Has Your Home Sustained Damage? 3 Steps To Help Expedite Your Claim

If your home has suffered damage, and you need to submit an insurance claim, be prepared for the long-haul. Insurance companies are there to help you, but you need to know what you're doing every step of the way. To make sure your claim is paid, and that you receive the services you need, here are three steps you'll need to take.

Document the Damages

As soon as your home is damaged, you'll need to take pictures. The pictures will help document the damage. The adjuster will take their own pictures when they come out. However, the pictures you take will provide documentation of the way your home looked immediately following the catastrophic event. Be sure to take pictures of each room that's been affected by damages. In addition to documenting the damage, your pictures will also document the personal property you have in each room. This evidence will be important when you fill out your personal property loss forms.

Take Care of Temporary Repairs

If you've got broken windows or a damaged roof, take care of temporary repairs as quickly as possible—even if the claim has not been approved yet. Failure to make temporary repairs could cause your claim to be denied. This can happen if your insurance company decides that some of the damage was caused by the lack of temporary repairs.

For instance, if your windows are damaged in the incident, but you don't make temporary repairs, you may not be protected if someone accesses your home through the broken windows and steals your property. Protect yourself, and your claim, by taking care of temporary repairs. Keep the receipts so that you can be reimbursed for the cost of the repairs.

Resubmit Denied Claims

If your insurance claim is initially denied, don't be afraid to resubmit it—even if your agent doesn't think you have a valid claim. There are extenuating circumstances that might extend to your claim. Be sure to provide documentation regarding the claim when you resubmit. For instance, if the mold problem that you submitted a claim for was caused by a leaky roof, provide documentation for that damage. Information showing how the two issues relate could provide the insurance company with the evidence they need to approve both claims.

If your home has suffered damage, don't take chances with your insurance claim. Use the information provided here to make sure that your claim gets approved. Be sure to talk to your insurance agent about other ways to help expedite your claim. If you are looking for a new insurance company, consider one like Scovotti Insurance.


Share