Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a Home Insurance Claim
One among many reasons homeowners in the United States lose their home insurance benefits is because of their inability to file their home insurance claim appropriately. About 6% of insured homeowners filed a claim in 2018.
This situation is not just peculiar to America alone, many other developed countries of the world where insurance is a thriving business are also battling with this remarkable challenge in the insurance industry.
Not many have noticed that there will be a storm after a storm in Texas following the horrible damages the Hurricane Harvey did at various locations across the cities, rendering many poor people homeless. The first storm was the Hurricane Harvey while the second one will be home insurance companies refusing to pay for the damages caused.
Why do we think the biggest challenge home owners in the areas affected by the Hurricane Harvey will face is filing home insurance claim?
Here’s one…. There will be a debate of whether the damages was caused by wind or by flood. The private insurance companies might be arguing it was caused by flood so as to exonerate their company and heap the damages on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that is managed and underwritten by the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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But what matters most to a homeowner isn’t who’s going take care of the insurance claim but to have his or her home back.
In case you find yourself in such situation or you are in a position to guide someone in future, here’s the step-by-step guide you need to adopt when filing home insurance claim.
Step 1: Report to Police If There’s a Burglary
If you come back from work and you discovered that there an obvious attempt by thieves to break into your home, the first thing you need to do before picking anything is to call the police.
Informing the police about the recent incidence will serve two purposes. First, as a security measure to protect your life because you have no idea if the perpetrator is somewhere hiding. Secondly, in order to have a properly documented report you can tender before the court or your insurer.
Step 2: Call Your Insurance Company
Don’t ever think taking photographs alone by yourself and with a couple of friends is enough proof with which you can tender for a refund. Never! If you do just that, we bet you are going to lose your insurance benefits and there’s nothing you can do about it.
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Quickly, pick your phone and call your insurance company. Record the conversation. Ask them to send someone that will inspect the level of the damages done. And be sure you’ve gotten their consent for the next line of action.
Step 3: Document Everything
In the insurance industry, nobody gives a damn if you are being honest. Document is the best proof to back-up your claim. So get yours ready before filing a home insurance claim.
The high rate of insurance fraud coming in different shapes and sizes has made insurance companies to beef up their security in terms of what they will pay or won’t pay for.
Ask your insurance broker or company when registering of the necessary information you would need to provide in case you want to file a claim. Don’t stop at that. Get all the forms ready.
Step 4: Make Repairs in the Meantime
Though it’s the responsibility of your insurance company to you for all the damages done to your home, but wisdom demands that you do something sensible to save your life. By saving your life, we mean, you should make some necessary repairs. If the entrance door to your house was destroyed or the roof blown away, fix it while you await the response from your insurer.
Taking care of some minor repairs won’t cost you a fortune, instead, it will save you from impending dangers.
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Step 5: Consider Hiring a Public Adjuster
Honestly, you cannot battle it out yourself. You may try but it might take you a longer time to get the desired attention. So you need a public adjuster to assist you.
For the records, lets tell you who a public adjuster is. According to Wikipedia, a public adjuster is a professional claims handler claims adjuster who advocates for the policyholder in appraising and negotiating a claimant’s insurance claim.
Need a great bargain? Consider hiring a public adjuster.
Conclusion
Have you file a home insurance claim in the past? If yes, how did it go? Did you follow this step by step guide or you had something similar? We’d be glad to hear from you.
