Another Sugar House business says roadwork is costing it
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Diverging Reports Breakdown
Sugar House businesses celebrate construction halt for the holidays
For more than a year, orange barrels, lane closures and traffic congestion have been part of 2100 South between 1300 East and 1000 East. The construction has been making it very difficult for customers to find parking and navigate getting to many of the businesses. For some businesses, they had no choice but to close their doors. “Our street was pretty torn apart before so we are seeing the beauty come out of it now,” Jennifer Williamson, the owner of Olio Skin and Beard Co. said, “Come shop, come enjoy eating, drinking, and shopping these small businesses”
“Okay we can pay this next paycheck,” said Emily Potts, the owner of Sugar House Coffee. She’s owned the place for 14 years, and said this year with construction was one of the worst financial years she’s seen.
“We are down about 33%,” Potts told KSL TV.
For more than a year, orange barrels, lane closures and traffic congestion have been part of 2100 South between 1300 East and 1000 East. The construction has been making it very difficult for customers to find parking and navigate getting to many of the businesses.
For some businesses, they had no choice but to close their doors.
“We lost Sugar House Barbecue we lost Pizza Volta here on the corner we’ve lost Fiddler’s Elbow,” said small business owner Derek Williamson, who is also the vice chair of the Sugar House Community Council. “Just countless other little coffee shops little café’s that didn’t make it.”
That’s why what businesses are now seeing along 2100 South is such a welcoming site. Free-flowing traffic, with no orange barrels or lane closures. A one-month holiday gift from the city of Salt Lake.
“My 19 employees are my kids, and so I wanted them to keep their hours. And the thought of having to cut their hours is tough,” Potts said. “I paid them as much as I could but also did what I had to do to keep the doors open.”
Barber Kyle Condie, who owns Sugar House Barber Shop, said it’s nice to finally see foot traffic again. “The roads are clear of construction. There are no cones anywhere, no blockage, people are out walking around again.”
“Looking beautiful,” Jennifer Williamson, the owner of Olio Skin and Beard Co., said. “Our street was pretty torn apart before so we are seeing the beauty come out of it now.”
“Fourth quarter for all small businesses makes our year, and to have this section of Sugar House open for our small businesses to try and maximize their dollar this holiday season means everything,” Williamson said.
That’s why he wants everyone to know, “I want to tell the public Sugar House is open. Come shop, come enjoy eating, drinking, and shopping these small businesses.”
Delayed 2 years by fire, Utah restaurateurs find ‘silver lining’ in new Sugar House location
Hearth and Hill is Brooks Kirchheimer’s second restaurant in Salt Lake City. It’s located on the ground floor of a mixed-use apartment complex in Sugar House. The restaurant should have opened at least two years ago, but it all but went up in smoke in 2022. A massive fire broke out at the site, lasting for several days and costing $59 million in damages.”We can’t wait for more and more guests to come in here and also be a part of it,” Kirchheimers says. “It’s surreal to see it finally come to life,” he adds. “We didn’t blink an eye about staying here,” his father-in-law says of the building’s location. “A ‘silver lining’ on the edge of the collapse,” says Sugar House Chamber of Commerce co-chairwoman Erika Wiggins. ‘It was harder than we ever expected at the time,’ Wiggins says. ‘We’re just happy to be here and to be part of the community’
SALT LAKE CITY — Brooks Kirchheimer brims as he whisks a tour around to a private dining room space at the back of his newest restaurant located on the ground floor of a soon-to-open mixed-use apartment complex in the heart of Sugar House.
He talks about the lighting expert he hired from New York to design the hundreds of lights scattered throughout the building to create what he hopes will be the perfect aura for future diners, as well as the unique ceiling sizes and dining spaces that blend into the rest of Hearth and Hill.
Some of the restaurant’s staff are preparing nearby for the first crowds to walk through the doors a few hours from now, where they will be stationed by a “true chef’s counter” that gives customers a unique view of kitchen operations. It’s a feature partly inspired by a previous restaurant at which Kirchheimer worked and partly influenced by a growing fascination with the industry as portrayed on TV.
“(During) the pandemic, people spent more time at home looking at cooking shows,” he said while guiding a tour. “(This) really gives them a true look and feel into where their food is being made. But it also just adds to the overall ambiance and action of the restaurant dining experience.”
This is his second Hearth and Hill, a business that Kirchheimer co-created in Park City nearly a decade ago. It’s now officially open after a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday afternoon.
Hill’s Kitchen, his other restaurant inside The Residence At Sugar Alley, is slated to open in a few weeks, while residents will also begin to move into the eight-story, 193-unit complex in April.
Brooks Kirchheimer cuts a ribbon alongside his family and Hearth and Hill staff during a ceremony at the Salt Lake City restaurant on Friday. (Photo: Carter Williams, KSL.com)
While he’s always eager to open a new restaurant, there’s an extra sense of relief when it comes to this one. That’s because this restaurant should have already opened at least two years ago, but it — and other lofty plans for one of the city’s fastest-growing neighborhoods — all but went up in smoke in 2022.
Reflecting on it now, he can only chuckle and chalk it up as one of the setbacks that makes the restaurant industry so difficult.
“It’s surreal to see it finally come to life,” Kirchheimer said. “We can’t wait for more and more guests to come in here and also be a part of it.”
A major setback
Planning for the second Hearth and Hill began about four years ago. Kirchheimer and his father/business partner, David Kirchheimer, signed a lease with Lowe Property Group on Lowe’s new property at 2188 S. Highland Drive in 2021.
