Haggle Now, Settle Later

After disaster strikes, it's tempting for homeowners to repair the damage and move on.

But settling quickly with your insurance company is not always the prudent thing to do, says George Kehrer, executive director of Community Assisting Recovery Inc. or CARe (www.carehelp.org). The nonprofit organization, founded with a grant from Fannie Mae (FNM Quote) in 1994 after the Northridge, Calif. earthquake, has assisted thousands of homeowners at no cost in obtaining information about rebuilding their homes following natural disasters. The Web site offers a detailed consumer walk-through of the insurance claim process.

Kehrer, who himself lost a home in the Oakland, Calif. fire, says he is already starting to hear from victims of the Florida hurricanes. And he's concerned they will get shortchanged. ...