Affected By The Recent Hurricanes? How To Prevent Problems With Your Insurance Claim
Now that the hurricanes have come and gone, it's time to start assessing the damage. It's also time to get your insurance claims going. You're going to have a lot of clean up to do, and you're going to need those insurance funds to get the job done right. With so many others filing claims at the same time, you'll want to stay on top of the process. Here are four important steps you should take so you can get started with the cleanup.
Don't Wait to Contact Your Insurance Company
As soon as you know that your home has sustained damage, you'll need to call and file a claim. Waiting to file a claim after a disaster could leave you waiting an extended period of time for assistance. This is particularly true of events such as the recent hurricanes that have gone through. You might not know the full extent of the damages when you call the first time, but that's okay. The insurance adjuster assigned to your claim will conduct a thorough inspection of your home and assess all the damages you've incurred.
Get the Go-Ahead Before Discarding Your Belongings
Once you're allowed back into your home, you may be tempted to begin the cleanup immediately. However, you shouldn't begin any cleanup until you receive the go-ahead from your insurance company, especially when it comes to discarding your belongings. Your insurance company will require a complete list of all your covered belongings. If you begin throwing things away before your losses are completely identified, you could do yourself out of a complete payoff for your covered losses. Go ahead and order the dumpster that you'll use during your cleanup, and start sorting through your belongings as soon as you're allowed on your property. However, don't start tossing out your damaged belongings until you get the go-ahead.
Keep Receipts for All Storm-Related Expenditures
While you're displaced from your home, you'll be spending your own money on cleanup and living expenses. Most of those expenses will be covered by your homeowners insurance policy. However, to make sure you receive reimbursement for those expenditures, you'll need to provide proof of the money you've spent. Purchase a small filing system, and keep all your receipts safely tucked away inside. Once the insurance company is ready to begin paying out on your claim, you can submit the file containing all your receipts.
Maintain Communication With Your Claims Adjuster
Following a large disaster, insurance adjusters are going to be inundated with clients. If you don't maintain communication with them, you could end up falling between the cracks. If that happens, you could wait longer than anticipated for your claim to be processed. To prevent that from happening, make sure you maintain open communication with your adjuster throughout the entire process. Weekly calls to your adjuster will help you stay in the loop as far as your claim is concerned. Those calls will also keep you fresh in your adjusters mind, which will prevent your claim from being forgotten about.
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