Water and flooding cause more harm to insurance claims than any other form of loss. Furthermore, assessing whether or not coverage applies, as well as the amount that is covered, is the most difficult aspect of water damage insurance claims. Water damage is almost always excluded from most insurance policies. Exclusions such as “wind-driven rain” may be mentioned in a policy, for example. Furthermore, many insurance plans have “Acts of God” exclusions, such as hurricanes and floods. Flood damage caused by water entering the insured property, for example, is often only covered by flood insurance.
Let’s say you’re dealing with a water damage insurance claim and you’re not sure how to deal with the insurance adjuster. In that situation, the following water damage insurance claim recommendations might assist you in establishing a successful water damage insurance claim.
Insurance claims for water damage can be complicated in places other than your home. The following water damage insurance claims guidelines, on the other hand, will assist you in preventing losing money from your insurance claim.
Immediately notify your insurance company if a disaster occurs.
When dealing with water damage claims for homeowners, the first and most crucial recommendation is to tell your insurance carrier as soon as the tragedy occurs and damage has occurred (assuming you and your family are safe, of course).
Most homeowners’ insurance plans require the policyholder to provide “prompt notification” to the insurer when submitting a claim for water damage. Your claim may not be completely honored if you fail to disclose a claim soon after damage happens or if you begin removing and fixing objects before reporting it to your insurance carrier.
Send an insurance adjuster to undertake an inspection after submitting a claim for water damage with your insurance carrier.
Every insurance company in the world has a system for reporting claims that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After you’ve used it, move on to the following tip.
Protect The Property From Further Damage By Securing It
Your property insurance policy will feature a provision on your responsibilities following a loss that states that you must take steps to prevent additional property damage. So, if water damage happens and you can take steps to mitigate the harm, you should do so (without endangering yourself, of course).
A professional water damage restoration firm may be required in many circumstances. Your insurance carrier and a local public adjuster should be able to recommend firms in your region based on their experiences. Because the source of loss and any consequent damage are important determining elements when submitting a water damage insurance claim, the procedure begins when the harm occurs or you see the damage – not when you call to report an insurance claim. As a result, the water damage repair business you use might have an impact on the outcome of your insurance claim.
Your claim may be reduced if your insurer determines that you might have reduced the damage by taking basic steps. In other words, your insurance may not always pay extra damage that happens after you’ve spotted any harm.
Some suggestions for preventing more water damage on your property include:
- Getting rid of any standing water
- Cleaning and drying the afflicted area
- Water infiltration can be prevented by boarding up doors or windows.
- To avoid additional damage, goods must be removed from the water.
- Keep in mind that you should not throw anything away or make any changes to the scene before the insurance company’s adjuster arrives to assess your home. Keep documents and receipts if you engage specialists or spend money to decrease the amount of loss or damage. The majority of insurance plans will cover reasonable costs incurred to minimize (reduce) the loss.
Take Photographs And Inventory After Water Damage
Ascertain that there is proof of the water damage to your property. Take several images of all the damage that happened after you’ve completed a preliminary cleanup and lockdown of the situation. One of the most essential things to remember when dealing with any sort of insurance claim is to always have more proof than you think you need. As a result, snap hundreds of images of all damaged regions from various distances and perspectives. While you’re at it, keep structured records of your evidence as well as any conversations with your insurance.
Combine your photos with a written inventory of items that have been lost or damaged. This list should include the following items:
- The item’s description
- The item’s make and model number
- The age of the goods
- The item’s replacement cost (which is the price it would cost to replace it today, not what you paid for it ten years ago) and its real cash worth (the value of the item at the time of the loss)
The more specific you are with your images and inventories, the better. Having all of your photographs and proof organized will be quite helpful when dealing with the insurance company adjuster who comes to your house to examine water damage.
Finding Temporary Housing To Live In
Water damage is a pain to deal with. Contaminants, germs, mold concerns, and structural difficulties can all result. If the safety and security of your house is jeopardized, you may need to seek temporary accommodation.
Additional living expenses may be provided by your insurance carrier. You are welcome to use it to book a hotel for the night. Assume, however, that your home will be uninhabitable for an extended length of time. In that instance, your insurance may be liable for the cost of a similar home in the near future. It’s important to note that flood insurance does not cover additional living expenditures. If flooding is the primary source of damage, your flood insurance policy is unlikely to pay extra living expenses. Although wind damage and flooding caused by a large storm such as a hurricane may be covered by your homes, commercial property, or business owners policy, and may include additional living expenses. Check your policy and speak with your insurance carrier to see whether you’re covered for additional living expenditures.