Take these steps to simplify your homeowners insurance claim.
If you have to file a home insurance claim, then you may be overwhelmed with the whole process. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to simplify and speed up your claim processing. Here are some of the suggestions that you should try to simplify your homeowners insurance claim.
- Take Steps to Prevent Further Damage
Whether you were the victim of vandalism or your home was damaged in a fire, there’s always a chance that the damage can get worse. All standard homeowners insurance policies require the policyholder to take reasonable actions to prevent damage from worsening. For example, if your home’s windows were blown out by a fire, then you should board them up to deter burglars and prevent weather damage to the inside of your home. Most homeowners insurance policies will offer coverage for reasonable repairs made solely to protect against further damage, so long as the initial cause of damage is a covered peril.
- Take Pictures to Document the Damage
Before you contact your insurer, you need to take pictures of the damage. This is a great way to document the damage and can help your claims adjuster determine just how extensive repairs or remediation efforts will be. Having pictures ready will help your claim proceed much more easily.
- Report the Claim “Promptly”
Most homeowners insurance policies include a clause that requires you to report claims “promptly.” Generally, this means reporting a claim within 24-hours. Please keep in mind that for claims related to a break-in or theft, you need to contact the police and file a report before attempting to make a home insurance claim. This is because your claims adjuster will require information such as the name of the officer you spoke to and your police report number.
Try out these suggestions to simplify your homeowners insurance claim. Do you have more questions about your home insurance? If so, then contact the experts at Mike Leonard Insurance Agency. Our dedicated team is eager to find you the right coverage from one of our many carriers including: Kemper, MetLife, Nationwide, Travelers, The Hartford, Safeco Insurance, Progressive, and American Strategic Insurance.