If your home or building in Ulster County had a fire, a burst pipe or storm damage, a public adjuster can handle the insurance claim for you. GB Claims LLC is a licensed New York public adjuster (NY License PA-1988333). We work only for the policyholder, never for the insurance company. Our office is in Suffern, about an hour down the Thruway, and we come to the property in person.
Call or text 845-456-6699. If you can, talk to us before the insurance company’s adjuster comes out. You can also send us your claim for a free review.
Why Ulster County claims are often large
A lot of Ulster County is rural and wooded, with older homes and many second homes. That changes how losses happen and how big they get:
- Wood stoves, fireplaces and oil or propane heat. Chimney and heating fires are common in the cold months, and a small fire can spread through an older house quickly.
- Longer response times. Many roads in the Catskills and the Shawangunk area are far from the nearest firehouse, and many have no hydrants, so water has to be brought in. More of the house can be lost before the fire is out.
- Frozen pipes in empty houses. Weekend and seasonal homes in Woodstock, Saugerties, Stone Ridge, Kerhonkson and Phoenicia can sit for weeks. A pipe that bursts on Monday may not be found until Friday.
- Wells, pumps and septic. A failed well pump, supply line or septic backup can soak a finished basement or the whole first floor.
- Storms and trees. Wind, ice and heavy snow bring trees down on roofs and cars, and power outages can let a house freeze.
- Older buildings. Kingston’s historic homes and older storefronts often need code upgrades and matching materials in the rebuild.
What to do first
- Call 911 or a plumber for the emergency, and shut off the water at the main or the well pump if it is a leak.
- Have a restoration company board up, tarp, or dry out the house. That protects the property and is normally part of the claim.
- Report the claim to your insurer and write down the claim number and the adjuster’s name.
- Take photos and video of everything before anything is thrown out, including closets, the basement and the attic.
- Do not sign a final settlement or a release until the whole loss has been measured.
Where Ulster County claims get underpaid
- Smoke and soot in rooms away from the fire, in the attic and in the ductwork
- Water that spread under floors and into walls, especially in homes that sat empty
- Flooring, cabinets and siding that have to match across the house
- Code upgrades in older homes, like wiring, chimneys and stairs
- Contents in seasonal homes that nobody listed
- Living expenses that stop before the repairs are finished
- “Vacancy” or “freezing” denials on second homes that may not hold up under the actual policy wording
Related help: fire damage claims, smoke and soot damage, burst pipe and large water losses, denied or underpaid claims, commercial property claims and our public adjuster FAQ.
Ulster County towns we cover
We work throughout Ulster County, including Kingston, New Paltz, Ellenville, Saugerties, Woodstock, Rosendale, Highland, Marlboro, Wallkill, Gardiner, Esopus, Stone Ridge, Accord, Kerhonkson, Napanoch, Phoenicia and Shandaken. Nearby, see our pages for Sullivan County, Dutchess County, Newburgh and Orange County. For the whole state, see New York.
Frequently asked questions
Do you come to Ulster County in person?
Yes. We inspect the property ourselves, photograph and measure the damage, and meet the insurance company’s adjuster on site. Kingston and New Paltz are about an hour from our Suffern office.
Is GB Claims licensed in New York?
Yes. GB Claims LLC holds New York public adjuster license PA-1988333, issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services.
My weekend house froze while nobody was there. Will insurance pay?
It depends on the facts and the exact policy wording. Many policies limit coverage for freezing or for a home left vacant, but those rules have definitions and exceptions, for example if heat was kept on or the water was shut off. Do not accept a denial before someone has read the policy against what happened.
Does homeowners insurance cover a failed well pump or septic backup?
The pump itself is often treated as wear and tear, but the water damage it causes may be covered. Sewer and septic backup is usually covered only if the policy has a backup endorsement. Your policy wording decides it.
Can a public adjuster help if the insurer already paid?
Often yes. If damage was missed or underpaid, the claim can usually be reopened with a supplement within the policy’s time limits. Cashing the check usually does not close the claim unless you signed a release.
Talk to a licensed public adjuster
Fire, water or storm damage in Ulster County? Call or text 845-456-6699. Tell us what happened and we will tell you honestly whether we can help.
GB Claims LLC – Licensed Public Adjuster. NY License PA-1988333 · NJ License #3004401530 · PA License #1336704 · CT License #3004375850. We work only for the policyholder, never for the insurance company.