Five Tips for Addressing a Storm Damage Claim
When your house or business experiences wind, lightning, or other impairments, professionals recommend contacting your insurer to file a property loss claim. A standard homeowners', business, or renters insurance policy generally covers storm damage. These policies normally even offer coverage for your additional living expenses (ALE) when you can not remain in your home due to covered damages for temporary shelter, food expenses, laundry services, overnight parking, and other critical expenses. Consult your policy documents or insurance company agent to know more about coverages in your insurance contract. In addition, our public adjuster offers tips for managing property claims in Hillsborough County.
Contact your insurance carrier right away
When you file your claim, have your policy number handy to complete the process quickly. If you were evacuated from the location due to a storm, you don't need to wait until authorities clear you to go back home before reaching your insurer. Instead, contact them and initiate the claims process as quickly as possible. In addition, when you experience property damage from widespread excessive winds, you must be cautious of individuals posing as contractors in the area attempting to scam unsuspecting property owners frantic for restorations. Never agree to repairs until you contact your insurer to confirm your coverage and have the impairments evaluated by their claims adjuster.
Record the damages
Take photos or videos of impairments to your belongings to supply to your insurer, but keep duplicates for your records. You may want to begin cleaning or completing repairs immediately, but you may do more harm than good if you are not cautious. In addition, insurance carriers may refuse coverage if you fail to manage the claim according to their rules.
Make provisional repairs
Your insurance policy requires you to shield your property from additional damages if it is safe. This might mean putting a tarp over a cavity in your roof or boarding windows and doors to deter looting. Let your insurer know if you require help with mitigation efforts to guarantee your property loss and damage coverage. Save every receipt for supplies or repair expenses for repayment later.
Create a loss inventory
Record any lost or damaged belongings in your residence or business. Hopefully, you made an inventory before the extreme weather event to provide a good start. Still, you need to document all damaged property, its cost, when you bought it, and its state before the damage, even if you didn't. Don't remove any impaired items before an insurance adjuster analyzes the impairment to your property. If you do, your insurance company might not protect its worth.
Hire a public insurance claims adjuster
This is a crucial tip for substantial property loss claims. It is vital to remember that a claims adjuster appointed by your insurer works for the organization's benefit. A public adjuster operates exclusively on your behalf. They help manage your claim at any point in the process. In addition, they have the background and expertise to advise you through the process, bargain with your insurer in your favor, and guarantee a claim payment much higher than you would obtain if you managed the claim independently.
