Booking DSI is EASY!


Would you like to speak with us first? Call Ken Larsen at 817-542-1189. I look forward to hearing from you.

If we have not already spoken on the telephone, simply provide us with your contact information, and we will be notified immediately of your interest, and we will call, text or email you as soon as we are available. We will email you a copy of our agreement and once signed, we will get you on the calendar for your inspection!

CAN WE INVOICE THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR SERVICES ON YOUR PROPERTY?

We can!… However, this can ONLY be done if you agree to our Direction To Pay (directing the insurer to pay DSi directly), and the Letter of Protection (ensuring DSi’s invoice is included in the insurance claim settlement and will be released to DSi), or… a limited Assignment of Benefits (and, as long as the policy does not specifically exclude Assignments of Benefits). Here’s why:

1. Our invoices are usually one of the smallest invoices in a property insurance claim. As a result, insurance companies simply resist paying contractors directly for their services on a claim since contractors are NOT their customer; YOU are the insurance company’s customer – not us! Insurers generally just ignore contractors who plead with them for payment – for YEARS! Many times they simply just ignore the contractor’s efforts to collect payment from them indefinitely. Insurers know contractors are unlikely to spend tens of thousands of dollars to sue them for an invoice worth a couple thousand dollars since they don’t even have an agreement with the contractor.

2. Insurers tend to pay for “costs incurred.” This means they are more likely to reimburse you for the costs you have already paid on a covered peril rather than pay your unpaid bills sometime in the future.

PS: An “Assignment of Benefits” (aka “AOB”), allows the contractor to stand in the shoes of the insured on your insurance claim so that the contractor can demand indemnification for the costs incurred by the contractor. This benefit is limited to STRICTLY – only – the work performed by DSi; not the work performed by others.

MAY I PAY FOR YOUR SERVICES WITH CHECK OR CREDIT CARD, AND SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY?

You certainly may! We prefer credit card payments!

In fact,… credit card paying customers receive priority service.

We accept all major credit cards. Why not get your credit card “miles” on your insurance claim?!

You will be given a “Paid Receipt” that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. General industry experience has shown that paid receipts are typically reimbursed with less dispute than a request for the insurer to pay the invoice on your behalf.

Hmmm… I’M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH A DIRECTION TO PAY (DTP) OR AN ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS (AOB) ARRANGEMENT AND I DON’T WISH TO PAY WITH MY MONEY OR CREDIT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS?

You are not alone. Many customers share a similar disposition.

  1. You can request a draw on your insurance claim from your adjuster for “undisputed” emergency mitigation expenses like our services on DAY 1! Just be very sure to keep ALL your receipts and submit them as part of your insurance claim. (See additional information on the bottom of this page). A reputable and skilled Public Adjuster can be of great value in assisting you with this request for immediate funds and assist in assembling a claim file that is difficult for insurers to debate. (A Public Adjuster, “PA,” is: an adjuster who you hired directly and works for you – not the insurance company – and works to get you the full value of your insurance policy. A good PA is worth every penny on most insurance claims… and they LOVE DryStandard Inspection Reports!)
  2. In some cases, (not all), we might extend credit to exceptional customers and wait for payment from the insurance company. Please call Ken Larsen to discuss. 817-542-1189

MY CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE SAYS WE DON’T NEED DryStandard Inspection’s SERVICES. WHY WOULD THEY SAY THAT?

Well… let’s think about that for a bit…

Aside from the fact that IT IS STANDARD PRACTICE TO CONDUCT THESE INSPECTIONS as described in the industry’s Standards (ANSI/IICRC S500-2021), some insurers don’t want experts on their claims because our evidence and dominant subject matter expertise clearly exceeds theirs and they will have greater difficulty negotiating in favor of a substandard (I.e. less expensive) scope of work on your property. You do not need to accept a compromise in quality and competence on your property insurance claim.

In the absence of our inspections, tests and reports – insurance claims representatives can be far more effective in SPECULATING the scope of work necessary to repair your home. [Of course, such speculated scopes from the insurance company – and/or their clearly conflicted “preferred vendor” – are frequently insufficiently qualified to define and / or perform a standard repair. There is wisdom in securing your own qualified restoration expert to establish a competent scope of work; even if there is a nominal fee associated with producing this scope of work.] For instance, is your flooring salvageable? Or, must it be removed and replaced? How about your walls, ceilings and insulation? Should they be dried – or should they be replaced due to absorbing unsanitary water? Can drying begin – or, should the structure be made sanitary before drying equipment is installed potentially blowing contaminants all over your living space?

DSi’s testing can conclusively indicate the competent approach for your chosen restoration contractor.

If the claims representative discourages your desire to involve authoritative industry experts, simply demand (yes, you are entitled to “demand” such answers as the claimant. That’s the claims representative’s job.), the claims representative show you the language in your policy that EXCLUDES the costs associated with involving an expert on your claim. In an “all perils insurance policy”, if it’s not an named exclusion… courts have ruled that the cost is INCLUDED in your coverage. If they dig in their heels… you might want to consider securing competent legal assistance like a lawyer or your own personal “Public Adjuster” who will become your agent and fight for the full value of your insurance claim. A great Public Adjuster is worth their weight in gold in today’s [disappointingly] adversarial insurance claim market.

