Theft. Vandalism. Fire. These are all stressful things to think about, but they would be even more stressful for homeowners and renters if there was no protection afforded by sound insurance policies. If your property or valuable possessions are damaged or lost due to a covered peril, you have the peace of mind knowing that you will be covered for the expense of repairing or replacing them.
That having been said, there are certain steps you can take to ensure that the process of filing your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance claim goes as smoothly as possible and that it is processed as quickly and favorably as possible. In the aftermath of a catastrophic event it may not be so easy to think clearly about how to proceed with your claim, but this guide lays out the basic steps to follow so you can be sure you are doing your part to facilitate the claim process:
- Decide if you need to involve the authorities.
There are some claim-triggering events that necessitate contacting the authorities, and in these circumstances, this should be your first call. If any sort of crime has occurred, like your home being burgled or vandalized, the police must be notified. If a fire has occurred, the fire department should be contacted. In these cases, you will have to fill out a report, and you should hold onto your copy of the report to accompany your claim. The report will serve as supporting evidence for you in the claims process, and as proof that you followed all of the proper protocols for dealing with the situation.
Of course, there are some instances where you will file a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance claim and not need to involve the authorities at all. For example, if hail damages the siding of your home, there is no need to call the police. If you are unsure as to whether an incident needs to be reported to the authorities or not, ask your trusted insurance agent.
- Take pictures.
When it comes to documenting evidence of damage so you can accurately report it on a claim, time can be of the essence. While you should certainly write down everything you can about the incident that is causing you to file your claim, photographs can show damage in a way that a written description often cannot capture. As soon as it is safe to do so, take pictures of the damaged property or belongings from a couple of different angles so the insurance adjustor will have reliable data to look at to assist his or her investigation of your claim.
- Call your insurance agent.
If your situation warrants a call to the authorities, that should be your top priority. But your next call should be to your insurance agent at Smyrl Insurance. Don’t waste any time getting in touch with your agent—besides the fact that the sooner you file your claim the sooner you have a chance of being reimbursed for your covered damages, some aspects of the claim process might be time sensitive. Plus, it’s always better to relay what happened as close to the event as possible, since even a short passage of time can make the details harder to remember with accuracy.
- Provide your adjustor with all needed information.
Some claims are so minor and straightforward that an adjustor is not needed to come out and conduct an inspection of the damage. Oftentimes, however, your insurance company will rely on the assessment of an adjustor to help them determine the extent of the damage and the degree to which it is covered by your policy. Be forthcoming and cooperative with your adjustor, as the more information you can supply, the faster and more accurately a report can be made to your insurance carrier.
- Track any money you spend on repairs.
Even with the best attention to detail, claims don’t process overnight. You may find yourself in a situation where you have to make some minor repairs while you are waiting for the insurance company to investigate and make a decision about your claim, just so you can get by in the meantime in a livable space. Try to keep these stop-gap repairs to a minimum, but if you do have to make some, keep track of what you spend and supply your insurance company with the receipts to increase your likelihood of being reimbursed for them.
Wondering how get the most from your insurance policy? Contact the experts at Smyrl Insurance today!
