Owning a home can mean dealing with the unexpected—from a tree falling on your roof to a pipe bursting in your bathroom. Because you likely can’t prevent all unwanted surprises, knowing what to expect if you have a homeowner claim can help give you some peace of mind. Whether you’re comparing home insurance quotes in Florida or filing a claim, it’s important to understand the process.
While insurance carriers can handle claims differently, here are some basic steps.
If damage has been done to your home:
- Get your house back on track. Even if the damage is limited to a single room, if your home has sustained significant damage, you should not return inside until authorized by emergency personnel or local government representatives.
- Have your info ready. Generally, when filing your claim, you must submit your name, contact details, policy details, the kind and date of the loss, a description, and any injuries. You might want to keep your home inventory close at hand if you have one. A claim professional, an adjuster, will work with you to adjust your claim after assigning a claim number to it.
- Take precautions to prevent additional harm, such as purchasing tarps to cover roof holes. Please save your receipts.
Beginning the claim process:
- Report your claim. Get in touch with your insurance provider right away. You can file a claim online or over the phone anytime if you are a Travelers customer. Your insurance company might be able to assist you sooner if you report it sooner.
- Inspecting the damage. The claim specialist will normally call you to discuss what transpired and what your insurance policy may or may not cover and schedule a physical inspection of the damage.
- Document your losses. Using pictures or videos, you can aid in your memory of items you may have misplaced. If you do not have an inventory, try to find pictures of damaged areas. Make a list of everything that has been damaged within your house.
- Save your receipts. Remember to keep your receipts when you make any necessary short-term repairs or living arrangements, shield property from additional harm, or find temporary housing. Your insurer might request them during the claim procedure.
Relocating after a loss:
- Loss of use. Your homeowner’s policy may pay for additional living expenses, such as motels, car rentals, and other regular daily costs brought on by temporarily relocating if you cannot remain in your home following a covered loss.
- Temporary residence. Your insurer may recommend a service provider or allow you to stay at a hotel or rental property if you require short-term housing while your home is being rebuilt following a covered loss.
- For more on Travelers’ loss of use coverage.
Resolving a claim:
- Time frames vary. The time it takes to settle a claim differs depending on the specifics of each loss and insurer. The time required to settle a claim will be influenced by the claim professional’s assessment of the damage and the specifics of the loss.
- Receiving payment. You should normally anticipate receiving a check based on an estimate of the damage immediately upon the claim professional’s determination that your policy covers the loss or shortly after that.
- You can find more information about your property policy here if you are a Travelers customer.
Select the appropriate level of property insurance coverage to safeguard your house as it safeguards you. As a home insurance provider in Florida, Bay Area Home & Auto Insurance is always here to assist you if you are in these circumstances or would like to purchase an insurance policy. Contact us today!