When a pipe bursts, a drain backs up, or a flood occurs in your home, it can be hard to see past the mess. Panic runs through your mind. Guardian Public Adjusters and Claim Consultants knows how stressful those moments can be and have compiled the following tips:
Not all water damage is covered by your insurance.
It is a good idea to look over your insurance policy and familiarize yourself with any exclusion to your water damage coverage. For instance, some policies cover sudden damage, like water damage from a really bad storm or from an overflowing washing machine. Any water damage that happens because you didn’t maintain the property may be excluded, as well as gradual leaks that caused water damage over time.
There are different insurance policies for flood damage and water damage. If you live in an area likely to experience flooding, you will probably already have a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Policy (NFIP). In addition, you may need to buy additional coverage for mold remediation.
Once water damage has happened, the clock is ticking before it gets worse.
Water damage restoration is very difficult and time-consuming. Be mindful that mold spreads very quickly and may affect large areas within days. So, it is very important to remove excess water and fully dry all household materials as soon as possible. It is important that prior to touching anything, you document the damage with photographs.
Remove pools of water by mopping or blotting (never use your vacuum cleaner to extract water!), wipe water drops from wood furniture and take wet upholstery and cushions outside (or to a climate-controlled room) to dry, remove area rugs from wet flooring, etc. If mold is present you will need to contact a professional. If so, don’t forget to request certificates for repairs and remediation from your hired mold remediator or you may be denied coverage.
Your insurance company needs to know right away.
It’s a good idea to call your insurance company right away when you discover water damage. Your insurance agent can start the claims process immediately, as well as guide you through the first steps you will need to take to protect your property from more damage, like stopping the source of the water at the main water turnoff.
Claim Tip: Water damage and flood damage are in fact completely different with one being covered and one excluded under common property insurance policies. Be careful of the terminology you use with your insurance company when you call in your claim.
Your insurance company may also direct you to a water damage restoration company that they have worked with in the past. Keep in mind that you do not have to call the company that they recommend. You may choose any reputable restoration specialist to restore your property for the insurance claim.
How to Ensure a Smooth Claims Process
As soon as you have reviewed your insurance policy, gathered enough evidence, and created an inventory of your damaged possessions, you need to prepare a written notice to your insurance company to make your official claim. Provide all the relevant information and explain important details at length. It is essential to keep a log that lists all your conversations with the insurance company (including the time, date, name of the person, and what you talked about). Keep copies of letters or other documents you have sent to the company or received from them.
The company will send an adjuster to your home to inspect the damage. The adjuster may be a full-time employee of the insurance company, an independent contractor who provides claims services to insurance companies, or a public adjuster who will work for you. If you decide to hire a public adjuster, you have the greatest chance for insurance claim success – the experienced professional will handle all aspects of your claim (assisting with temporary housing, inventorying contents, and providing estimates for the repair work), as well as all negotiations with your insurance company to ensure a fair and beneficial claims process.
At Guardian Public Adjusters, your representative works for you, not your insurance company. So, if you’re interested in getting the payout you deserve following water damage or other disaster, call us today at 309-267-4490 to see how we can help.
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Labels: guardian public adjusters guardian public adjusters and claim consultation national flood insurance policy water damage water damage insurance what you need to know about claiming water damage
Location: 701 Ann Eliza St, Pekin, IL 61554, USA