So you think you have an insurance claim?
Most people have a disaster plan in action. What to do if a tornado happens, or who to call if a fire breaks out. But do you know what you should do if you have a possible insurance claim? It’s a little more involved than just calling your insurance company, though that is part of the process. Here is an easy step by step guide of what you should do if you think you have an insurance claim.
1: Call your insurance company and report the claim.
They will ask for basic information about the loss; what happened, when, where, etc. What damage you think has happened or occurred from this, how much of the home/business has been affected. Or other questions similar to these ones. It’s a good idea to record this information and ask your insurance company where you can send a notice of the claim in writing. Even if they tell you it is not necessary, I would suggest you do this anyway.
2: Read your insurance policy.
This means more than just the declarations page. Don’t simply glance over this a few times, I mean really get in there and read all that your policy has to say. If there are portions of your policy that you don’t understand, highlight them, or jot them down on a separate piece of paper and ask your adjuster about them.
3: Do not clean up the mess.
Your first reaction will probably be to want to get your home/business back in shape as quickly as possibly, which often times means cleaning up the mess. Try to resist! Take lots of pictures or video, if you can, of everything you think has been affected by this claim. This could be the boxes in the corner that are soaked after the water heater flooded the living room. Or this could be taking a picture of your neighbors trampoline in your dining room ceiling! Take as many pictures as possible, they say a picture is worth a thousand words – so think of how easy it will be to explain after the fact what happened if you have an arsenal of pictures for your adjuster. The adjuster will also take pictures of the loss. Do not rely on this alone, even if the adjuster comes out immediately, you still want to have your own documentation. Many times adjusters change throughout the course of an insurance loss and a second or third adjuster may not be as familiar with your claim as the first.
4: Record all damage done to your home/business and the belongings inside.
Take your time and write down everything you feel has been affected by this insurance loss. Make a list of all damages; picture frames, couches, computers, drywall, cabinets, etc. Record everything before you throw it away and make sure you insurance adjuster looks at your items before tossing them. If you are unsure about whether to keep something or not, ask your insurance adjuster.
5: Keep all communication documented.
Even after a phone call or an in-person meeting with an adjuster, keep notes and send those in via e-mail or post mail to the adjuster. This is a good way of making sure everyone is on the same page and avoids confusion or miscommunications during your claims process.
6: Make note of everything that happens with your claim.
Get a standard note pad and keep track of all dates/times of any event the occurs with your claim and keep for your own records. You may even want to get a manila folder and keep this along with all of the other documentation you’ve acquired together. Make sure to note each call to/from your insurance adjuster as well as all visits.
7: Keep your property safe from further damage.
What this means is if you have had a break in and your front door is not secure, speak with your insurance adjuster about having and emergency board up done to ensure the property is secure. Or if you have a leak in the roof, put a tarp over it until permanent repairs can be made.
8: Get frequent updates.
Make sure you stay in good contact with your insurance adjuster and are updated frequently. Once you are at the stage of your claim that you are having the repairs done by a contractor, these calls will probably become less frequent as you will be in more contact with the restoration company.
Remember, you are not the first person and unfortunately won’t be the last person to go through this. It’s not the most delightful thing to experience, but with these steps, your claim should move quickly and give you peace of mind sooner.
Proudly a part of VBS,
Rachel Sester
