San Diego Fires - Submitting an Insurance Claim: Providing Documentation

Many folks in San Diego County (and north of us) have lost their homes, or had significant damage due to the fires that are continuing to burn. Now the "fun" begins -  trying to submit a claim and receive some reimbursement for your losses from your insurance provider. AND providing some documentation for your claim.

It was strongly recommended at the time the fires were burning for homeowners to take digital photos of all the rooms in their houses, outdoors, inside closets and garages, etc. in order to provide documentation in the event of a loss. I found myself doing this...but it sure felt weird. Fortunately I was one of the lucky ones. But many were not.

If you did this, great. This will help you when submitting a claim for your insurance, along with any other records you might have saved.

For those of you whose homes were on the market, you may still be able to provide some information if your agent did his or her job and took lots of photos and perhaps a virtual tour. You should be able to have your agent provide these to you for supporting your loss claim as photos and tours may show a good deal of what you had in your home or outside. The agent may also be able to get the tour (if done by an outside company) for you as well. The more documentation you have the better, as every little bit helps.

SELLERS - call your agents NOW to see what documentation they can help you with.

AGENTS - can YOU help any of your seller clients whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the fires?

Seems to me that this type of documentation is important for ALL of us regardless of the situation - you never know when you might need it.

 

18 Comments on San Diego Fires - Submitting an Insurance Claim: Providing Documentation

Jeff, what a great post!  Agents take soooo many photos of the homes they sell.  These photos would be of great help to the homeowners.  EXCELLENT IDEA!!!

10/29/2007 09:43 PM by Pasadena CA Real Estate - Irina Netchaev (Keller Williams International Realty)

Jeff ~ this is such a good idea.  Funny, yesterday I was cleaning up my computer, deleting old virtual tours and photos from homes sold a long time ago.  Maybe I should have kept them on a CD, just in case someone needs them one day.

kk 

10/29/2007 10:47 PM by Kristal Kraft ~ Denver Real Estate (The Berkshire Group Realtors)

Jeff,

I posted this info, sort of on another blog..and RE attorney.  Before Katrina and Wilma hit, I took a ton of pics, I have photo's and disc's of everything in my home...safe and sound in my safe deposit box...but you might have read that.

Great post, important info.

How is everything out there?

Karen Monsour, Fort Lauderdale, Fl

 

10/29/2007 11:15 PM by Karen Monsour,REALTOR® Broward,Palm Beach,Miami/Dade! 954-464-4194 anytime! (EXIT Team Realty)

Really great tips! The other day I told my husband that we should go around and videotape the inside and outside of our house...just in case. Insurance companies could offer this as a service to their clients and keep a copy in their offices for safekeeping as well.

10/30/2007 09:00 AM by Kelly Sibilsky ~ Lake Zurich RE/MAX Real Estate Agent (RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest)

Irina - thanks fo rthe compliment. I think it makes lots of sense, although it is likely someting that most of us DON'T do, at least not until we are forced to in an emergency.

Jeff

10/30/2007 09:20 AM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)

KK - I'm sure we have all done that. At least those agents who had listings during the fires can be helpful in one more way to their clients. And they could sign an affadavit to verify that the photos are, in fact, those of the conusmer.

Jeff

10/30/2007 09:22 AM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)

Karen - See? Great minds...

Things continue to improve and now the arduous process of recovery and insurance claims. I am on the East Coast for a couple of days visiting family - nice to have some fresh air to breath.

Jeff

10/30/2007 09:25 AM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)

Kelly - so now you need to just do it.

I think it's a great idea - they will probably want to charge for the service though. :)

Jeff

10/30/2007 09:26 AM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)

Hey Jeff,

What area of the East coast?  We're causiouly preparing for a tropical storm here in Florida...they're changing their minds ever 20 minutes as to whether or not it will hit south Florida or not, so I'm preparing for the worst and hoping for the best...Then if I don't get blown away...I'm going to my office for a while.

Fire and rain....

Karen

10/30/2007 10:21 AM by Karen Monsour,REALTOR® Broward,Palm Beach,Miami/Dade! 954-464-4194 anytime! (EXIT Team Realty)

Jeff - Excellent idea.  What better way to document than with photos.

10/30/2007 10:31 AM by Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos| Laguna Real Estate|Marlene Bridges (Sherman Smith & Associates)

Karen - I'm ouitside Philadelphia so not too concerned. Hope all is well there and you do NOT run into problems.

Jeff

10/30/2007 02:34 PM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)

Thanks, Marlene. Wonder how many folks actually do this?

Jeff

10/30/2007 02:35 PM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)

Hey Jeff,

We'll be OK, I'm pretty sure b/c I usually get a horrific head ache when the Barometric pressure changes and so far so good!

I am from Harrisburg, PA.  I raised my children in Gettysburg...

Glad you are able to get out of CA and the smoke.

Karen

10/30/2007 02:37 PM by Karen Monsour,REALTOR® Broward,Palm Beach,Miami/Dade! 954-464-4194 anytime! (EXIT Team Realty)

Karen - although it is quite a bit cooler here (about 30 last night) the air quality is sure a lot better. Head back to San Diego tomorrow night. Be safe!

Jeff

10/30/2007 03:04 PM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)

This is a great post and a great reminder of how it can be helpful for us to save our photos for our clients in case of any future emergencies.  These fires are just awful to witness and I can only imagine what the victims are going through.  I feel like I just went through this while I was in Greece for several weeks during the devastating wildfires that just took place there last month.  The only difference is that people there DON'T have any insurance!

Hope you enjoyed your stay in our chilly Pennsylvania.  Brrr....

10/30/2007 10:16 PM by Jeannie Kontis - Lancaster Real Estate, Lancaster PA Homes for Sale (Long & Foster Real Estate, Lancaster PA)

Thanks, Jeannie. That must have been quite an experience in Greece. Pretty scary reports from what I saw. I'm glad there is progress but a long way to do still. Ifeel very badly for those who lost everything, including all their records. Steel safes will be getting more popular!

It's been nice to visit (West Chester area) but I am ready to head back later today to a warmer place.

Jeff 

10/31/2007 09:08 AM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)

Jeff a great reminder that you just never know when you might need documentation of your belongings.  My mother-in-law is very big into disaster preparedness and says every few months everyone should video tape their homes, take photo's of their belongings and make photo copies of important documentation (deeds, soc cards, drivers license, bank account info etc.....) and these should be stored in a safety deposit box.  These should be updated regularly as our personal possessions change.  Great tips to help out those sellers hit by the fires.

11/04/2007 09:44 PM by Sandy Noll - Realtor, eAgent (Keller Williams Realty Kirkland - NWREA, LLC)

Great tips, Sandy. I suspect more folks never bother, yet you just never know, and the fires are a good example. Thanks for sharing your thoughts (or your mother-in-laws!!).

Jeff

11/04/2007 09:51 PM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)

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Real Estate Agent: Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)
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