Summertime is here and it is in full swing, bringing not only sunny days but also potential summer storms. Summer storms have the potential to cause serious damage to your home and property.
If there is damage to your house or property, you may need to make a claim on your homeowners policy.
Here are a few tips that can make the claim process easier, not just in summertime but all year round as well:
- Keep an Up To Date Home Inventory - Keeping an up to date inventory of your household belongings is key to making the claims process go quickly. This is especially true for the more expensive items in your home, including jewelry.
- Contact Us Immediately - It is important that you give us a call quickly to get the claim underway. It doesn't matter if you experienced a small amount of damage or have a huge hole in your roof... the quicker you call, the better. We can help walk you through the claims process as well as document hotel expenses if you have been evacuated out of your house.
- Document the Damage and Make Necessary Repairs - You should document the damage as soon as it is safe. Take photos or video of everything that has been damaged, including any damage to the structure of the house and your personal property. Do not make any permanent repairs or hire a contractor until you have started the claims process. Cover any broken windows or holes in the roof to prevent any further damage. You should take photos of the damage before you make any temporary repairs. While it may be tempting to drag damaged furniture and other household items to the curb, do not discard anything until an adjuster has been able to have a look at them.
Hopefully you will not have to make a claim on your homeowner's policy at any time, but if you do, use these tips to help make sure that the claims process goes as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
If you do need to file a claim, make sure to call us first so we can help you get the ball rolling quickly and take care of the headache for you. We're here to help!