Construction was moving along well when everything came crashing down in the fall of 2022.
Hours after the Kirchheimers secured a liquor license and building permits needed as they laid out their plans, a massive fire broke out at the site, lasting for several days and costing $59 million in damages. Investigators later stated that it was likely caused by either heaters or an electrical issue.
Crews battle a large fire at an apartment building under construction near 1040 East and 2220 South in Salt Lake City on Oct. 25, 2022. (Photo: Jay Hancock, KSL-TV)
It forced everyone to start from scratch. David Kirchheimer remembers two other retailers opting out of their leases, while Lowe allowed the Kirchheimers to back out too. However, they had fallen in love with the location and other aspects of their plans.
By sticking to a new building, they could customize the restaurant layout in sync with the rest of the complex construction. That includes all the fancy details patrons will notice and all the background infrastructure few people think about when walking into a restaurant.
“We didn’t blink an eye about staying here,” David Kirchheimer said.
A ‘silver lining’
While the fire delayed the restaurant’s opening two years, it could have been worse. Ben Lowe, chief development officer of Lowe Property Group, said last year that firefighters were able to save about a year’s worth of construction by salvaging its parking garage.
It also helped the restaurateurs avoid another logistical nightmare. Salt Lake City began its 1100 East/Highland Drive project in 2023, which gutted the road in front of businesses in the area for large chunks of that year and 2024.
That, paired with 2100 South construction that began last year and is still ongoing, left several businesses “teetering” on the edge of collapse, Erika Wiggins, co-chairwoman of the Sugar House Chamber of Commerce, explained in November 2024.
“It was harder than we ever expected,” she said at the time.
David Kirchheimer, right, speaks next to his son, Brooks, during a tour of their restaurant Hearth and Hill in Salt Lake City’s Sugar House neighborhood on Friday. (Photo: Carter Williams, KSL.com)
Brooks Kirchheimer says he knows business owners who closed or relocated because of the construction. With construction on the rest of the building now wrapping up, Highland Drive outside of the complex is looking more like its old self for the first time in years.
“It’s a silver lining in an otherwise dark cloud,” David Kirchheimer added. “Because of the fire, all that work was done before we opened as opposed to during our operations. That would have been a problem.”
It’s allowed the Kirchheimers to think more about the logistics of the restaurant’s 180-seat interior, its aesthetics and menu, one that’s similar to the Park City location but with unique twists special to different chefs. The same goes for Hill’s Kitchen, which will also hold a bakery to bake bread for all its locations.
That’s not to say there wasn’t one last hiccup before Friday’s opening. Brooks Kirchheimer said the power went out in the area about halfway through one of its soft openings earlier this week. It was a moment he immediately laughed off.
“(It was) nothing compared to what we’ve been through in the past,” he said.
Home insurance guide
Home insurance protects you financially if your home or property is damaged or destroyed by something your policy covers, like a fire or storm. Most policies don’t cover damages from: Fire and lightning Flooding Sudden and accidental release of water or smoke A continuous water leak; policies also won’t cover mold removal, except to repair damage caused by a covered risk. Termites, insects, rats, or mice Theft Losses that occur if your house is vacant for the number of days specified by your policy. Earthquakes or earth movement Windstorm, hurricane, and hail (but not if you live on the Gulf Coast) Wind or hail to trees and shrubs. Watch: Does my insurance policy cover that? | What are covered perils? Most policies provide either replacement cost coverage or actual cash value coverage. Read your policy or talk to your agent to be sure of your exact coverages. Learn more: Do you have enough insurance coverage to pay for home or car repairs? | Watch: Insuring life’s treasures
Texas has a Consumer Bill of Rights for home and renters insurance. Your insurance company will give you a copy of the Bill of Rights when you get or renew a policy.
Is home insurance required?
The law doesn’t require you to have home insurance. But if you still owe money on your home, your lender will require you to have it. Even though it’s not legally required, home insurance is a good idea because it helps protect your home and other assets.
Learn more: 10 steps to find the right home insurance | Tips to help you shop for homeowners insurance
Types of home insurance coverages
Home policies combine several types of coverage into one policy. Most home policies in Texas include these six coverages:
Dwelling coverage pays if your house is damaged or destroyed by something your policy covers. Personal property coverage pays if your furniture, clothing, and other things you own are stolen, damaged, or destroyed. Other structures coverage pays to repair structures on your property that aren’t attached to your house. This includes detached garages, storage sheds, and fences. Additional living expenses coverage pays if you have to move while your house is being repaired to fix damages your policy covers. Additional living expenses include rent, food, and other costs you wouldn’t have if you were still in your home. Personal liability coverage pays medical bills, lost wages, and other costs for people that you’re legally responsible for injuring. It also pays if you’re responsible for damaging someone else’s property. It also pays your court costs if you’re sued because of an accident. Medical payments coverage pays the medical bills of people hurt on your property. It also pays for some injuries that happen away from your home – if your dog bites someone at the park, for instance.
Learn more: Do you have enough insurance coverage to pay for home or car repairs? | Watch: Insuring life’s treasures
What risks does a home policy cover?
Your home policy protects you against different risks, or perils. Risks and perils are things that could damage your house or property. This table shows common risks that most policies do and don’t cover. Coverages vary by company. Read your policy or talk to your agent to be sure of your exact coverages.
