One of the most devastating things that can happen to a homeowner is losing their property and all of their possessions in a disaster. To make things more complicated, the insurance claims process can make the situation more difficult. Here are some helpful tips that will allow you to navigate your way through the claims process.
What They Cover
The first thing that you should know is what your home insurance covers. It’s important to know that not all policies have natural disaster coverage as a default in their insurance plans. Therefore you should know exactly if your insurance covers damage from flood, fires, wind, rain, snow, and more. If you have a specific question about your home insurance coverage, then ask your insurance policy provider.
Making a Claim
The most important thing you should do is file a claim immediately after there is damage to your property. Carefully document all the damage done to your property with photos or a video camera. Also, make a careful list of all the possessions lost and damaged in the disaster. If you need help creating your list, check the recent purchases you have made online or your credit card statements to help complete your list.
Stay on Top of Your Claim
Sometimes, an insurance company may “drag their feet” on your claim. Therefore, you need to stay in touch with your policyholder in order to make sure that your claim is moving along. Ask how long it will take to process your claim. Also, check your state laws to see how much time an insurance company has to respond to your claim.
Track Your Living Expenses
Just about all home insurance policies will have a “loss of use” clause that entitles you to claim your expenses while you are out of your home. Be aware that you can only claim the additional costs from living outside of your home. For instance, if your normal grocery bill is $200 a week and you are now spending $300 per week, then you can only claim $100 per week in grocery expenses.
Nothing is harder than when disaster strikes your home. The best way to navigate your insurance is to quickly make your claim, detail all of your losses and stay on top of your insurance company. By being prepared ahead of time, you will be able to easily navigate your way through any policy claim.
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