You've Just Suffered from Property Loss. What Should You Do Now?
Have you been the victim of theft? Has your house been burglarized, causing both property damage and loss of belongings? When you suffer from property damage or loss from unforeseen circumstances, you will likely want to restore your home to its normal state as soon as possible. To do this, you may need to file an insurance claim to get money to help you cover expenses, repairs, and replacements. When you first suffer from damages, you will want to follow these steps from a professional in property claims in Polk County, FL.
Get to a Safe Place
One of the first things you need to do is to prioritize your safety. If your house is on fire, get out of your house and find a safe place to congregate with your family. Floods, hurricanes, tornados, and other incidents of extreme weather should be dealt with safely. When you live in an area that is susceptible to storms, you should have a safety plan intact so that everyone knows how to respond to these emergencies.
Report Any Crimes to the Police
If you have been the victim of criminal activity, like theft, you should call the police as soon as you are safe. They will immediately come out to your home to assess the state of your property and to take your report to look for those responsible.
Call Your Insurance Company
After you are safe and you've reported any criminal activity to the police, you will want to contact your insurance company to file an insurance claim. The earlier you start this process, the sooner you will be able to settle. When a storm passes through your area, you should know that the insurance process may take longer due to the overwhelming amount of insurance claims that have likely been made within the same time frame.
Prevent Any Additional Damage
When your property is damaged from water or weather, you will want to take the steps to prevent any additional damages to your property. This may include removing any electronics or valuables from flooding areas, turning off your electric to prevent any electrical accidents from happening when your roof is leaking, or other preventative measures that mitigate damage. By taking these steps, you will show your insurance company that you've done everything that you can to prevent more property damage. If you don't mitigate additional damage, this could work against you in the insurance claims process.
Hire an Insurance Adjuster
When you work with your insurance company, they will suggest sending out one of their preferred adjusters to make assessments about lost or damaged property. You will also want to hire your own insurance adjuster, as they will be able to work for you, which will put your best interests first. Many of your insurance company's preferred adjusters work with your insurance company's interests in mind. This can result in a lower settlement.
These are a few of the important steps you should take when you have suffered from property loss or damages. As a public insurance adjuster, we can provide you with estimates for your insurance settlement that have your interests in mind. Contact us to hear how we can help you with your property insurance claim today.
