How You Get Your Claim Money

So if there is damage done to your home and personal belongings, how do you get the money from your home insurance claim? Well, you may actually get more than one check. In most cases, an adjuster will assess the damage and then your provider will offer you a settlement. If you accept, what you will receive initially is more than likely going to be an advance on the overall settlement, not the entire amount you will receive. Don’t worry, the rest is coming. That will be the next check as the claim is processed.

If you had personal belongings damaged or lost in addition to the structure of your house, you will receive separate checks for the building and the possessions. You may also be entitled to receive a third check for any additional living expenses incurred as a result of the damages and renovations being conducted. Make sure to keep receipts of hotel bills, clothing or any other items you may need to purchase during that time. Submit these to the insurance company promptly so you can be reimbursed quickly.

If you miss something the first time around, like damage that was not initially notice by the adjuster, contact your insurance provider about filing for additional money to take care of those issues. Make sure to do this quickly, though. The longer you wait, the greater the chance of setbacks becomes.

When Someone is Hurt on Your Property

Homeowner insurance covers more than your house; it also provides important liability coverage in case someone is hurt on your property. Despite taking precautions to assure the safety of friends, family and other visitors, sometimes an accident takes place. Learn how to file the proper insurance claim and what to do when someone is hurt on your property with these quick tips:

1. Call for medical assistance if needed. Safety comes first, so be sure to have a medical physician check for injuries. Falls, sports injuries, dog bites and other emergencies should all be evaluated by a qualified physician.
2. Document what happened. After everyone is safe and calm, take time to carefully document what happened being careful not to assign blame. Simply stick to the facts. Take photographs of any pertinent information and make a note of other people that witnessed the event.
3. Contact your agent. Let your agent know what has transpired and file a report. They may have additional questions that you should answer to the best of your ability.

Public Adjusters

Sometimes, in the cases of a dispute over a claim, people choose to use a public adjuster. This person has no affiliation with your insurance company. They will help to assess damages and losses suffered by you after an earthquake or other disaster, for example.

Public adjusters will charge a fee, usually a percentage of the total settlement. The fees charged will vary from person to person, however the state government will usually regulate the fee they are allowed to charge victims of a natural disaster immediately following the event.

If you choose to use a public adjuster during the claims process, do your homework. You don’t want to just pick one out of the phone book or the first Web site you come across. Contact your state’s Department of Insurance for a list of qualified public adjusters. An unqualified individual will only slow down the insurance claims process and cost you time and money.

How to File a Claim

Homeowners insurance is one of those items you purchase hoping never to use. Should you need to file a claim, follow these simple steps:

1. Call Your Agent. The very first step is to contact your agent as soon as possible. Time is of the essence when it comes to filing some claims, so begin as early as possible.
2. Collect Important Information. Hopefully, you have already established a file containing all the contact information and copies of important data needed to substantiate the loss. If not, begin searching for receipts, photographs or any other information that can help show the condition of the property before the loss.
3. Take Photographs. If you are able, take photographs of the damage. Be very careful not to disturb or further damage the property in any way before the adjuster arrives.
4. Secure the Location. Depending upon the type of damage, it may be necessary to shut down the electric, turn off water or move furniture and non-damaged items to prevent further loss from taking place. Remember, safety comes first! Once the area is safe and secure ask your agent what other actions can be taken to reduce further damage from taking place without impeding the claim process.
5. Keep Copies. Ask for copies of all repairs, notes and other information related to the claim to keep for your own records. Document phone calls and other correspondence to help in the event of a problem.

Handling Claim Disputes

If you are deep in the home insurance claims process and feel that your policy is not being honored or there are mistakes being made, don’t wait until the last minute to raise these concerns. Contact the claims manager of your insurance company and explain what the problem is. See if you can get it resolved quickly and easily. Often it is just a matter of miscommunication.

If after speaking with the claims manager, you are still not satisfied, you can always contact your state’s Department of Insurance. Since insurance is a regulated industry, each state has a department specifically designed to deal with these issues. They are a resource that most people overlook, but they can be very helpful.

