property damage insurance claim

How to Make a Property Damage Insurance Claim

Although every homeowner hopes they never have the need to make a property damage insurance claim, unfortunate events happen. Homeowners may find themselves filing home insurance claims for many different reasons. For example, a burglary, damage from a fire or storm, or if an injury occurs on their property. 

This process can definitely be a hassle if you aren’t properly prepared for it. Luckily, at Ascension General Contractors, we are giving you all of the steps you should take in case you ever need to make a property damage insurance claim. 

What Are the Steps for Making a Property Damage Insurance Claim?

Report Any Crime to the Police

If the damage to your property was not caused by natural events, but rather you are the victim of theft or your home has been vandalized or burglarized, be sure to report the incident to the police as soon as possible. You will also want to get a police report and as many details as you can in case you need to provide the details of the event to your insurer.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Because homeowner’s insurance contracts require homeowners to report the property damage claim to them promptly, you should contact your insurance company immediately. You will want to check for any time limit on when you need to file your claim after the incident because if you fail to do so within your contract’s time limit, your claim could be denied. Additionally, find out what exclusions, limits, and add-on provisions, like additional coverage for personal items, may be included in your policy. After you contact your insurance company, the claims process will begin. 

Document Everything

When your home has been damaged, it is essential that you document the aftermath and provide your insurance adjuster with as many details as possible. Be detailed when you write a description of the incident and list any items that have been damaged. This documentation can help the claims process move more quickly. Be sure to also take a lot of photos so you can provide proof of the extent of the damage to your insurance company. If your payout ends up being less than you expect or is fair, you will be glad you have all of the documentation to use when you appeal. 

Make Temporary Repairs

It is extremely important that you and your insurance company come to an agreement on the necessary repairs and the cost of such repairs and put it in writing before you make any changes to your home. However, you may need to take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage if you have, for example, a leaking roof. Try to avoid throwing out any damaged items until the insurance adjuster has made a visit to your home. And save any receipts for items you purchase because you might be able to submit these to your insurance company for reimbursement. 

Have you experienced damage to your property? Our team of professionals here at Ascension General Contractors is available to help you get back to normal as quickly as possible. We are a full-service repair company, and proud to serve the Nashville community.

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