How An Independent Adjusting Firm Is Handling Property Inspections

Despite the unprecedented closures and precautions arising from the ongoing pandemic, claims adjusters continue to inspect properties affected by disasters.

“With exterior damages, social distancing has done nothing to affect [claims investigations] other than requiring us to stay a safe distance from the property owner or the insured,” Skip McHardy, executive vice president of Toronto-based CRU Group, said in a recent interview.

“If we are required to do an inspection of damages inside the building, what we have done is increased our communications techniques via phone, email or text so that we are communicating with that insured or property owner and setting up a time that we can come in and do our inspection without them right next to us,” said McHardy.

Shortly after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, provincial authorities across Canada moved quickly to impose a variety of restrictions and mandated closures.