If the insurer states “THEY” will send an expert to inspect your property, …

…be sure not to turn a blind eye to the obvious Conflict of Interest when the insurer sends an entity that serves THEM rather than you. In such a case, DSi strongly encourages you to do your due diligence and insist that the expert is:

  1. acceptably qualified (by YOU) following your review of their resume / Curriculum Vitae (CV), (If you struggle locating a qualified expert, DSi is well connected with many of the world’s dominant experts in the restoration industry. Call or text Ken Larsen, CR 817-542-1189 – ken@drystandard.org ). Be aware of large consulting firms regularly used by insurers who have no formal education in the subjects they are being asked to inspect, yet are leveraged by insurers as being the authorities on the repair of your structure. If they are not educated – then they’re just a hired bully being used by the insurance carrier to reduce the cost severity of your insurance claim. Reject the recommendation in light of a more fully qualified expert.)
  2. retained under contract by YOU, (so you have full control of the consultant and discussions. You have the right to confidentiality with your consultant and you can insist he communicates ONLY with you until you permit him to communicate with others about your property, and you can demand that you are included in all communications with the insurer. Remember: the best way to work with your consultant is to ask them questions rather than argue with them. Their job is to answer the questions everyone has about the subject being discussed. If they can’t answer your questions… then they are probably unqualified to speak to the subject you hired them for! If you suspect the consultant is “blowing smoke”… they probably are.),
  3. that the recommended expert is in fact PAID for their inspection – and will NOT be given the opportunity to do the work on your property under ANY circumstances. (…Rather than a hungry competitor who is hoping to land a new referral from the insurer and succumb to the temptation to produce a report that “pleases the insurance company with incomplete / inaccurate findings resulting in substandard recommendation(s). This happens REGULARLY in this industry. Be careful that you are not the victim of an unethical contractor who serves the insurer’s interests rather than identify and addresses the actual needs of your property.”),
  4. the expert (whose resume / CV has been given to you and approved by you) will identify themselves with photo-identification that you will be permitted to photograph prior to entry.
  5. that the expert will agree to being video recorded by YOU during their inspection, (This critical documentation can likely be very valuable as the claim progresses), and,
  6. that the expert’s report is given to YOU, and you will share with the insurer. (Otherwise you may never see the report and must rely upon the claims representative’s alleged findings by “their” consultant. This happens frequently – and you are left to simply trust your conflicted insurance claims representative. You can manage this by implementing each of the above mentioned suggestions.)

Remember, this is YOUR property, not the insurer’s. There are limitations and obligations among all parties in an insurance claim. Be sure to understand yours… and the insurer’s… and be sure everyone involved stays “in their lane.” Being an insurer… does not make them the “general contractor” who decides how your structure is repaired nor how much it costs. Their job is to define the elements of coverage under the terms of the policy; not to repair the structure as they deem appropriate (unless the policy includes a “right to repair” clause in their language; a rare inclusion found on “insurance policies of last resort.”)

OKAY… I UNDERSTAND WHY DSi CANNOT INVOICE THE INSURANCE COMPANY. HOW WILL THE PAYMENT PROCESS LOOK?

  1. Determine the method of payment you wish to employ:
    1. PRIORITY SERVICE: Invoice the property owner directly for payment with check or credit card.
    2. Invoice the insurer with a Direction to Pay / Letter of Protection (DTP/LOP)… or Assignment of Benefits (“AOB;” when legally permitted). NOTE: A “DTP/LOP” Agreement requires you to engage our legal firm (currently, www.ilgpa.com) if you wish DSi to submit the paperwork direct from us – to the insurance company. Otherwise, YOU must submit our paperwork to the insurance carrier as part of your insurance claim (called a Proof of Loss). Even with the DTP/LOP Agreement, you are still obligated for the costs associated with DSi’s services; but you can direct the insurer to pay us directly as part of your claim settlement process.
  2. From the list of contracts to choose from in the drop down list below, select the contract that lists the payment type (DTP/LOP or CC) along with the correct peril (water damage or fire/smoke damage), enter your personal and property information into the form below, and click the “Submit” button.
  3. Check your email. You will have an agreement all filled out with the total amount indicated in your price calculator. Sign the agreement as directed and click the submit button. We will get a copy of that signed agreement, and will promptly call you to arrange an appointment.
  4. Interpreting the data and producing a formal technical report will take approximately 24 to 48 hours.

NOTE: we rarely release the report or conclusions prior to having payment secured / assured.

WHAT WILL MY TOTAL COST BE?

Non-hurricane / storm inspections are priced differently. Complete the form below for more information and refer to the rates listed on our agreement that will be emailed to you. But first… Let’s talk about your situation. Please fill out the form below, and we will call you! NO Credit Card required at this time! Current minimum charge: $1600.00

HURRICANE DAMAGE CUSTOMERS:

Credit Card paying customers receive priority service.

Have you had hurricane / storm damage and would like a price first? Okay. Simply enter your square footage of your structure here, and your price will be calculated instantly! Current minimum charge: $1600.00

Potential Payment strategy (request a draw on your insurance claim):

If you have a significant claim in your home, and you have an adjuster or claims representative assigned to your file, then you can request a draw to pay for repair expenses associated with your claim. Keep your receipts! The insurer will need them!

  1. If the insurer declines the request for a draw, request the insurer provide you with the language from your policy that explains this exemption or exclusion. They frequently require written estimates before they will provide you with a working budget. Our contracts can include an estimate or a “not to exceed” budget for this purpose.
  2. If the claims representative has not been assigned to your file yet, you might wish to speak with the agent who sold you the policy to explore your options.