What risks does a home policy cover? Most policies cover damages from: Most policies don’t cover damages from: Fire and lightning Flooding Sudden and accidental release of water or smoke A continuous water leak; policies also won’t cover mold removal, except to repair damage caused by a covered risk Explosion Termites, insects, rats, or mice Theft Losses that occur if your house is vacant for the number of days specified by your policy Vandalism, malicious mischief, riot, and civil commotion Wear and tear Aircraft and vehicles Earthquakes or earth movement Windstorm, hurricane, and hail (but not if you live on the Gulf Coast) Wind or hail to trees and shrubs
Learn more: Home insurance policies: All risk or named peril
Watch: Does my insurance policy cover that? | What are covered perils?
Replacement cost vs. actual cash value coverage
Home policies provide either replacement cost coverage or actual cash value coverage. To be fully protected, make sure your policy has replacement cost coverage.
Replacement cost coverage pays to repair or replace your house and personal property at current prices. For example, say you bought a new roof 10 years ago and the current price for a new roof is $10,000. If you have to replace your entire roof after a storm, a replacement cost policy would pay for a new roof at today’s prices. If you have a $2,000 deductible, your company would pay $8,000.
pays to repair or replace your house and personal property at current prices. For example, say you bought a new roof 10 years ago and the current price for a new roof is $10,000. If you have to replace your entire roof after a storm, a replacement cost policy would pay for a new roof at today’s prices. If you have a $2,000 deductible, your company would pay $8,000. Actual cash value coverage pays replacement cost minus depreciation. Depreciation is a decrease in value because of wear and age. In the same example of the 10-year-old roof, the actual cash value might be $7,000. After your $2,000 deductible, your company would pay $5,000. You’d have to pay the rest of the cost of the new roof yourself. This means your total out-of-pocket costs for an actual cash value policy would be $5,000, compared with $2,000 for a replacement cost policy.
Learn more: Home policies: Replacement cost or actual cash value?
Deductibles and dollar limits
If you have a claim, you must meet a deductible.
A deductible is the amount of a claim that you must pay yourself. For instance, if you have a $1,000 claim and your policy has a $300 deductible, the insurance company will deduct $300 from your claim amount and pay you $700. You might have different deductibles for each type of coverage.
Learn more: What to know about deductibles
Policies pay only up to their dollar limits.
Each type of coverage has a dollar limit. Make sure you have enough coverage to replace your home and property if you have a total loss. If you don’t have enough coverage, you’ll have to pay the difference yourself. Most companies require you to insure your house for at least 80% of its replacement cost. Some companies require you to insure your house for 100% of its replacement cost.
The first page of your policy is the declarations page. It has a summary of your policy, including your coverages, dollar limits, and deductibles.
Personal property coverage
Home policies usually pay a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit to repair or replace your furniture, clothes, and other property. For example, say you insure your house for $100,000 and your policy covers your property at 20% of that. Your personal property would be insured for up to $20,000.
Home policies limit what they’ll pay for things like jewelry and art. If you own expensive jewelry, art, or other items, talk to your agent about adding more coverage.
Make a list of the items you own.
A complete list of your property will help you decide how much coverage you need and will make filing claims easier.
Update your list regularly. If you can, include the date you bought each item, its value, and its serial number. This is especially important for expensive items. Photograph or videotape each room, including closets, storage buildings, and your garage. Open drawers and photograph what’s inside. Keep the list and receipts for major items in a fireproof safe or at another location. Use our Home Inventory Checklist to help make your list.
Learn more: You need a home inventory
Other coverages you might need
Your home policy might not protect you against some risks. You can buy a separate policy or add on to your policy if you need more protection.
Flood insurance
Most home policies don’t cover damage caused by floods. If your home is in a designated flood zone, your lender requires you to have flood insurance. But floods can happen anywhere. More than half of homes flooded by Hurricane Harvey were outside of designated flood zones.
Talk to your home insurance agent about getting a flood policy from your insurance company or the National Flood Insurance Program. If your agent doesn’t sell flood insurance, call 877-336-2627 for help. Most flood policies have a 30-day waiting period before kicking in so don’t wait for an approaching storm before deciding to buy coverage.
Learn more: Do you need flood insurance?
Windstorm and hail insurance on the Gulf Coast
If you live on the Texas coast or in Harris County on Galveston Bay, your home policy doesn’t cover wind and hail damage. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) sells wind and hail coverage for coastal residents. You buy TWIA coverage from local insurance agents. Depending on where you live, you might need flood insurance before TWIA will sell you a policy. You also might need a home inspection by an engineer or a windstorm inspector. For more information, visit twia.org or call 800-788-8247.
Don’t wait until the last minute to buy wind and hail insurance. TWIA won’t sell you a policy if there’s a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.
Learn more: Home, flood, wind: Which policies do you need? | What is windstorm insurance? Watch: Windstorm insurance inspections
Extra liability coverage
Home policies provide liability protection, but the amount of coverage is limited. If you want more coverage than your policy provides, you can buy a separate umbrella liability policy.
Extra coverage (endorsements)
Most companies offer endorsements, or policy add-ons, that let you increase or add coverage. Common endorsements include coverage for:
Jewelry, fine arts, or electronics (your policy provides some coverage, but it might not be enough to cover expensive items).
Backup of sewers or drains.
Damage to foundations or slabs.
Extra construction or repair costs to meet local building codes.
