Catastrophe has hit your home, and damage has occurred. You need to file a homeowner’s claim. So what do you do next?
1 – Get Yourself and Your Family to Safety
Most of the time, the event causing the damage is a severe instance such as a fire, flood, storm damage, or a robbery. The first thing you need to do is get everyone out of the house and to safety and call emergency services (if necessary).
2 – Limit Additional Damage
If it is safe to do so, take action to limit the damage occurring to your home. For example, call 911 (if necessary), flip the main breaker to cut off power, shut off the water for leaks, etc. Record your actions here to show the insurer you tried to minimize additional losses.
3 – Notify Your Insurance Company
Contact your insurance company ASAP after the incident. Have your policy information on hand to help make the claim process smoother. Most insurers have a 24/7 hotline for filing claims.
4 – Get Evidence of the Damage
The best way to get evidence is to use your smartphone to take photos or videos of damage before you make any repairs. Take pictures or videos of the damage before making any repairs. This visual evidence will support your claim.
Ideally, you already have a detailed inventory of your valuable and important items. This inventory should include the make, model, age, estimated value, and other useful information. An up-to-date inventory will be beneficial for identifying damaged, destroyed, or stolen items.
5 – Keep Records
Be sure to keep records of everything related to the incident. This should include:
- Receipts for repairs, temporary accommodations, etc.
- Estimates for work or repairs
- Email and letters from the insurance company, adjusters, etc.
- Log of phone calls
- Police reports (if applicable)
6 – Complete and Submit the Claim
Work with your insurance agent to complete the claim form provided by the insurer. Be sure to provide all necessary documentation, such as photos, videos, estimates, receipts, etc.
Include all necessary documentation, like photos, videos, and receipts for temporary fixes or living expenses.
7 – Be Honest
Provide accurate information about the damage/losses, and don’t exaggerate. Any misrepresentations may lead to your claim being denied.
8 – Work with the Adjuster
If the insurance company sends an adjuster to assess the damage, be there to ensure that they don’t miss anything and that you can answer any questions the adjuster might have. Don’t downplay the losses or agree to anything you are unsure about.
9 – Review Settlement Offer
Once the adjuster evaluates your claim, the insurance company will provide a settlement offer. Work with your insurance agent to assess if the offer is fair. If it isn’t, the insurance professional can advocate and negotiate a fair settlement for you.
10 – Get Estimates for Repair and Replacement
When you get the settlement, begin contacting licensed contractors who can repair the damage to your home. Some settlements require that you get multiple estimat3es before selecting a contractor to start work on your home.
11 – Follow Up with Your Insurance Agent
Stay in touch with your insurance agent to help with delays in processing your claim or repairs, and keep everything on track.
Mizrahi and Garris Insurance Agency – Your Jacksonville-Area Insurance Experts
At Mizrahi and Garris, we have been serving Jacksonville and the surrounding communities for over 20 years including customers in the 32034, 32080, 32081, 30282, 30284, 30285, 32223, and 32259 zip codes. We want to build a lifelong partnership that provides best-in-class insurance services for all your coverage needs. We want to inform you through the quoting process, advocate for you during the claims process, and support you with the proper coverage for all your insurance needs. Do you want more information? Please call us at (904) 262-9202 or click “Free Quote” and one of our local insurance experts will contact you. We’ll help you find a protection plan perfectly customized to you and your family’s needs.