BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will connect its policyholders with experienced, licensed and insured local contractors in a program with Home Depot.

The state's property insurer of last resort says the free and optional Property Pro-Net service is designed to streamline the traditional claims-adjusting and repair process. Network contractors will work with Citizens to estimate repair costs. Work can usually begin within a matter of days. Citizens customers also have the option of going to a Home Depot to select materials for the repairs.

Quin Netzel, Citizens' chief claims officer, tells The Advocate the idea is to make property repairs quicker, easier and hassle-free.

Property Pro-Net contractors are required to pass background checks, financial strength analysis, license verification and meet required levels of insurance.

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