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Elmhurst Insurance Specialists

Serving Surrounding Areas:

  • Bolingbrook
  • Chicago
  • Downers Grove
  • Elmhurst
  • Hinsdale
  • Joliet
  • La Grange
  • Lemont
  • Naperville
  • Oak Brook
  • Oak Lawn
  • Orland Park
  • and more in Chicagoland

    • Adjusting, Restoration, Remodeling in Elmhurst, IL

    Public Adjusters and Fire Restoration in Elmhurst, IL

    Elmhurst is a city of about 47,000 people six miles north of our Hinsdale office. Its housing ranges from the 1920s bungalows and Tudors near the downtown York Street district to the brick ranches and split levels built after World War II across the north and south sides. Along Spring Road and near Elmhurst University, many original homes have been replaced with large new construction. Michaelson & Messinger has handled fire, water, and storm claims across all of these neighborhoods as licensed Illinois public adjusters and as the restoration contractor that puts the home back together.

    Flooding and Water Damage in Elmhurst

    Elmhurst residents know Salt Creek. The floods of 1987 and 2013 put water into thousands of basements, and heavy storms still overwhelm storm sewers in the low areas near the creek and along the Prairie Path. Basement flooding claims in Elmhurst turn on policy wording. Flood from rising surface water is usually excluded from a homeowners policy and covered only by a separate flood policy. Sewer and drain backup is a separate endorsement with its own limit. Water from a burst pipe or failed appliance is usually covered in full. Which one applies makes a large difference, and the insurance company will not always sort it in your favor. We read the policy first and document the water source carefully before the claim is filed.

    Fire and Smoke Claims

    The Elmhurst Fire Department runs two stations and arrives fast, but smoke and water damage spread through the whole house. In postwar ranches, smoke runs through the slab ductwork and into every room. In older two story homes, heat damage climbs into the attic. We document charring inside walls, smoke residue on contents, and damage to mechanical systems so the estimate covers what actually has to be replaced.

    Storm and Wind Damage

    Straight line winds and hail cross Elmhurst several times a year. We handle roof claims, siding claims, and tree damage to garages and fences. Carriers sometimes approve a partial roof repair when the shingles can no longer be matched. Many Illinois policies include matching coverage, and we know how to present that claim.

    How the Claim Works

    Call us as early as you can. We meet you at the property, secure it if needed, and begin a full photo inventory of the structure and contents. We prepare a line item estimate using the same software the carriers use. Then we meet the insurance adjuster on site and walk the loss together. We negotiate. You get updates. You do not have to argue with anyone.

    Restoration and Rebuild

    Our own crews handle demolition, drying, framing, roofing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, flooring, kitchens, baths, and paint. Elmhurst building permits go through the city Community Development department, and we manage that process. Our work carries a written warranty. Many clients use the rebuild to finish a basement properly, with a sump system, backup pump, and check valve that reduce the chance of the next flood claim.

    Serving Elmhurst and the Surrounding Towns

    We cover every neighborhood in Elmhurst plus Villa Park, Lombard, Addison, Bensenville, Oak Brook, and Berkeley. Our Hinsdale office is a short drive down Route 83.

    Call Us Before the Carrier Sets the Number

    Reach us at 630.654.2600 any hour. The first visit is free, and we will tell you honestly whether a public adjuster will help. Michaelson & Messinger has served the western suburbs since 2006 and holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

    Two Things to Do Before the Adjuster Arrives

    First, do not throw anything away. Carriers deny contents that cannot be shown, and a photo of a ruined couch on the curb is worth far less than the couch itself in the basement. Second, keep every receipt. If you are in a hotel, eating out, or buying clothes because yours are gone, those costs fall under additional living expense and are paid on top of the repair. Elmhurst families who call us early recover these costs. Those who call late often lose them.

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