When a tornado or severe thunderstorm rolls through town and damages your house, you’ll need to file a claim in order to get needed repairs started. Same with a fire or even hail damage. No matter the magnitude of the damage, seeing your home in any state of disrepair is extremely stressful.
When you’re emotionally stressed, you may not remember everything that should be done before filing a claim. That's why it's a good thing to have a plan in place for how you'll handle trouble should it come. Here are tips for steps to take before disaster strikes and what you need to keep in mind when you filing a claim:
The calm before the storm
Before anything bad happens to your home, do yourself a favor and be proactive. First, know the ins and outs of your policy. Read through your policy from beginning to end and make sure you fully understand what’s covered and what isn’t. For example, did you know that flood damage is not covered by standard home insurance policies, but water damage from bursting pipes typically is?
Making the mistake of not knowing that the latter may be covered could leave you paying tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket to repair damage and replace belongings that have been destroyed when you could have received help from your insurance policy. Knowing the parameters of your coverage will help you understand when to file a claim and when to forgo doing so.
Second, make sure you have enough dwelling coverage – the component of your policy that covers damage to the structure of your house – to rebuild the home from the ground up if it's destroyed. How do you know how much that would cost? Enter your ZIP code and square footage into a homeowners insurance calculator – if the amount it returns is different than the dwelling coverage amount in your policy, consult with your agent.
Third, compile a home inventory. A home inventory is a complete list of every item in your home that includes detailed descriptions or photos/video and actual or estimated values. It’s wise to include receipts for your possessions when possible.
It’s important to keep a running home inventory because in times of emotional stress – such as when your home has been damaged by fire – you may be too distraught to remember everything you own and to estimate the value of each of your belongings. Save yourself from this daunting task by taking the time to compile a list ahead of time and keep a copy in a safe location such as your safe deposit box. It's good to save a copy electronically as well.
In the aftermath
When your home is damaged or destroyed by a covered peril such as a fire, windstorm, or burglary, the shock of seeing your home in a state of ruin can make it difficult to follow the steps to properly file a claim with your provider.
After a disaster, photograph the damage immediately. Only make temporary repairs that prevent the damage from getting worse. For example, if a storm hits and leaves a hole in your roof that exposes your home to further damage such as rain, put a tarp over the hole to ensure that your home and possessions aren’t damaged any further. Making permanent repairs is not wise as you may not be reimbursed for the entirety of what you spent to do so when you receive a check from your insurance provider.
Next, don’t hesitate to call your insurance carrier and file a claim. The call to your agent needs to be made as soon as possible in order to get the claims process rolling and get your home and life back to normal in a timely manner.
When your insurance agent presents you with the figure that your provider is willing to pay for repairs and replacements, you may need to push back. Ask to see a price breakdown and be ready to present a higher number if you have a good reason.
Lastly, keep your guard up. Scam artists may try to prey on you in this time of vulnerability in the form of steeply overcharging for repairs. Sketchy contractors may approach you and attempt to use unreliable materials and do less than desirable work, leaving you subjected to paying to redo the work in the future and essentially paying to repair the wreckage twice. Research contractors and compare several of them to feel confident that you’re not being taken advantage of.
Although it’s easier said than done, do your best to keep a level head in the aftermath of a disaster. Follow these steps to navigate the claims process with ease and get your home and life back to normal.
Shannon Ireland writes for HomeownersInsurance.com, an online insurance resource for homeowners and drivers across the country. Offering comparative automobile and homeowners insurance quotes, consumers rely on HomeownersInsurance.com for the most competitive rates from the top-rated insurance carriers in the country. The HomeownersInsurance.com blog, Square One, provides tips and advice on a range of financial topics to help homeowners and homebuyers make educated decisions about their insurance purchases.
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