Top 10 Homeowners Insurance Claim Tips
Homeowners insurance is a purchase all homeowners make and hope to never use. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky. When disaster strikes, knowing what to do and what your policy covers makes the process of filing a claim a little easier.
- Review your insurance policy before disaster strikes, and keep a copy of your homeowners insurance policy easily accessible. Review your policy every year so you know what it does and doesn’t cover. It’s also important to know whether your policy covers actual cash value or replacement cost. The difference between the two could mean thousands of dollars to you.
- Know when and when not to file a claim. Any claim against your homeowners insurance policy has the potential to affect the rate you pay in the future. If the cost of the repair is lower than your deductible, you may wish to just pay for the repair out of pocket. Also, filing a claim for something that is not covered by your policy may also affect the rate.
- Know a licensed, reliable contractor you can call should a problem arise. Knowing a good contractor means knowing that you can get good work done when the time comes. If your artwork, electronics, or textiles were damaged, call your local Prism Specialties.
- Make a list of items that have been damaged. You may even want to document and photograph your possessions “just in case.” Knowing what you have and what you have lost will make the process of filing the claim less stressful. It’s also helpful to document the value of each item prior to damage. Keeping sales receipts and/or contractor invoices for work done on your home is also important documentation to keep with your policy.
- Immediately take photographs of any damage that you will be filing a claim for. Make sure the photographs are well lit and from as many angles as possible. Use a ruler to give a sense of scale for close-up photographs. To give an idea of where the damage is located in relation to other rooms or buildings, use a wide-angle setting. You can also take a video of the damage to include with your claim.
- Document all interactions with your insurance adjuster. Note the dates and times of phone calls and retain emails to maintain a detailed outline of what was discussed.
- Gather appropriate documents to accompany your claim.
- If you’re filing a claim for vandalism or theft, you will need a copy of the police report regarding the incident.
- If you’re filing a liability claim, it will be important for you to gather any witness statements regarding what happened.
- Request detailed invoices from contractors.
- Save all receipts from any purchases you have made to repair any damages or replacement items.
- If you’re filing a claim for property damage, get in touch with your mortgage lender if you don’t already own your home in full. Often, your mortgage lender will hold any payments from the insurance company in escrow to make sure the money is actually going toward repairs.
- Fill out paperwork on time. This will keep things moving forward so that you can get back into your home.
- Follow up with your adjustor regularly on the status of your claim to make sure your claim is progressing.
Choose Prism Specialties for Disaster Recovery
If disaster strikes, call the experts at Prism Specialties to help bring your family memories back to life. Our team of professionals will work to repair any damage that may have occurred to your paintings, photographs, sculptures, and more. Call us today at 888-826-9429 or submit a service request online.
It’s not uncommon for a disaster event to also damage the electronics in your home. For professional electronic restoration and repair, we recommend Prism Specialties. They can even help with data recovery. Give them a call at 888-826-9429 or fill out a service request form on their website.
