Your Insurer Will Help After A Disaster

2/20/2017 (Permalink)

When disaster strikes one of your first calls should be to your insurance company representative.

We hope you have good insurance. If you do, you will greatly appreciate your home or business insurance carrier after a natural disaster. But work smart with your insurance company and its claim adjuster. Helping them do their job right can speed the approval of your insurance claim and assure you are fully and properly reimbursed for the damage based on your policy and coverage. Check out these tips from the Insurance Information Institute.

 After a disaster one of the first things to do is to contact your insurance representative. Ask:

• Is this damage covered under the terms of my policy?
• How soon do I have to submit a claim?
• Will my claim exceed my insurance deductible (the amount of loss you agree to pay before your insurance policy coverage kicks in)
• How long will take to process my claim?
• Do I need to submit estimates for repairs?

Your insurance representative isn’t the one who’ll come to your home or business to inspect the damage. An insurance claim adjuster will. Your rep will put you in touch with a claim adjuster from your insurance company. You’ll need to prepare for the adjuster’s visit.

Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield (860-461-7194) anytime, 24/7.

Preparing For The Adjuster's Visit

Your insurance company may send you a proof of loss form to complete or the claim adjuster may visit your home first. (An adjuster is a person professionally trained to assess property damage.) In either case, the more information you have about your damaged possessions -- a description of the items, approximate date of purchase, and what it would cost to replace or repair -- the faster your claim generally can be settled by the insurance company.

• To substantiate your loss, prepare an inventory of damaged or destroyed items. Give a copy to the insurance adjuster along with copies of any receipts. Don’t throw out damaged items until the adjuster visits you. You should also consider photographing or videotaping the damage. If your property was destroyed or you no longer have any records, work from memory.
• Identify structural damage to your business or home and other structures such as your garage, tool shed, patio, or in-ground swimming pool. Make a list of everything you want to show the adjuster. Are there cracks in walls? Is your roof missing shingles? Are windows broken or cracked? Have your electrical system checked. Most insurance companies pay for these inspections.
• Get several written bids from licensed contractors. The bids should include details of the materials to be used and prices on a line-by-line basis. This makes adjusting the claim faster and simpler.
• Keep copies of the lists and other documents you submit to your insurance company. Also keep copies of whatever paperwork your insurance company gives you and record the names and phone numbers of everyone you speak to.

Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield (860-461-7194) anytime, 24/7.

Flood Damage Often Excluded

Flood damage is excluded under standard homeowners and renters insurance policies. Flood coverage, however, is available as a separate policy from the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and from a few private insurers. The NFIP provides coverage up to $250,000 for the structure of the home and $100,000 for personal possessions. Flood insurance claims should be filed with your homeowners insurance company.

We’re Here To Help

Here at SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield we often work with business owners and homeowners and their insurance company representatives.  Some customers use us to be certain they’re fully prepared for what the insurance company will require before they will consider a claim.  Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield (860-461-7194) anytime.

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
100 Peters Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
IICRC Certified
Noemi Garcia
Franchise Owner
Call (860)461-7194
24-hour emergency service