How to Deal With a Homeowner's Insurance Claim
Losses that occur to your home can be unsettling when they are minor, and devastating when catastrophic. It is often hard to think straight when you are dealing with a homeowner's insurance claim, a time when being level-headed is more important than ever. Keeping a cool head is easier when you have your insurance information close at hand and a list of good emergency repair numbers readily available during your time of loss.
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Things You'll Need
- Insurance policy information
- List of emergency numbers
- Camera
- Repair estimates
Instructions
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1
Notify your insurance company as quickly as possible once the loss has occurred. Insurance companies have 800 number hotlines set up for 24-hour service to deal with homeowner claims, day or night.
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2
Ask for temporary immediate repair authorization if you need it. Most insurance companies will authorize repairs to ensure your home does not receive further damage, especially in the case of burst pipes or flooding.
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3
Call the police if you were victim of a theft or if your home was vandalized. Insurance companies require police reports for these types of occurrences and a quick report may help you to recover your stolen property.
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4
Take pictures and document any damage to your home before attempting any repairs or trying to clean up the mess. This will help to accurately portray your loss.
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5
Get estimates on the damage, preferably before the adjuster makes it out to your home. Often minor claims are settled quickly with such proactive measures, and you may have a check in your hand before he even leaves your home.
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Give a thorough account of the incident or occurrence to the claims adjuster when he calls. Contact with most insurance adjusters after you file a claim should happen within 48 hours. If you have not heard from one in this amount of time, call your insurance company to let them know.
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Check your policy deductibles to see what portion of the claim you will need to pay for yourself. Often minor claims are not worth reporting after the deductible is met and paid. Many companies apply surcharges on your policy for claims made or you may lose valuable claims-free discounts that can sometimes cost you more than the repair.
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Contact the State Department of Insurance if you feel your claim was not handled fairly, but only after you have attempted to resolve the issue through your agent and insurance company.
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Tips & Warnings
Some insurance companies will dump you after a large claim at renewal time, so be sure to shop around for home insurance if there is a likelihood that may happen.
A frequent claims history, even on minor claims, can box you out of finding a reasonably-priced insurance carrier. Be sure not to make frequent inconsequential claims if you can easily perform the repair work yourself.
