What to do after suffering home damage.
Property damage is one of the most unfortunate and stressful experiences homeowners can face. Fire damage alone in the U.S. accounted for $7.3 billion in direct damages in five years. Also, around 35% of homeowners in 2021 suffered losses due to water damage.
Thankfully, homeowner’s insurance significantly lessens the problems when home damage stares you straight in the face.
Whether it’s a natural disaster or criminals managed to get away with theft and damage to your home, the most important thing is you have coverage for the repairs and replacements needed.
Most Common Types of Home Damage
Different factors can cause home damage. As a homeowner, you should be prepared for such damage. If you don’t have a policy in place, you might suffer severe financial loss, which will take a considerable chunk of your savings.
What are the top causes of home damage today?
● Weather-related (water) causes like storms and floods
● Non-water related causes such as faulty appliances and plumbing
While most homeowners prioritize safety measures for theft and house fires, wind is most likely to cause home damage. In fact, data revealed that wind is the leading cause of insurance claims.
So, it’s a good thing to have home insurance because standard policies usually cover wind damage. But it’s best to check your policy and talk to a public adjuster if wind damage is not covered.
What to Do After Experiencing Home Damage
Understandably, it’s disheartening to see your home damaged by water, storms. fire, and other causes. But it’s even more depressing when you don’t have insurance to cover the losses you incurred. This situation cannot emphasize more the importance of having a homeowners insurance policy.
But when you find yourself in the midst of it all, what should you do?
Here are the five steps to follow:
Ensure you and your family’s safety
Safety should be every homeowner’s priority. So, when your home suffers damage from extreme weather conditions, fire, or other causes, it’s best to stay out of danger and protect everyone from the possible effects.
For instance, hurricane damage can leave hazards all around your home and cause injury. In these situations, remove yourself from the vicinity and seek security elsewhere.
Assess the damage
When everything has settled down, you can assess the damage. However, do so with extreme caution.
Start by checking the surroundings and only enter the house when you’re confident danger is not lurking there. Then, inspect every room and note the damage you see.
Take pictures and document evidence of the damage
It can be overwhelming to see the state of your home after it has been severely damaged. So, before you start documenting the damage, make sure you’re emotionally ready to see your home in this condition. If not, you might miss some critical details that can be helpful when processing your insurance claims.
Carefully document the damages to the exterior and interior of your home by taking detailed photos. Doing so will clearly show the difference to your property, especially if you have images of the damage that occurred. And try to make a list of damaged items, too.
Contact your insurance company
After careful assessment and documentation, you need to know if your home insurance policy will cover the damage. So, call your insurance agent and a public adjuster for consultation and submit a report as necessary. Your insurance company will evaluate the home damage and tell you what claim types you qualify for.
The insurance claims process can be lengthy, so be ready and prepare for it.
Find a Reputable Public Adjustor to Work With You
Your insurance company will be less enthusiastic about paying out for what you need to repair your home. This is exactly why you need to work with a public adjuster to ensure your claim is not underpaid. A public adjuster will review the damage to your home and work with your insurance provider to get you the settlement you deserve. They know the terminology and strategies insurance companies use to avoid paying their clients.
You should never attempt to work with an insurance provider by yourself, especially after your home has suffered extensive damage.
Home damage can be a frustrating and traumatic experience, not to mention expensive. With the high costs of repairs and replacements.
However, a homeowner’s insurance policy significantly changes the course of things in the unexpected event of property damage. When you know what to do after suffering through an unfortunate situation, you can easily file your insurance claim and start getting back on your feet again.
Contact Property Protectors to Work with an Experienced Public Adjuster
If your home has experienced severe damage, contact Property Protectors today to work with our Public Adjusters. Our team has years of experience working to ensure their insurance companies pay the rightful amount to ensure our clients are made whole again.
Don’t assume your claim will be the exception to the rule. Your claim will be underpaid. Work with our team to avoid this by getting a free consultation today.