The Do’s and Don’ts of Filing a Home Insurance Claim

It is good to know that your home will be repaired thanks to your homeowners insurance policy.

Suffering damage to your home is never fun and making a major claim on your homeowners insurance can be downright painful. It is usually costly, complicated and in many cases frustrating but in the end it is good to know that your home will be repaired thanks to your homeowners insurance policy.

When it comes to making a claim on your homeowners insurance, one tip that all experts offer is to save your insurance for big events. Making a claim for every small incident will up your premium and can even result in cancellation if you make too many claims in a short period of time. Pay small claims out of pocket and save your policy for major disasters.

When it’s time to make a claim on your policy, being properly prepared will ensure that claim process goes smoothly and you are paid promptly and fairly. Here are just a few do’s and don’ts for handling a claim on your homeowners policy:

The Do’s

Call Your Insurance Company Immediately

After you determine that everyone is safe and sound, do what you can to secure your home and then call your insurance company immediately. This will alert your insurer to your situation so they can get an adjuster out to assess your home and the damage.

Some insurance policies have a short window where you are allowed to make a claim after a major disaster so waiting too long can result in a denied claim, leaving you on the hook for the damages. You should absolutely file a claim with your insurer before contacting a contractor or starting any repairs.

Take Photos and Video

Take photos and video of the damage as soon as it is safe. Document all the damage, taking photos and video from a variety of angles. These photos can help with the claim, and will ensure that you are paid for all of the damage you have suffered. You may need to share them with the adjuster.

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If the Claim is Crime Related, Call the Police

If your home has been burglarized or vandalized contact the police as soon as it is safe and file a police report. This can be helpful for the claim and may be required by your insurance adjuster.

Secure Your Home

When it is safe to reenter your home, it is your job to secure the home and do what you can to prevent further damage. If windows have been blown out, board them up to prevent further wind or water damage. If the roof has been damaged and you can safely put a tarp over it, do so but do not put yourself in danger.

Your insurer will expect you to do whatever possible to prevent further damage to the home and may even deny a claim for any damage that occurred after the original incident if they feel you left the home unsecured.

Keep Receipts

Keep receipts for everything that has to do with the claim. If your home is too damaged to live in, keep all receipts for hotels, food and other incidentals.

Keep an Inventory of Your Home

Updating your home inventory on a regular basis will make sure that you know exactly what was destroyed or lost. There are numerous apps that make the process easy and keep your inventory in the cloud. Record serial numbers and the price paid for all of your valuables.

Don’ts

Never Assign Your Benefits Over to a Contractor

Some contractors may ask you to give them control over the claims process by signing a form called an Assignment of Benefits (AOB). This hands over control of your claim to them, including the payment process. Less than honest contractors may try to collect payment without actually doing the work. Always maintain control of your claim.

Don’t File Small Claims

As mentioned above, save your insurance for major claims, do not file small claims. Never file a claim if the cost is less than your deductible.

Don’t Give Up if Your Claim is Denied

If your insurer denies your claim you are legally entitled to an explanation from the adjuster and you can appeal the decision if you think the denial is unjustified. If necessary contact the Insurance Department in your state to file a complaint and consider hiring a lawyer.