About 1 in 60 homes with insurance make water damage or freezing damage claims every year.
If you’re a homeowner, it’s important that you understand what to do if you’ve experienced water damage. Filing a claim quickly and correctly will help you get the settlement you need to pay for repairs.
Here’s what you should know about how to file a homeowners insurance claim after water damage.
Check Your Homeowners Insurance Policy
The first thing that you should do after experiencing water damage is to check whether you’re covered by your home insurance policy.
With few exceptions, most home insurance policies tend to cover water damage. However, this is only the case if the water damage occurred suddenly or was accidental.
Home insurance may not cover water damage that occurred because of neglect or if you could tell ahead of time that the damage would occur. It also doesn’t cover flood damage.
Be sure to check your home insurance policy and look at the details to determine what’s covered and what isn’t.
Report The Claim
The next thing you should do after home water damage is to call your insurance agent and report the water damage claim. The faster that you do this after experiencing damage, the better.
Your insurance agent will be able to assist you and may recommend a water damage company that can clean up the affected area of your home.
Document The Damage
After water damage occurs, you’ll want to make sure that you take some photos and videos. Be sure to get photos of everything that was damaged. You should also take pictures of standing water and the source of the water.
Having photos available will help when negotiating with your insurance company. Documenting the damage can help you ensure that you get adequate compensation.
Prevent Further Damage
To get water damage taken care of and to remove standing water, you’ll typically want to hire a damage and restoration company. These water damage companies specialize in drying out the affected areas and ensuring that mold and mildew won’t spread.
Before you make extensive repairs, however, you’ll likely want to get authorization from your insurance provider and ensure that it’s part of your claim. If you need to make urgent repairs, remember to take pictures first.
Meet With Insurance Adjusters
After filing your water damage claim with an insurance company, an adjuster will be sent to your home. This person will document and evaluate the damage that has occurred. As part of the insurance claim process, you’ll need to answer any questions the adjuster asks and they’ll create an estimate for the damage.
If all goes well, you’ll have an adequate settlement to make all of the repairs that you need to after the water damage has occurred.
Remember, however, that your insurance company may try to lowball you. This is why it’s a good idea to hire a public adjuster to evaluate the water damage and make an estimate for repairs.
Doing so will give you more negotiating power and will make it more likely that you’ll get a good settlement.
Understanding the Steps to Take After Home Water Damage
If you experience water damage in your home, it’s important that you understand how to file a homeowners insurance claim. Taking action quickly, documenting the damage, and making repairs are essential steps to take after any damage has occurred.
Need a public adjuster for your claim? Contact us today to learn how we can help.