How to Get Homeowner's Insurance to Pay for Mold Damage
Mold damage can be difficult and expensive to fix. Once it starts growing in your home, it can spread quickly and cause damage to the foundation, pipes and the structure of the house if it is not caught in time. In addition, mold infestation can cause health problems for those living in the home. Fortunately, in some circumstances, it may be possible to get your homeowner's insurance to pay for mold damage. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Purchase a rider for your homeowner's policy. A rider is an extra set of conditions and terms added on to your basic policy that cover special circumstances. The majority of homeowner's insurance policies do not cover any type of mold damage or infestation. As such, you would be responsible for paying for any repairs and mold removal even if the level of infestation makes your home uninhabitable. Insurance companies do, however, offer riders to cover the possibility of mold damage.
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Contact a mold-detection professional. If you think your home has a mold infestation, you will need a certified report from a qualified mold detection professional. Get your home tested as soon as you think there is a problem because it will cost more if the problem grows. A mold detection professional will charge around $200 or more to test your home for mold. This cost is not covered by your insurance policy and it will be an out-of-pocket expense.
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Determine the cause of the mold. Even with an expensive rider on your homeowner's policy, your mold problem may not be covered in certain instances. In cases of burst pipes and leaks, your policy may not cover any mold removal. Some policies may not even cover mold damage following a flood. Before making a claim, determine the cause of the mold infestation and read your policy carefully to see if it is covered.
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File your claim. After you have determined that you have a mold infestation and that your insurance policy will cover it, visit your insurance agent to file a claim. You will need to fill out some paperwork and show proof of the mold infestation and its causes. Your agent will send an adjuster to assess the damages and determine how much the insurance company will pay.
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Tips & Warnings
Never try to detect or treat a mold infestation by yourself. You could release mold spores into the air which will only make the problem worse.
