When you find water damage in your home, the first call should be to a reputable restoration company like Flood Pro in Rancho Santa Margarita. As they stop the water, repair your things and protect against mold, they can also be a great resource as you work with your insurance company. If you think that water damage to your home is likely covered by your insurance policy, here are the steps to follow to best ensure your claim will be approved.
it’s imperative that you contact your insurer immediately after calling the water damage company. You should take pictures of the affected area and everything that was damaged, as well as of the source of the water, such as a burst pipe or hole in the roof. If you have pictures from before the incident, you should find them so you can show the assessor what the area looked like before being damaged.
Insurance carriers require detailed information like make and model, serial numbers, and receipts. This can be difficult if your home was completely destroyed or you don’t yet have access to it. If you have a computer, searching online bank statements can help you present proof of purchase and exact costs. Then keep your receipts when replacing these items to ensure you’re quickly reimbursed.
Use your phone to narrate a video– move from top to bottom and right to left. Record everything that you remember: cost, dates, manufacturers. As you remember important details, record in a master document.
Your homeowner’s insurance company will ask you a host of questions about your claim to help it decide if the damage is covered by your policy. The representative will also best determine if the damage that happens exceeds your deductible.
This usually isn’t required, but having a contractor evaluate the water damage can arm you with an estimate to compare with the one the insurance company may prepare. An independent estimate is especially useful to have in the event the insurance adjuster’s coverage offer is low since it furnishes you with information that can be useful in negotiating the offer upwards.
Assuming you’re covered, an adjuster will then be dispatched to assess the damage. If you need to make any temporary repairs before the adjuster has a chance to see the damage, be sure pictures are taken and that you keep the receipts for any materials since you may be reimbursed.
When you agree on a reasonable settlement for the cost of repairs, the insurer usually sends an advance of half the payment to begin repairs. They will send you the last half upon completion, minus the deductible you’re responsible for paying.
Flood Pro has a 30-year reputation for trusted water damage restoration for protecting homeowners from serious water damage when disaster strikes. If you’re experiencing any type of water damage in Rancho Santa Margarita, call for a free home inspection. If a pipe bursts or any other water enters the home, call 24/7 for emergency repairs.
Flood Pro technicians are trained and certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). They will quickly assess the situation to determine the fastest way of drying your property.
