Insurance and make-good
After storm damage, water ingress, or impact damage on a rental property, the work isn't just the repair — it's the documentation an insurer will accept. We assess on site, scope an itemised quote insurers actually approve, coordinate the trades the claim needs, and write up a final report for the claim file.
What insurers actually need
Insurance work fails at the documentation stage more often than the trade stage. An insurer wants four things on file: an itemised scope of the damage (not 'storm damage to bathroom'), photo evidence dated to the assessment visit, clear pricing tied to the scope, and trade documentation for any licensed work involved (roof plumbing, electrical, gas).
A quote that lacks any of these gets queried, delayed, or partially declined. The repair itself might be straightforward; the paperwork is what holds claims up.
Excell scopes insurance jobs to the format insurers expect. The first visit on a damaged property is an assessment, not a quote — we document, photograph, list every affected item, and then quote against that scope rather than estimating off a phone description.
How we run a claim job
Assessment within the week (same-day for active damage like an unresolved leak). Itemised quote within 48 hours, formatted for the insurer's adjuster. Trade coordination once the claim is approved — a single contact across multiple trades. Final report once work is complete, including before-and-after photos and any compliance documentation generated along the way.
The property manager doesn't run the trade scheduling. We do. The PM forwards the insurer's approval; we run the job and report back.
Where licensed trades coordinate in
Most insurance claims involve at least one regulated trade. Storm damage often involves licensed roof plumbing. Water damage from a burst pipe involves licensed plumbing and sometimes licensed electrical if water reached a switchboard or fixed wiring. Impact damage to a gas appliance involves a licensed gasfitter.
For each of these, the trade is coordinated through Excell — the invoice carries the licence number, a certificate of safety or equivalent is issued where prescribed, and the documentation flows into the claim file as a matter of course. The insurer's adjuster doesn't have to chase paperwork from three different trades on three different invoices.
Common scenarios
- Storm has damaged tiles and flashing on a 1950s home; ceiling stain in the main bedroom. Same-day assessment, itemised quote within 48 hours, licensed roof plumbing scope included.
- Burst pipe in an upstairs ensuite has saturated the ceiling and walls in the room below. Plumbing repair, drying, plaster make-good, paint — single job, single quote, single report.
- Tenant has driven a car into the carport, damaging support timber and the back wall. Carport rebuild, timber replacement, render and paint — all scoped against the claim.
- Owners corporation common-area leak has damaged a unit's ceiling. We assess for the unit owner, scope the make-good, and coordinate with the OC's own remediation contractor for the source fix.
- Insurer has approved the claim but disputes one line item. We rework the quote with additional photo evidence; claim approved on resubmission.
How it works
- Submit
Submit a job through the form, the chatbot, or by calling. We need the address, the issue, and the urgency.
- Callback
We'll call back the same business day to confirm scope and schedule. Mon–Sun, 7am to 6pm.
- Schedule
We book the right trade against your timeline, coordinate access, and confirm with the tenant where needed.
- Completion
Work is photo-documented before-and-after. One invoice, one contact, no chasing.