Extra construction costs if your policy doesn’t pay enough to rebuild your home.
Mold removal.
Damage from earthquakes.
Coverage for short-term rentals
Most policies won’t pay for damages or injuries that occur during short-term rentals. If you rent out your house for short-term lodging, ask your insurance agent if you’re covered. You might need to buy more coverage.
If you’re a guest in a short-term rental, your home or renters policy might cover you if you damage a host’s property. Ask your insurance agent before you rent. If you’re renting through an app or website that offers insurance coverage, ask your agent if you need it.
Learn more: Home sharing: 3 questions to ask | Watch: How to protect yourself if you have a short-term rental or rideshare
Other types of property insurance
Renters insurance covers your clothes, furniture, and other personal property if they’re stolen or damaged while you’re living in a rented house or apartment. Renters insurance won’t pay to fix the house or apartment building. The building owner’s policy does that. You might not need renters insurance if you’re still a dependent. Your parents’ home policy might cover your property, even if you’re not living at home.
covers your clothes, furniture, and other personal property if they’re stolen or damaged while you’re living in a rented house or apartment. Renters insurance won’t pay to fix the house or apartment building. The building owner’s policy does that. You might not need renters insurance if you’re still a dependent. Your parents’ home policy might cover your property, even if you’re not living at home. Condominium insurance covers your personal property and the interior of your unit. It also provides liability protection and pays additional living expenses.
covers your personal property and the interior of your unit. It also provides liability protection and pays additional living expenses. Townhouse insurance can either cover the interior and exterior of your townhouse, or just the interior. The difference depends on whether the homeowners association has a master policy that covers the exterior. If it does, you can buy a policy that covers only the interior. If the association’s master policy doesn’t cover the exterior, you can buy a policy that covers both the interior and exterior. Townhouse insurance also covers your personal property and provides liability and additional living expenses coverage.
can either cover the interior and exterior of your townhouse, or just the interior. The difference depends on whether the homeowners association has a master policy that covers the exterior. If it does, you can buy a policy that covers only the interior. If the association’s master policy doesn’t cover the exterior, you can buy a policy that covers both the interior and exterior. Townhouse insurance also covers your personal property and provides liability and additional living expenses coverage. Mobile home insurance covers the mobile home, your personal property, and additional living expenses. It also provides liability coverage.
covers the mobile home, your personal property, and additional living expenses. It also provides liability coverage. Farm and ranch insurance is for homes outside city limits on land used for farming and raising livestock.
Watch: What to check before renewing your home insurance
Understanding rates and premiums
Texas law requires insurance companies to charge rates that are fair, reasonable, and adequate for the risks they cover. We don’t approve rates in advance, but if we find that an insurance company’s rates are too high, we can require it to pay refunds to the people it overcharged. Insurance companies may appeal our decisions.
Setting your rates
Insurance companies use a process called underwriting to decide whether to sell you a policy and how much to charge you. The amount you pay for insurance is called a premium. Each company’s underwriting rules are different. This means one company might be willing to sell you a policy, even if another company isn’t. It also means that different companies charge different rates.
Most companies consider these things when deciding on your premium:
Your home’s age and condition. Companies can’t turn you down just because of your home’s age or value, but they can charge you more.
Companies can’t turn you down just because of your home’s age or value, but they can charge you more. Your home’s replacement cost. Houses with higher replacement costs have higher premiums.
Houses with higher replacement costs have higher premiums. Construction materials. Premiums are higher for houses built completely of wood. They’re lower for houses built of brick or stone.
Premiums are higher for houses built completely of wood. They’re lower for houses built of brick or stone. Where you live. Premiums are higher in areas that have more storms or crime.
Premiums are higher in areas that have more storms or crime. Availability of local fire protection. Premiums are lower for houses that are close to fire stations.
Premiums are lower for houses that are close to fire stations. Your claims history. Your premiums might be higher if you’ve had claims in the past.
Your premiums might be higher if you’ve had claims in the past. Your credit score. Some companies use your credit score to decide what to charge you. Your premiums will be lower if you have good credit. A company can’t turn you down based only on your credit, however.
Learn more: Know how auto and homeowners insurance costs are calculated | How your credit score can affect your insurance rates
Insurance companies may check the claim history of you and your house.
Most companies use the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) to learn your claims history. CLUE reports show the claims history of people and houses, regardless of who owned them, for the last seven years. A company can charge you more or refuse to sell you a policy based on the information in your CLUE report.
Companies can report information to CLUE only if you filed a claim. You can challenge wrong information. You can get a free copy of the report each year. Call LexisNexis at 866-312-8076.
Learn more: How to get a CLUE about your claims history
Ask about discounts.
Discounts help lower your premium. Each company decides what discounts to offer and the amount of the discount. You might be able to get a discount if you have:
A monitored burglar or fire alarm system.
A sprinkler system.
An impact-resistant roof.
A newer home or a home in good condition.
Other policies with the same insurance company.
No claims for three years in a row.
Visit HelpInsure.com to find out what discounts companies offer.
Your rights
An insurance company may not:
Turn you down or charge you more because of your race, color, religion, or national origin.
Turn you down or charge more because of your age, gender, marital status, geographic location, or disability unless the company can show that you’re a greater risk for a loss than other people it’s willing to insure.
Turn you down, charge you more, or treat you differently than other people in your rate or risk class unless the company can show that you’re a greater risk than others.
Turn you down or charge you more only because of your credit score.
