You return home to discover a flooded basement and a burst pipe. Or perhaps there is a water stain on your ceiling, indicating a problem with a pipe hidden beneath the plaster. The bad news is that water damage is probably to blame. In the United States, the most frequent type of homeowner insurance claim is for water damage. To prevent having your claim rejected, file as soon as possible. Keep in mind that insurance will only pay for incidents involving sudden or accidental water damage, and insurance companies frequently make exceptions, which could leave you paying for the cost of repairs out of pocket.
With the help of professional advice on homeowners insurance, this article will assist you in avoiding unnecessary costs and making the most of filing water damage insurance claim tips.
Common Causes of Water Damage
How did the flooding enter your house? Water damage has a number of frequent causes, including:
- Weather-related or stormy events
- Flooding
- Sewer overflow or backup
- Leaks from pipes, the water supply, drain leaks, etc. that occur suddenly or accidentally.
Some of these problems are named perils that are typically covered by homeowners insurance, while others are not. What caused the damage and what your policy covers make a difference, and you will know by reading these water damage insurance claim tips.
What’s Covered by Insurance?
Water damage from unexpected sources, such as a storm or a burst pipe, is typically covered by homeowner’s insurance. But if the water damage was caused by age, wear and tear, or neglect, your insurance is less likely to pay for the necessary repairs. Stop freaking out and take a deep breath. The instructions below are meant to be of assistance.
You should submit a home insurance claim once you’ve established whether the type of water damage you’re experiencing is covered by your insurance policy. Here are some water damage insurance claim tips to make the filing procedure go more smoothly.
File quickly
There are several factors that make it crucial to file your water damage claim as soon as possible, including the fact that insurance claims typically proceed on a first-come, first-served basis and that they take time to process. Because of this, it will take your insurance adjuster longer to evaluate the damage and approve your claim the longer you wait to file. Waiting on water damage claims can also lead to other issues, such as the growth of mold or mildew in the vicinity of the damage.
Additionally, the claim might be denied simply for having been filed too late. So for the water damage insurance claim tips, you should make sure to act right away to fix the issue for all of these reasons.
Talk to your agent
For submitting claims, the majority of insurance companies offer 24-hour hotlines. Nevertheless, be sure to communicate with your insurance agent directly when you’re going over the specifics (if possible). In order to ensure that your needs are fairly represented, follow these water damage insurance claim tips that it is always in your best interest to work with an independent agent rather than a “captive” agent or corporate vendor.
Since your agent essentially acts as your representative to the insurance company, they will mediate between you and the carrier to ensure that you receive the results you want, from validating your claim to negotiating a settlement.
Document damages
Keeping a record of the damage to your house and personal belongings is water damage insurance claim tips that are crucial to the claims procedure. This entails documenting the water damage that has occurred as well as any of your possessions that have been ruined or damaged by the water by taking pictures and making videos.
Proof of damages not only enables your adjuster to calculate the amount of cash required to pay for repairs, but also helps guarantee that there are no unrecognized damages when your insurance provider pays out. Throughout the claims process, keep any damaged items in your possession—don’t just throw them away!
Clean up what you can
You might not be able to remove all the water depending on the extent of the damage, but try to do what you can to keep your home and personal belongings from suffering additional harm. This may entail shifting your possessions to a different location, blotting up any excess water with towels or a shot-vac, or even just turning off a fan.
To help it dry out and prevent the growth of mold, follow these water damage insurance claim tips: you might want to pull up the corners of any carpeted areas in your home that have been affected by water.
Whether you want to increase your coverage or are simply interested in saving money by combining your home and auto insurance, these water damage insurance claim tips can help you save more money. Additionally, an independent agent can assist you in locating alternative options.