Steps to take w/ Insurance Company after a Disaster
Disaster and home damage happen all the time. Those are the times when many homeowners turn to their insurance company in order to help put the home back together. We here at Built wanted to highlight some tips about going through this process. As always, feel free to give us a call if you have any questions regarding damage to your home. Understanding your own policy is very essential to the process, as well.
- Obtain an advance
In many situations, homeowners are not able to grab essential items during an evacuation of their home. It is worth is to contact your insurance provider and ask for an advance in lieu of an eventual claim. This way you can obtain essential items needed to maintain yourself, while you handle dealing with the home disaster.
- Secure the property safely
When damage occurs to a home, it is the owners responsibility to do what they can to minimize any further damage. This includes putting a tarp over leaky roofs, boarding up broken windows or sections of home, turning off water, and other things of this nature.
- Promptly file the claim
It is up to you as the homeowner and policyholder to report your loss as soon as reasonably possible. Being organized in regards to any conversations, emails, or letters is also essential once the claim is filed.
- Be vigilant over the insurance company
Insurance companies can very much be inundated with claims during a disaster. However, if you feel that there is an amount of dragging their heels or being distant, do not hesitate to reach out for correspondence.
- Keep a record of expenses
You are entitled to be paid back for your living expenses while living outside of your home. Buying food, any hotel rooms, and things of that nature should be reimbursed to you.
- Do your due diligence with repair process
Your insurance company, in many cases, has a list of companies and providers it can give to you to perform the services needed in your home. These companies often, though not always, have the best interest of the insurance company in mind when estimating costs to repair. It is up to you as the homeowner to seek opinions from elsewhere, like from our own here at Built, to make sure you are going about the home repair process fairly.
- Continue to pay premiums
Make your payments as you would usually. Stopping so on a ruined property can be a mistake.
- Understand process is not done until you say so
Further damage can be discovered throughout the restoration and repair process. As the homeowner, you have the final say as to when a claim is through with. Your insurance company wants to close your claim as quickly as they can.
- Consider getting a public adjuster
If the contractor you have hired and the insurance adjuster simply cannot agree on an estimate for the things needed to fix your home. It may be necessary to hire a PA to help settle things.
- Don’t fret over losing insurance
Filing a legitimate claim about damages to your home should not out you in any danger from losing your provider. Habitual and fraudulent claimants do run the risk, for obvious reasons.