Losing your insurance
If you ask, a company must tell you in writing why it turned you down or didn’t renew your policy. You may complain to us if you think a company improperly denied, canceled, or nonrenewed your policy.
What happens if a company cancels my policy or doesn’t renew it?
Cancellation means either you or the insurance company stops coverage before your policy’s end date. A company must give you 10 days’ notice before it cancels your policy. A company may cancel your policy in the first 60 days if:
It learns about a risk you didn’t tell it about and that wasn’t part of a previous claim.
It doesn’t accept a copy of a required inspection report before the policy starts.
An insurance company may cancel your policy anytime if:
You stop paying your premiums.
You file a fraudulent claim.
Continuing the policy violates the law.
There’s an increase in risk within your control that would raise your premium.
If either you or the company cancels your policy, the company must refund any unearned premium to you within 15 days after the date of the cancellation. Unearned premium is the amount you paid in advance that didn’t go toward coverage. For example, say your premium is $100 a month, or $1,200 a year. If you paid for the full year in advance, but then cancel your policy after one month, the company would owe you $1,100 in unearned premium.
Nonrenewal means a company refuses to renew your policy when it expires. Your company must give you the reason for the nonrenewal if you ask. It must give you 60 days’ notice of a nonrenewal if you bought or renewed your policy in 2024. If you bought or renewed your policy in 2023 or earlier, it must give you 30 days’ notice.
A company may nonrenew your policy if:
Your house is in bad condition. Instead of nonrenewal, the company might require you to repair damage before it renews your policy. Companies usually give you at least six months to make repairs.
You file three or more nonweather-related claims in three years. If you file two nonweather-related claims, the company must tell you that you’re in danger of nonrenewal. If it doesn’t, it can’t refuse to renew your policy because of a third claim. The first two appliance-related water damage claims don’t count if you’ve fixed the damage and it’s passed inspection by a qualified inspector. A company can raise your rates if you file two or more nonweather-related claims.
Your house is vacant for 60 days or more. Most companies stop your coverage if your house is vacant for that long. They usually don’t stop your liability coverage, though. If you plan to be out of your house for an extended time, talk to your company to make sure your coverage continues.
It decided to limit the coverage it sells in your area.
A company may not refuse to renew your policy if you file a claim for something your policy doesn’t cover.
What if I can’t find a company willing to insure me?
If you can’t find a company to sell you a policy, you might be able to get coverage through the Texas FAIR Plan Association or a surplus lines insurance company. FAIR Plan and surplus lines coverage is more expensive than coverage from a standard insurance company.
The Texas FAIR Plan Association sells basic home insurance. You can get FAIR Plan coverage if you can’t find a Texas-licensed company to insure you and at least two companies have turned you down. For more information, call your agent or the FAIR Plan at 800-979-6440.
Surplus lines companies are out-of-state companies that insure risks that companies in Texas won’t insure. Although they don’t have a Texas license, they must meet state standards to sell insurance here. Surplus lines companies must be licensed in their home state or country. Agents must make a good effort to find coverage with a Texas-licensed company before selling you a surplus lines policy.
Home insurance claims
To help make the claim process go smoothly, follow these tips:
Tell your company as soon as possible. Most companies have deadlines for you to file a claim. Some policies have a one-year deadline unless you can show good cause for the delay. If you have a wind and hail policy with TWIA, you have one year from the date of damage to file a claim. For more information about TWIA claims, call our Coastal Outreach and Assistance Services Team at 855-35COAST(855-352-6278).
Most companies have deadlines for you to file a claim. Some policies have a one-year deadline unless you can show good cause for the delay. If you have a wind and hail policy with TWIA, you have one year from the date of damage to file a claim. For more information about TWIA claims, call our Coastal Outreach and Assistance Services Team at 855-35COAST(855-352-6278). Make a list of your damaged property. If possible, take pictures or videos of the damage before making any repairs.
If possible, take pictures or videos of the damage before making any repairs. Make only temporary repairs to protect your house and belongings. For instance, board up broken windows or put a tarp over a damaged roof. Don’t make permanent repairs. The insurance company might deny your claim if you make permanent repairs before it sees the damage.
For instance, board up broken windows or put a tarp over a damaged roof. Don’t make permanent repairs. The insurance company might deny your claim if you make permanent repairs before it sees the damage. Keep receipts. To get full payment, you may need to prove to the insurance company that you replaced destroyed items. Receipts will help you do this. Also keep receipts for any materials you bought to make repairs.
To get full payment, you may need to prove to the insurance company that you replaced destroyed items. Receipts will help you do this. Also keep receipts for any materials you bought to make repairs. Try to be there when the insurance company’s adjuster looks at your damage. It’s a good idea to have your contractor with you. Your contractor can talk to the adjuster about estimates and other issues.
It’s a good idea to have your contractor with you. Your contractor can talk to the adjuster about estimates and other issues. Make sure your company knows how to contact you. If you have to move, give your adjuster and company your new address and a phone number where you can be reached.
Learn more: Steps to getting your home or car insurance claim paid | Is it OK for a contractor to waive my deductible?
Watch: 4 ways to avoid contractor scams
After I file my claim, what can I expect?
Texas law sets deadlines for insurance companies to act after you’ve filed a claim. Your company must:
Tell you that it got your claim within 15 days. The company may ask you for a signed, notarized proof of loss form. You’ll need to list your damaged or lost items. Don’t forget to include small items like kitchen utensils and bathroom accessories. The company may ask you for other information. To help the claim process go smoothly, provide all the information as soon as you can.
