So you need to file a water damage claim but you aren’t sure where to start. The following steps will help guide you in filing your water damage claim:
- Call your insurance agent. They will have information regarding your policy’s water damage coverage, deductibles, limitations or exclusions. They will then be able to start the claim process for you.
- Take photos and/or video of the damage before any cleanup or restoration begins.
- Once the inspection is done, work with professionals like ServiceMaster for damage assessment, cleanup estimates and restoration. A professional company can quickly perform complete water extraction and drying, pack-out services, board-up and full mold remediation as needed.
- Ask for written estimates at each stage of the process. You will need to provide this information to your insurance agency.
- Gather the necessary information needed to file a water damage insurance claim. This information may include, but isn’t limited to:
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- Date of water damage
- Location of damage
- Contact information for the property owner
- Your personal contact information, if you’re not the property owner
- Cleanup and remediation estimates
- Receipts for all cleanup, repairs and other related costs
- Receipts for lodging and meals if you had to leave your home before or during cleanup and repair
- Complete list of all damaged items and building materials
Once you have filed your water damage claim, you will commonly be contacted within a couple of days. A detailed description of the process will be provided, including your responsibilities and any documentation you need to complete. Once done, your claim will be investigated and if you are approved you will receive reimbursement for damaged property and a direct payment to the company in charge of restoration shortly after.
While water damage claims cannot be guaranteed, there are a variety of steps you can take to ensure the likelihood of your claim being approved in the future. These include:
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- Ensuring that your homeowners insurance policy has the coverage you need
- Making sure that you understand the policy exclusions (remember, insurers want your business – don’t be afraid to ask any and all questions until you feel comfortable)
- Hiring a professional to do regular inspections of your home to ensure no problems exist
- Ensure regular maintenance of your home throughout the year to avoid large and costly expenses in the future
- Keep a log of repairs done to your home in case of another disaster
Get your life back on track
Any type of water damage event is stressful, but the tips above should give you a better understanding of the steps needed to take when filing a water damage insurance claim.