Hello World! Welcome Friends! Storms can be devastating, especially when they damage your home and other properties. What you do after storm damage is crucial because the decisions you make can lead to further problems, such as injuries and costly repairs.
This is why you need to know what to do. Aside from assessing the damage to your home, you have to contact your insurance provider. Read on to learn how to file a storm damage insurance claim.
1. Contact a Reputable Contractor
The first step to take is to hire a reputable contractor, such as RoofsOnly.com, that can assist you with your claim. A contractor’s experience and expertise will be helpful in getting compensation from your insurance company.
They will help you assess the damage and estimate the repair costs. They will also ensure that all repairs are done efficiently. They also have the license and insurance coverage that protects them and your property from any liability during construction.
Here are a few tips on choosing the best contractor:
- Do your research: You won’t be able to find a trustworthy contractor without any information. Visit their website to check the services they cover and skim through reviews and ratings from clients. Inquire about their warranty and the period it covers. The kind of warranty they offer reflects their confidence in what they do.
- Request referrals: You can also ask friends, family, or neighbors who have previously filed a storm damage insurance claim. They most likely employed the services of a contractor that they may recommend.
- Consider their experience: In addition to their services and reputation, verify a contractor’s experience in dealing with claims to ensure they understand the process.
- Ask for written estimates: Consider requesting estimates from different contractors, compare them, and settle for one with reasonable estimates.
These tips will help you choose a reliable contractor that’s familiar with insurance claims and known for their quality repairs.
2. Document Everything
Your insurance company will want to see proof that the damage resulted from the storm. So, take pictures, videos, and notes of the damage to support your claim. If you’ve already started the repair process, keep a list of the labor and materials used. Having a list will ensure you get reasonable compensation for the damage and avoid conflicts regarding the cause or scope of the damage.
3. Review Your Insurance Policy
Another vital step is to review your homeowner’s insurance policy so that you can:
- Understand your coverage: Reviewing your policy will help you understand what it covers and doesn’t when your property is damaged because of a storm. Once you know the coverage, you can plan your repair budget.
- Get clarification on the claim process: Apart from the coverage, you need to familiarize yourself with the insurance claim process. This process outlines what you should expect from the company and how to make the process more effective.
- Know the time limit and deductibles: Knowing the time limit for filing your claims and the insurance deductible (the amount you need to cover before your coverage is approved) is just as important because it will help you decide whether filing a claim is better than covering the damages yourself.
Ultimately, reviewing your insurance policy will help you avoid surprises, such as finding out that your policy doesn’t cover certain damages like flooding.
4. Contact Your Insurance Company
The next step is to notify your insurance company. Provide them with all your details and describe the damage. If you have any questions or something you didn’t understand in the contract, clarify with your insurance provider.
5. Request An Insurance Adjuster
You may also want to request an insurance adjuster before submitting your storm damage claim. They will reinspect the extent of the damage to estimate the amount the insurance company covers. Basically, they decide the amount and if the company should pay for the claim.
With their assistance, you can make an informed decision about whether to file the claim. If the damage isn’t significant and the repair costs are low, filing a claim may not be the best decision since it may increase your insurance premium.
Note that if there’s a disagreement between your contractor and the adjuster on the extent of the damage, you can ask the company to reassign someone else.
6. Submit Your Claim and Await Payment
Once you have contacted your insurer, assessed the extent of the damage, and documented everything, you can file your claim. Depending on your insurance company’s guidelines, you can submit your claim physically, over the phone, or online.
The payment period for your storm damage claim will depend on the damage, the insurer’s procedures, and the complexity of your claim. The insurance company will try to process your compensation as soon as they can, but there’s no telling how long the process will take. It might take weeks or even months before the payment is issued.
Conclusion
Filing a storm damage insurance claim sounds like a lot of work, but take it step by step. As long as you know what to do, you’ll receive compensation and avoid delays in payment issuance.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
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