The company may ask you for a signed, notarized proof of loss form. You’ll need to list your damaged or lost items. Don’t forget to include small items like kitchen utensils and bathroom accessories. The company may ask you for other information. To help the claim process go smoothly, provide all the information as soon as you can. Send an adjuster to look at your damage. The adjuster will decide how much damage you have and estimate the cost to repair or replace your property. The insurance company will base its payment on the adjuster’s estimate. After the company assigns an adjuster to your claim, the adjuster will probably be your main contact with the company. If the damage turns out to be worse than the adjuster originally thought, you or your contractor can talk to the adjuster about raising the estimate.
The adjuster will decide how much damage you have and estimate the cost to repair or replace your property. The insurance company will base its payment on the adjuster’s estimate. After the company assigns an adjuster to your claim, the adjuster will probably be your main contact with the company. If the damage turns out to be worse than the adjuster originally thought, you or your contractor can talk to the adjuster about raising the estimate. Accept or deny your claim within 15 business days of getting all the information it needs from you. If the company denies your claim, it must tell you why in writing. The deadline may be longer after major disasters.
If the company denies your claim, it must tell you why in writing. The deadline may be longer after major disasters. Send you a check within five business days after it agrees to pay your claim. If the insurance company doesn’t meet the payment deadline, you can sue the company for the amount of the claim, plus interest and attorney fees.
There are some exceptions to the deadlines:
A company that needs more time can take 45 days to decide whether to pay your claim. It must tell you the reason for the delay.
If a company suspects arson, it has 30 days to accept or deny your claim.
A surplus lines company has 20 business days to pay your claim after it agrees to pay.
TWIA has 60 days to tell you whether it will accept or deny your claim. They might ask you for more information. Once they have the information they need and have accepted your claim, they have 10 days to pay.
Learn more: Will my premium go up if I file a claim?
What if I need help negotiating my claim?
You can hire a public insurance adjuster to help you. Public adjusters work for you, not the insurance company. Public adjusters charge fees for their services. Before you hire one, make sure you understand what you’ll have to pay.
Public adjusters can’t give legal advice or take part in repairing your property. They also can’t do anything that would be a conflict of interest. Public adjusters must have a TDI license. To learn whether a public adjuster is licensed, call our Help Line at 800-252-3439 or use the Look up an agent feature on our website.
How companies pay claims
Repair claims
If you owe money on your home, the insurance company will make the check for repairs out to both you and your mortgage company. When you get the check, you’ll need to endorse it and send it to the mortgage company. In most cases, the mortgage company will deposit the check and release money to you as the work is done.
The mortgage company may ask you for more information before it releases money to you. For instance, you might need to give the mortgage company a list of the work to be done and cost estimates, information about who’s doing the work, and timelines. After the mortgage company gets the information, it must release all or some of the money to you within 10 days. If your mortgage company doesn’t release the money on time, complain to the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Call 800-252-8011 or visit TexasAttorneyGeneral.gov.
If you have a replacement cost policy, most companies pay with two checks.
You’ll get the first check after the adjuster has looked at your damage. This check will be for the estimated cost of repairs, minus depreciation and your deductible. Depreciation is an amount subtracted for wear and tear or age. A deductible is the amount of the claim that you must pay yourself. Read your policy or ask your agent if you don’t know how much your deductible is.
The insurance company will give you a check for the amount it kept for depreciation after it gets the bill for the finished job. You usually must complete repairs within a certain period of time. Ask your agent or adjuster if you’re not sure how long you have to repair or replace your property.
Personal property claims
If you have to replace your clothes, furniture, and other personal items, the insurance company will make the check out to you. If you have replacement cost coverage, you’ll get two checks. The first will be for the actual cash value of the items. Actual cash value is the cost to replace the item, minus depreciation. After you’ve replaced the item, the company will give you a check for the rest of your claim amount.
Additional living expenses claims
If you must move while your house is being repaired, your policy might pay for your additional living expenses, or ALE. Additional living expenses include rent, food, and other costs you wouldn’t have if you were still in your home.
If your policy covers ALE, it might be limited to 10 to 20% of the amount of the dwelling coverage on your house.
Watch your expenses to make sure you don’t run out of ALE.
Your insurance company will pay for your additional living expenses only up to your policy’s ALE dollar limits. Because repairs on your home can sometimes take months, watch your expenses to make sure you have enough ALE to cover the entire time you’ll be out of your home. If you reach your policy’s ALE dollar limits before your home is fully repaired, you’ll have to pay the rest of your additional living expenses out of your own pocket.
Resolving problems
If you disagree with the adjuster’s estimate or the amount the company is offering to pay you, tell the insurance company why. You might be able to work things out by talking with the company or the adjuster. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, here are your options:
Ask for an appraisal. The appraisal process is for disputes about the amount of your claim. It isn’t for disputes about whether your policy covers a loss. If you use appraisal, you and the insurance company each hire an appraiser. The two appraisers then choose a third appraiser as an umpire. Your appraiser and the company’s appraiser each estimate the amount of your loss. If the estimates are different, the umpire makes the final decision. The umpire’s decision is binding on both you and the insurance company. You pay for your appraiser and half of the umpire’s expenses.