The Department of Insurance should be able to work with you and your provider to resolve any issues you may have and get the claims process moving once again in a manner that works for all parties involved.

Before You Buy Homeowners Insurance

Before you buy homeowners insurance, it's a good idea to take a little time to plan and prepare yourself. Not only will it help keep everything in one place in order to easily compare quotes, but it also provides an easy-to-use system that will serve you for years to come.

1. Make a list of the content of your home. It's a good idea to take photographs to store in an off-site location as well as make a copy for home use. Include sales receipts, warranty information or other important items in a file with the photographs. It will assist in the insurance claims process should a loss take place in the future.
2. Make a list of all improvements to the home and property. Include the name and contact information of the contractors or repairpersons that performed the work, warranty information, receipts, permits and business-related information of the company including licensure, bonding and insurance information.
3. Check the dates. Always leave plenty of additional time before the expiration of your current policy. Remember, some types of coverage, like flood insurance, don't go into effect for 30 days or more after a new policy is written, so plan ahead.

Claims Resulting From Crimes

If there is ever a crime committed that results in the damaging or loss of your property, contact the police and file a report immediately. Do not wait. Insurance issues are often time-sensitive. The insurance company will want to speak with the police, and you should ask for a copy of the officer’s report as well.

Make sure to take pictures of any damage that resulted from the commission of the crime and give this to your provider when filing a home insurance claim. Do not throw away any damaged or broken property either. Your insurance company may send an adjuster out to see the extent of the damage.

A good rule of thumb is never throw away damaged property until it is replaced, unless it poses some sort of danger to you or others. That way you have evidence of the loss to provide insurers, police and any other relevant parties.

Claims After Natural Disaster

If you have lived through a hurricane, earthquake or other disaster, you know that it can be a nerve-racking time. However, the best thing you can do is keep a level head and assess the situation as soon as possible. Survey your home and see what damage there is that needs to be repaired.

Once you know what needs to be fixed or replaced, take photos and document the extent of the damage. Make any temporary repairs necessary and keep receipts from any expenses incurred in the process. Provide your homeowner’s insurance company with the photos, detailed explanations of the damage, and the repairs needed. Include the receipts from the temporary repairs made to be reimbursed for those as well.

The sooner you notify your provider of the situation, the sooner they can take action to get your home back in top shape. Natural disasters like earthquakes affect large numbers of people, so the odds are good that you won’t be the only one in your area filing a homeowner’s insurance claim. So you want to try and get the ball rolling with your insurance company before they get swamped with other claims in your area.

Company-Specific Claims Guidelines

When you buy homeowner’s insurance, make sure that you fully understand the claims process and the specific guidelines of the company. Each insurer will have their own way of doing things. While some aspects of the claims process are uniform from company to company, others might be left to the provider’s discretion.

Have the agent you are dealing with provide you with the contact information for filing a home insurance claim. They should also provide you with the company’s guidelines for filing. This will include the timeframe you must file within, paperwork to be completed and other documentation needed.

The more you know about the claims process from your provider beforehand, the less stressful you will find things if and when the time comes to make a claim. The last thing you want after your home is damaged by fire or burglarized is to spend hours fumbling through information trying to figure out whom you should be talking to and what you need to do.

Pictures Are Worth 1,000 Words

Saving and maintaining receipts and other documentation for insurance purposes is a smart practice. But there is one other step you should take to make sure all your bases are covered. Any time that you make renovations to your home or purchase valuables that will be insured, take pictures.

These pictures will serve as a photographic documentation of the exact condition and nature of the remodeled portions of your houses and personal possessions. If your home is burglarized, these pictures can be used by law enforcement officials to identify any stolen property that may be recovered.

Photographs can be a big help to police in the event a crime is committed and they can help your home insurance claim be processed faster. Keep these photographs stored with your receipts and other documentation, in either a safe deposit box or a fireproof box in your home. It is also a good idea to back up digital photos on disc or the hard drive of your computer as well.