Water damage can range from mild to overwhelming, depending on what caused it. Dealing with extensive water damage can be especially frustrating and anxiety-inducing. After all, water damage restoration isn’t a free service, and who knows how much you’ll have to pay for it? For this reason, navigating insurance claims for water damage is an essential skill. If you aren’t sure how to start this process, you’ve come to the right place. You can read about some valuable tips for filing insurance claims for water damage successfully.
Navigating Insurance Claims For Water Damage
The thought of having to deal with insurance claims for water damage is, understandably, daunting. Luckily, with these tips, you will be able to take care of this process as easily as possible.
Determine The Source Of The Damage And Review Your Policy
The first thing you want to do is identify the source of your water damage. Knowing what caused it will allow you to easily navigate your home insurance policy. If possible, shut off your water to prevent further damage. Once you determine if the damage was due to flooding, a leak, or something else, proceed to review your insurance policy.
Most homeowner’s insurance policies will cover water damage from sudden accidents like burst pipes or leaky plumbing. However, for flooding, you will need to take out a separate policy for flooding insurance as those damages are not covered under traditional home insurance policies. If you live in an area that’s prone to flooding, take out a flood insurance policy.
Thoroughly Document All The Damage
After determining which of your insurance policies covers your water damage, you need to thoroughly document all the damage. This documentation comes in the form of photos and recording videos. That way, the adjuster can accurately assess how much they will cover. It will also be good for you to have proof of the damage if it comes down if you need to negotiate.
Move Away Undamaged Items And Drain Standing Water
Next, you need to make sure that any valuables untouched by water damage are moved to a different area. That way, you can keep more items protected. This step is especially important so you can drain any remaining standing water.
File The Claim And Meet With Adjuster
Filing insurance claims for water damage is the obvious next step of the process. You want to get this done as soon as possible while all the information about the incident that led to the water damage is still fresh in your mind. You will also need to prepare for the adjuster to have a look at your home in person or check out the documentation you’ve compiled.
Be Prepared To Negotiate
There’s a possibility that the settlement produced by the adjuster will seem less than satisfactory or sufficient to cover the water damage. In this case, you want to be prepared to negotiate with your adjuster for a settlement that you find acceptable. Have all your evidence on hand, and remember to act professionally. As soon as you and your insurance company have agreed on coverage, you can officially begin the restoration process.
Call ASAP Restoration For The Best Water Damage Restoration Services
After navigating insurance claims for water damage, you need to know which restoration company will provide the best water damage restoration services. Luckily, if you live in the Greater Houston area, that service just so happens to be our team at ASAP Restoration. We use all the latest and greatest restoration tools available to return your home to its original state. Contact us today to start eliminating water damage from your home.
