Adam Freed’s childhood home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire, just one of thousands devoured by wind-fueled flames in January. After the nightmare of losing just about everything came the reality of dealing with insurance claims.
“In a really hard moment, this was a way that I could feel better and people around me could feel better,” said Freed. “We could feel like we were taking back control in our lives after something really out of control happened to us.”
Freed was working on a home renovation app at the time, but he and his team pivoted to create an app focused on helping people deal with filing their insurance claims.
The Bevel app uses artificial intelligence to help families build a comprehensive inventory of what was lost. Users can start entering items they recall, room by room.
“We’ll remind you of things you are likely to forget, but the fastest way is to just get a photo,” Freed said.
When Freed demonstrated with a picture of his own office, within seconds, the app started to populate a comprehensive list that included brand names for some items.
The app will also analyze pictures taken during holidays or parties, something Nancy Jorgensborg found particularly helpful after as she and her husband Erik worked to create a detailed list for their insurance company.
Jorgensborg was able to use a picture taken during a shower she’d thrown to document the china and crystal lost when their home of 44 years was destroyed in the Palisades Fire.
“It’s so user friendly,” she said about the app. “It’s also intuitive, and I’m not a computer person.”
When they packed up on Jan. 7, the Jorgensborgs didn’t expect to lose everything, but Erik Jorgensborg did have the foresight to take a video inside their home, a video they’ve since used to help document all that was lost.
“The two things we’ve learned is your list needs to be accurate, and it needs to be long,” said Freed.
Freed tells users to remember to log the contents of drawers, pantries and tool chests in the garage.
The detailed lists can then quickly be exported to spread sheets, which is what most insurance companies require.
But the app is also designed for users to create a comprehensive inventory before disaster strikes. Freed hopes people will start taking stock of their belongings now.
“Be prepared. we never know in California when something’s going to happen,” said Freed. “It could be an earthquake, it could be a fire, but the insurance company is going to want this list. We’ve made it available for free. Just make the list now.”
Nancy and Erik Jorgensborg are now on their 6th insurance adjuster. They’re hopeful the comprehensive list their now creating with the Bevel app will finally result in the insurance pay out they’re counting on.
“You have the stress of a fire, now you have the stress of rebuilding your house,” said Erik Jorgensborg. “You want to know how much you’re going to get from insurance so you can budget rebuilding a new house.”
Freed says giving people the tools to move forward is what Bevel is all about.
Source: NBC Los Angeles