How to Properly Claim Insurance for Water Damage to your Home

3/11/2020 (Permalink)

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Flooding & water damage are not situations that the majority of home owners ever expect to face. However, when it does happen, you will probably be at a loss of how to deal with it, especially when it comes to insurance coverage.

Should the unforeseen happen, the following will help walk you through to file a claim;

Review Your Insurance Coverage- Review all of your insurance documents. Locate the phone number for your insurance company’s claims office. If you can’t find it on any paperwork, then it should be on their website. Before you call, have your policy in front of you for reference.

Be Calm- Make sure you are not emotional when you make the call. You need to be able to talk to the claims adjuster (the insurance representative who will discuss the details with you) in a way that is clear & concise. You will not be able to do that if you are noticeably upset.

Keep Your Details Brief & Straight to the Point- Just give the claims adjuster the facts. Unless they ask for details, keep it as short as possible, giving them only the information they need to understand the situation. There are rules & regulations that govern insurance coverage, so you do not need to try to persuade the adjuster over the telephone.

Have Proof- Pictures of your dishwasher overflowing or flooding around a door are definitely proof that can be used to help make your case. Receipt from a plumber or information from the city or county about the cause of the damage will also be very helpful in getting the claim processed.

Mitigation- If you need to mitigate the damage (stop it from getting worse), the insurance company may make a recommendation for a company. It is ONLY a recommendation, so you can contact another restoration company if you prefer.