The appraisal process is for disputes about the amount of your claim. It isn’t for disputes about whether your policy covers a loss. If you use appraisal, you and the insurance company each hire an appraiser. The two appraisers then choose a third appraiser as an umpire. Your appraiser and the company’s appraiser each estimate the amount of your loss. If the estimates are different, the umpire makes the final decision. The umpire’s decision is binding on both you and the insurance company. You pay for your appraiser and half of the umpire’s expenses. Complain to us. Your complaint must be in writing. You can use our Online Complaint Portal.
Your complaint must be in writing. You can use our Online Complaint Portal. Resolve your issue in court. You might have to file a lawsuit to resolve the issue. If the damage was caused by a disaster, you must tell the company in writing at least 61 days before you sue. You can give less notice if waiting would cause you to miss the deadline for filing a suit.
If your claim is for less than $10,000, you can use Justice Court. Justice Court is a special court that handles small-claims disputes. You don’t need an attorney, but you have to pay a filing fee and other court costs in advance. If you win, you can get that money back. For more information, call your county justice of the peace office.
Learn more: What if my insurance isn’t paying enough?
New beginnings for Sugarhouse as construction nears completion
Two sister restaurants, Hearth and Hill and Hill’s Kitchen, are embracing the spirit of renewal with their much-anticipated openings. The construction, while necessary for improving accessibility for cars, bikes and pedestrians, has been a challenging period for the community. Sugarhouse Barbecue, which closed its doors last August after nearly three decades, was unable to withstand the pressures.Salt Lake City Manager Mark Stephens confirmed that the project is on track to conclude by this fall. The project is expected to be completed by fall of this year.
The major construction project along Highland Drive near 2100 South is expected to be completed by this fall, signaling the start of a revitalized era for the beloved neighborhood.
Local businesses, especially those along 2100 South, have endured significant challenges during the two-year project.
However, two sister restaurants, Hearth and Hill and Hill’s Kitchen, are embracing the spirit of renewal with their much-anticipated openings.
“Just enjoy the fresh air here in Sugarhouse,” said Brooks Kirchheimer, owner of the two establishments.
For Kirchheimer, these openings mark the end of a tumultuous journey that tested both resilience and determination.
“The community right here has been through a lot,” he noted, reflecting on the hardships brought by the construction and the devastating Sugarhouse fire.
The fire, which coincided with the day Kirchheimer’s team received its building permit and liquor license, put all plans on hold. Despite the setback, Kirchheimer’s commitment to being part of Sugarhouse never wavered.
“One thing we’re really excited about here in Sugarhouse is this beautiful covered patio,” he said with pride, looking forward to hosting guests in the revamped space.
The construction, while necessary for improving accessibility for cars, bikes and pedestrians, has been a challenging period for the community. Many businesses have struggled, with some — like Sugarhouse Barbecue, which closed its doors last August after nearly three decades — unable to withstand the pressures.
Still, the end is near, or you could say the beginning.
Salt Lake City Manager Mark Stephens confirmed that the project is on track to conclude by this fall.
“All construction is anticipated to be completed by fall of this year,” he stated.
Stephens and Kirchheimer share optimism about the future.
“This will truly be a destination location,” said Kirchheimer, envisioning a lively neighborhood free of orange cones and detour signs.
Stephens echoed the sentiment, noting the vibrancy that the finished project will bring.
‘It’s like COVID’: Sugar House businesses feel construction sting once again this summer
Salt Lake City’s 2100 South reconstruction project is one of the last pieces from the city’s Funding Our Future bond. The project has blended a reconstruction of the roadway along with the replacement of various infrastructure that’s about a century old. One westbound lane is still open on a section of the road that went through repairs last year, and sidewalks are open to get to businesses. Some businesses have closed, and some have relocated since construction began last year. The experience has been “brutal,” says Rick Seven, marketing director for Salt Lake Brewing Company. “People avoid Sugar House right now, and I kind of do too, honestly. If I don’t have to go there, I won’t,” he says. “It’s at a point where it’s like COVID,” he adds, referring to the pandemic that heavily disrupted his business and the whole restaurant industry. “Like we’re down to where COVID was, and that’s scary for us,” says Hopkins Brewing Company’s Chad Hopkins.
The city also warned him as road work neared his business along 2100 South earlier this year, but little could have prepared him for how construction would impact numbers at his brewpub, Hopkins Brewing Company. Year-over-year sales, he says, are down 20% this year after a 20% drop-off last year.
“We’re basically cut in half from a couple of years ago,” he told KSL.com Wednesday, while crews continued to work outside.
Construction recently returned to the heart of the Sugar House business district, cutting off eastbound traffic along 2100 South from 900 East to 1100 South while crews replace infrastructure underneath the road before resurfacing the road. One westbound lane is still open on a section of the road that went through repairs last year, and sidewalks are open to get to businesses.
Hopkins, who grew up in Sugar House, is thrilled about Salt Lake City’s plans to revamp the road that needed repair. However, with construction now directly outside the front door of his bar and restaurant, he’s left in a position where he’s had to ask his landlord for a reprieve while he braces for one last sting this summer.
“It’s at a point where it’s like COVID,” he said, referring to the pandemic that heavily disrupted his business and the whole restaurant industry. “Like we’re down to where COVID was, and that’s scary for us. … It’s been really rough this past month, especially.”
Sugar House construction
Salt Lake City’s 2100 South reconstruction project is one of the last pieces from Salt Lake City’s Funding Our Future bond, which city residents voted to approve in 2018. The project has blended a reconstruction of the roadway along with the replacement of various infrastructure that’s about a century old. All of the work now should push the need for those types of repairs in the future.
