Yeah, the hassle is what gets you. Even with insurance, I had to take time off work and deal with contractors tracking mud everywhere. Out of curiosity, did your insurance fight you on coverage? Mine tried to call it “maintenance neglect” at first...
Insurance companies really do love to play the “maintenance neglect” card, don’t they? I had a similar run-in a couple years back when a pipe burst in our crawlspace. They tried to say it was my fault for not insulating better, even though I’d just had the place checked. It took a ton of back-and-forth, but I finally got them to cover most of it. The mess from the repairs was almost as stressful as the water itself—mud, dust, and that constant worry about mold. Hang in there... it’s a pain, but you’re definitely not alone.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a couple claims where the insurance folks were pretty reasonable—maybe I just got lucky or maybe it depends on the adjuster. That said, I do think they’re quick to blame “neglect” if there’s any gray area. Still, I always keep records of inspections and maintenance just in case. The cleanup is brutal though... nothing like finding mud in places you didn’t even know existed.
Had a job last winter where a pipe burst in the crawlspace—water everywhere, insulation soaked, even the ductwork got hit. The owner thought insurance would cover it all, but the adjuster flagged “lack of heat” as neglect since the crawlspace wasn’t insulated well. Ended up costing way more out of pocket than expected. I always tell folks, take photos of everything and keep receipts... you never know what they’ll try to pin on you. And yeah, cleaning up after is the worst part—water finds its way into every nook and cranny.
Man, insurance adjusters can be ruthless when it comes to stuff like that. I’ve heard stories where even a tiny draft gets called “neglect.” Did the owner end up reinsulating the crawlspace after all that? I’m curious if adding better insulation actually made a difference in their premiums or if it just gave peace of mind. Water damage is such a pain… ever dealt with mold popping up weeks later? That cleanup can drag on forever.