Expert Interview - Insurance Loss Assessor Jimmy Cranswick from Aspray
Meet Our Expert:
Jimmy Cranswick is a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience as a firefighter with the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Since 2020 Jimmy has been leveraging his extensive knowledge and experience in property damage and building pathology within his role as a loss assessor. Aspray are a specialist property insurance loss assessment company serving clients across the UK.
Jimmy specializes in flood damage to properties, fire damage to properties, escape of water incidents and South Yorkshire is his patch!
It’s safe to say when it comes to property damage - there isn’t much Jimmy hasn’t seen!
Stay tuned for our interview with Jimmy Cranswick to gain valuable insights into property insurance assessment, property damage and specialist site clearance.
Q: Hi Jimmy thanks for coming in! let’s get straight into it, firefighter to loss assessor, are there any similarities between the two roles?
Jimmy: Definitely and I would say helping people is the main crossover.
In an emergency situation (fire, flood etc) people call the fire service and get an immediate response. The firefighters do a fantastic job but once the situation has been made safe, their job is done and when they depart the scene, the homeowners can be left facing some significant property damage.
In the aftermath of such devastating events a loss assessor can provide valuable advice, help and support to homeowners. We can arrange alternative accommodation, get emergency funds and begin the dialogue with insurers on their behalf.
Q: What is the difference between a loss assessor and a loss adjuster?
Jimmy: Loss adjusters are instructed by insurance companies, whereas loss assessors work on behalf of the policyholder.
Q: How can an Aspray loss assessor add value should someone reading this find themselves in the unfortunate event of having to claim against their building’s insurance policy?
Jimmy: The insurance company is likely to instruct a loss adjuster, protecting their position but policyholders also have the right to be represented. By appointing a loss assessor to act on your behalf, you’ll effectively level up the playing field, by having an expert in property insurance claims working exclusively in your best interests.
Managing your own claim can be a time consuming and stressful experience… it can feel like a unpaid 2nd job! Aspray know precisely how to manage your claim, from dealing directly with your insurance company and their adjuster, to project managing the contractors, we can take care of it all.
Q: At what stage would a potential client normally make first contact with you, and I suppose more importantly what sate would you recommend any potential client contact you?
Jimmy: Aspray does not have to have been appointed at the very start of a claim although it is beneficial.
I am frequently appointed part-way through a claim, when those who have tried to negotiate with the insurer’s loss adjuster have failed to do so effectively or are finding themselves out of their depth when managing the claim personally.
The sooner you get in touch, the sooner I can assess your individual situation and provide you with some free & friendly advice on how to proceed.
Q: Right ok, so you see this stuff first hand day to day how imperative is it for the clearance and rip out works be carries out by a professional team?
Jimmy: Assessors and adjusters like to see this work carried out by professional clearance teams. We can give clear instructions on what items are to be removed and also request photographic/video evidence.
Clearing the premises quickly also enables the reinstatement work to progress and ultimately shortens the length of time occupiers have to spend out of their property.
An invoice from a professional clearance service can be reclaimed from insurers, so trying to do it yourself or using a non-professional service does not make economic sense.
Q: Specific to flood water damage and escape of water damage how key is it for the clearance and strip out to be carried out by an expert team?
Jimmy: Safety is key, so leave it to the experts. They can isolate the electricity supply and get an emergency supply installed where necessary. Contaminated water is a big risk to health, especially with flood water, full ppe wil be required and sanitiser used during the clearance process.
We often use clearance companies for a ‘soft strip out’ which allows us to evaluate the full extent of the damage and where contaminated water has been stood for a period of time they’ll take the plaster off the walls to a height above the waterline.
Q: Are there any site services after the clearance and strip out that can often be overlooked?
Jimmy: It’s important to get all the wet items out of the property quickly but even when this has been done the relative humidity levels in a flooded property can be high. If these levels are not reduced quickly an outbreak of mould growth is highly likely.
In these conditions (RH above 55%) a loss assessor will install dehumidifiers to stabilise the environment and reduce humidity levels, which in turn mitigates further damage and prevents mould growth.
Aspray is committed to helping homeowners, business owners, and landlords of various property types nationwide who have faced property damage. We are excited to share that we are planning to have Jimmy return to the Danum House Clearance HQ later this year to explore interesting clearance related topics, such as fire damage and addressing the growing (pardon the pun) issue of cannabis factories.
Whether you think Aspray could assist with your property damage insurance claim or if you are seeking more information, feel free to visit the Aspray Doncaster & Barnsley website through the following link:
