Submitting an Insurance claim:

Step #1- ALWAYS CHECK YOUR POLICY. If an incident occurs the insurance will only cover damage if it is on the policy.

Fire, water, wind, or mother nature can all cause major damage. We understand that this added burden puts stress on you, the customer. Let us help you through it.

Step #2- TRY AND STAY POSITIVE. There will be paperwork and time and unusable spaces in your home after an incident. Typically, you will have a deductible. Again, read your policy for specific details. Your home will be repaired back to its former glory. It truly is a process.

Here’s what needs to happen after the loss.

First, Pevent further damage.  

Example:

       If a water line breaks and floods the house: Shut off the water to the house.

        If a tree has fallen on the roof: Remove the tree and put a tarp on the whole of the roof as soon as possible.

Second, after the emergency is no longer present, select a contractor. Always, look for a licensed, bonded and insured contractor. Often times if a cleanup company such as Servpro is called they can give you recommendations for contractors. Our next blog will give all the details on how to research and obtain a contractor.

Third, Call a contractor. We suggest getting 3 quotes that way you can compare what works best for you and your budget.

The contractor will then prep an estimate and get estimates from other specialized trades if needed. (Like a plumber or electrician for example. Again, always look for a licensed and insured professional, if you choose to look on your own) While most estimates are free a massive job may not be free to get the estimate written up by several different contractors. Do get a copy of the scope of the work. This will detail all the items that are being repaired under this contract. This will break down exactly where and how the money will be spent. If a contractor is unable to do this, that is a flag. You should be able to clearly see who, what, where, why and how the money will be spent.

Fourth, insurance quote approval. Select the quote you want to go with. The estimate will need to be approved by the insurance agency. This can take a few days to a couple weeks depending on the size of the estimate and insurance claim amount.

Fifth, permitting and planning. This is a step that will be handled by the contractor, normally. You may have to sign a power of attorney for them to obtain the permits depending on the city or local laws, or you may have to be the person to file the paperwork.

 Sixth and final step of this process: Now the work finally begins, the contractor should have an idea of how long the work will take. Something, to note it that the repairs being made to your house, are just that. While you may be able to get some extras done but be prepared to pay up for extras that you may want. These may be out of pocket expenses for the owner if they were not approved by the insurance. For instance, insurance will pay to have new cabinets installed if they were damaged but may not cover slow close drawer slides. Or they will pay to replace the damaged countertops but will not pay for them to be replaced with granite.

Rule Number 1 is always and will always be make sure that your contractor is licensed, insured, and bonded.