As you prepare to file an insurance claim, make sure to read your insurance policy to find out what exclusions, limits and add-on provisions may be in your policy, such as additional coverage for big-ticket personal items, for example. Check for filing time limits, as well. Keep in mind that the most important part of making a claim is documentation. This will include receipts, documenting who you spoke to, dates, times, and details of discussions.
Once you have prepared yourself to file your insurance claim, these are the steps you will want to follow:
Police Report
For certain types of claims your home insurance provider will require a police report, so once you have done so, provide your insurance company with a copy to support your claim. Many home insurance policies require a police report if a theft or act of vandalism has occurred.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Call your insurance company as soon as possible after the incident occurs to file your claim. The claims department will assign you a claims number and an insurance adjuster to handle your case. This person will be responsible for assessing the damage and estimating the costs, and their job will be to help your insurance company determine how much will be paid out to you for replacement or repairs.
Document The Damage
If your home has been damaged or burglarized, photograph or videotape the aftermath so you can provide proof of the event to your insurance company. You may need this documentation if the insurance company gives you a lower payout than expected and you need to appeal.
If there is an injury or damage to your property, document everything here, too, including the date, time and any details of the incident. Providing these details to your insurance company can help the claims process move more quickly. If you have to leave your home and need to make a claim for additional living expenses, it will be crucial to be able to produce receipts for your expenditures to be reimbursed.
The adjuster will need all the proper documentation to determine the total cost of your claim.
Consider Temporary Repairs
If you have a leaky roof or water damage that may make your home unlivable, consider temporary repairs if doing nothing could cause further damage. Keep all these receipts, as well, and make copies for backup, providing them to your insurance company so they can reimburse you. And if you must temporarily move out of your home because it’s uninhabitable, keep a record of all your lodging and food expenses. You could submit them to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Ascension General Contractors is a full-service general contracting company, and we specialize in repairs after insurance losses. If you have experienced damage to your home or business and need to prepare to file an insurance claim, we are here to help!