Construction began last year, but a separate project to repair 1100 East/Highland Drive took place during most of 2023 and 2024, wrapping up earlier this year.
A timeline of the 2100 South project from beginning to end. The project is ending its final stages after construction began last year. (Photo: Salt Lake City Transportation Division)
The area has also been home to rapid redevelopment as more mixed-use housing projects have been constructed over the past several years, adding to everything. It didn’t help that one of those projects caught fire in 2022, leading to shutdowns near the corner of 2100 South and Highland Drive for several days. The fire extended the complex’s construction timeline before it wrapped up earlier this year.
The ‘brutal’ impacts
Hopkins is far from alone in his struggles. The experience has been “brutal,” says Rick Seven, marketing director for Salt Lake Brewing Company, which owns eight restaurants, including the Corner Brew Pub Sugar House on the corner of 2100 South and Highland Drive.
Given its corner location, it’s been at the center of everything. The current construction outside its northern side is just the latest impact. Highland Drive’s reopening and the open 2100 South sidewalks have helped, but sales have lagged.
“We’ve tried to get people in. We’ve run specials; we’ve done a lot of things, and a lot of other (businesses) have to get people in,” he said.
Some businesses have closed, and some have relocated since construction began. SugarHouse Barbeque Company was among those last year. The restaurant faced several challenges before construction, largely because of the pandemic. Ownership saw the 2100 South project as the final nail in its coffin.
People avoid Sugar House right now, and I kind of do too, honestly. If I don’t have to go there, I won’t. –Rick Seven, marketing director for Salt Lake Brewing Company
Construction update meetings have been emotional for others still hanging on. Some have been on the “verge of tears” as they’ve described putting their life savings into keeping their business afloat, Seven said.
The headaches reached a boiling point for Bruges Belgian Bistro, which posted a video to social media on Monday describing the burdens that small businesses have faced for years now.
Pierre Vandamme, the owner and founder of Bruges Belgian Bistro, left, and Noe Vandamme, the company’s retail operations manager, discuss Sugar House construction hardships within their Sugar House location on Wednesday. (Photo: Carter Williams, KSL.com)
Although most of the construction has wrapped up outside the business along Highland Drive, Noe Vandamme, the restaurant’s retail operations manager, who narrated the video, said many people just refuse to go to the neighborhood while construction is going on elsewhere. It doesn’t help that another Highland Drive project, a few blocks from the business, is also underway right now.
The point of the video was to explain the situation and try to get people back to the area.
“There are a lot of businesses that need help; it’s not just us,” he said. “If you like a small business somewhere in Sugar House, especially on these roads that are really struggling right now, we’d love for you guys to go help them.”
The video quickly gained support from customers who say they’re frustrated with the construction. Impacted businesses say they understand why people avoid the area because traffic patterns have changed frequently over the years.
“People avoid Sugar House right now, and I kind of do too, honestly,” Seven said. “If I don’t have to go there, I won’t.”
The city’s response
Vandamme spoke to KSL.com shortly after city representatives met with them about the video. He said the meeting felt confrontational, while a city spokesperson said the meeting was part of outreach to better understand the concerns of businesses this summer.
Bruges received $3,000 from the city to help with construction impacts. Salt Lake City’s economic development department offers as much annually from its Small Business Construction Mitigation Grant Program, which goes toward hardship costs.
The city said the company only applied once out of three possibilities, but Pierre Vandamme, the business’ owner, said he didn’t bother applying again because of how small the paycheck was. Construction impacts have likely cost the business $150,000 to this point, he estimates as he sits inside his Sugar House shop.
He says the money it would take to relocate was also lost during the past few years of underperformance, but he’s willing to consider that if things don’t improve over the last few years of his lease.
Hopkins has mixed feelings about the experience. He’s aware of the project needs, and he says the city has been mostly helpful in communicating upcoming construction. He’s grateful for the grants he’s received, but he says it’s nowhere near the business he’s lost.
Construction along 2100 South takes place outside of Hopkins Brewing Company in Salt Lake City’s Sugar House neighborhood on Wednesday. (Photo: Carter Williams, KSL.com)
On top of that, he said the sidewalk outside his front door was closed for two days when construction returned this month, which he guesses ate most of what he got from the city before it fixed the issue.
“It’s been incredibly stressful,” he said, as he described the ups and downs of the last few years.
Many of the remaining small businesses say they’re worried they’ll be pushed out by big brands that can afford to take on these challenges longer.
The city is aware of these concerns, especially along 2100 South this summer, Salt Lake City spokesman Andrew Wittenberg said in a statement to KSL.com. That’s why the city has awarded grants, held events to promote the area and tried to find ways to mitigate impacts, like keeping sidewalks open this summer, so people can still get to the businesses.
The city is working with contractors to make sure the project wraps up on schedule, as well. It’s on track to end by this fall.
“While we know it’s not easy to work around, this construction is necessary due to decades of deferred maintenance that caused these roadways to deteriorate significantly,” Wittenberg said, adding that construction tied to private development in the area is mostly out of the city’s control.
“We owe it to our residents, and the future reliability of our infrastructure, to be both thorough and efficient,” he added. “The project has taken time, but in the end, Sugar House businesses and residents will benefit from clean water, reliable utility infrastructure and multi-modal travel options that help clean the air.”