Hi everyone, I'm an out of state investor in Akron, OH, dealing with a tricky situation on one of my rentals, and I could really use some advice, especially from those with experience in insurance claims or any attorneys in the community.

What Happened:

Three weeks ago, a tree branch fell on my rental in Akron, OH. I called two local tree removal companies and received quotes after walking the property:

• One for $4,500
• One for $5,500 (they had immediate availability, so I was leaning toward them)

While speaking with the $5,500 company about referrals for tarping and roof repair, they referred me to a general contractor (GC) who they’ve worked with on roof repairs in the past.

The Contractor

• I called him after and he says he works with insurance companies all the time, and that I’d only be responsible for my $5,000 deductible.
• He asked me to sign a contract (which I did), stating he’d act in my best interest and perform all work based on what the insurance approves.
• After inspecting the property, he called the same $5,500 tree company to remove the tree branch. (I assumed it would be billed at the quoted price or even a slight premium which would have been ok).
• I asked for the invoice for the tree branch removal, and he says will be handled with insurance, I then asked to be copied when he sent the invoice to the insurer, he said he would, but he never did.

The Problem:

I later received an estimate from my insurance company for $34,000, which includes:

• Partial roof repair
• Chimney repair
• Minor drywall patching
• $10,200 for tree branch removal
• I was caught off guard, I already had a written quote for $5,500, and no one informed me the price had changed.

When I questioned the GC, he said the price increased because a second crane was needed. However:

• There was no communication from the Tree company or the contractor about any price change — not before, during, or after the work.
• I then called the tree company directly, they confirmed the new $10,200 figure (matching what the contractor submitted to insurance without my knowledge), but they also confirmed hey have not been paid yet, despite the Contractor claiming he already paid them.
• I asked the Tree company, why I wasn’t informed of the price change after the original quote for my approval/authorization, he wouldn’t answer, just kept on saying it was the new price they had to get a second crane in to remove the branch

My Concerns:

• The GC refuses to give me a detailed breakdown of the $34,000 or scope of work to be completed/quote. He says the insurance estimate is the quote.
• I believe this is overpriced for the scope of work (only a partial roof repair, chimney fix, and minor interior patching).
• I’m currently seeking 2–3 additional quotes from other roofing companies to compare.
• I'm also worried about how this claim might impact my insurance premiums or risk being dropped, especially since I have other properties covered under the same insurer and LLC.
• I’ve never filed a claim before, and I know insurers often ask about claim history when purchasing or refinancing.

My Questions:

1. Am I able to terminate the agreement with the contractor?
2. If I decide to terminate my agreement with the Contractor, am I obligated to pay the $10,200 tree removal charge, even though I only authorized the $5,500 quote?
3. Since there was no communication or approval for the price increase, do I have a valid basis to dispute that charge?
4. Has anyone else had a similar experience with inflated costs like this? What’s the best way to protect myself legally and financially?

Thanks in advance for any guidance, referrals. I want to make sure I’m smart here before moving forward.