimate. Decisions about your claim stay with you and your insurer.
Can you work with any insurance company?
Yes. We can work alongside any insurance company's adjuster on the construction side of the job: documenting damage, discussing the repair scope and completing the repairs.
Do you help with my deductible?
No. Minnesota law doesn't allow contractors to pay, waive or rebate any part of your deductible, or to offer anything of value in exchange for a claim, inspection or referral. Your deductible is paid by you, as your policy requires.
What if my claim is denied?
We can't advise you on your policy or your claim decision; your insurer or agent can explain it, or you can talk to a licensed public adjuster. If you still want the repairs done, we're glad to give you an estimate to pay for them directly. If you signed a roofing contract with us for insurance-paid work, you can cancel it in writing within 72 hours after your insurer notifies you that the claim was denied.
Will filing a claim raise my premium?
That depends on your insurer and your policy, so please ask your insurance agent. If you'd like a repair estimate first, we're glad to provide one.
Have another question? See our frequently asked questions.
Areas we serve
We help homeowners through insurance restoration work in Farmington, Lakeville, Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Burnsville, Savage and Elko New Market, plus every town on our service area page within 60 miles of Lakeville and Farmington.
More town pages: Credit River · Prior Lake · Bloomington
Related services
Ready to talk about your project?
Tell us what you have in mind and we'll set up a time to visit. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with weekend appointments by request.