How To Make a Water Damage Claim

8/16/2018 (Permalink)

To successfully navigate the insurance claim and cleanup process, follow these tips and don't be afraid to get a flood restoration expert involved.

No homeowner in Mesa, AZ, likes the shock of coming home to a flood caused by a major pipe burst or a water heater leak. If the damage to your home is severe, you may want to file an insurance claim. If so, you will need to contact the insurance agency immediately. Read your insurance policy to determine coverage, exclusions and whether you are responsible for preventing additional damage. When you're ready to make a claim, follow these four steps.

1. Gather Evidence

When you file a claim, you are likely to obtain a better settlement if you collect evidence using an effective plan. The steps below can help you to build a solid claim:

• Take pictures of the damage from a few different angles and pair them with a written inventory of each item's model, age and replacement cost.
• Identify whether any outside person's actions may have caused the damage and secure their contact information.
• Keep detailed and accurate records as you gather.
• Organize your evidence chronologically as you collect it.

2. Mitigate Damage

Some policies may require the homeowner to give evidence of action taken to prevent further damage as part of an insurance claim. Others may not. Either way, it will likely help your case if you clean up whatever you can safely access and salvage items that can be restored. Be sure to save this step until after you've photographed the damage, of course.

3. Keep Records

Keep detailed records and copies of every contact you make or receive from insurance representatives. Assemble your evidence and check to make sure you have not overlooked anything. You should now be in a good position to file your claim.

4. File a Claim

Inform your insurance company in writing that you are filing an official claim. The insurance company's adjuster will conduct a damage inspection at your home. After a review, the company will send you an official statement of the dollar amount your policy will cover and exclude for this claim

To successfully navigate the insurance claim and cleanup process, follow these tips and don't be afraid to get a flood restoration expert involved. For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROmesaeast.com/.