It’s essential to get homeowner insurance, whether you’re the landlord or a tenant. However, not many people know about filing a homeowner insurance claim and how it works. Hence, they don’t get to put their homeowner insurance to full use and may file claims late.
This post will put you through the process of filing a homeowner insurance claim.
Advertisment
How to File a Homeowner Insurance Claim
A claim against your homeowner’s insurance is subject to regulations as part of the contract between you and your insurer. There are protocols that both your insurer and you must follow. Read your policy to discover exactly what your responsibilities are—here are some steps to get you started:
- Report any criminal activities to authorities: Contact the authorities immediately if you are the victim of a theft or if someone destroys or burglarizes your home. Get a police report and the identities of all law enforcement officers you speak with. This will help you when you need to tell your insurer about the occurrence.
- Contact your insurance representative as soon as possible: Consider the questions
- Is my safety guaranteed?
- When is the last day to file a claim?
- Is my claim going to exceed my deductible? (The claims filing process is unnecessary if the damage is less than the deductible.)
- How long will my claim take to be processed?
- Will I need to seek structural damage repair estimates?
- Fill out claim forms as quickly as possible: Your insurance provider will provide you with the necessary claim forms if you decide to submit a claim. Complete and return them within the particular time frame your insurance gives.
- An insurance adjuster should inspect the damage: Your insurance company’s adjuster will most likely visit your home to assess it. An adjuster examines the damage to the property to decide how much the insurance company should pay for the loss. He’ll sit down with you and interview inspecting the property.
Advertisment