June 28th is Insurance Awareness Day so we thought we should share some insurance tips and need to know information about insurance claims during a water loss.
These are basic tips for general water damage losses. Please be sure to confirm your specific coverage and get answers to your questions from the assigned adjuster for your claim. It is his or her job to review your policy and know what is or is not covered based on that information.
Before you file a claim DO:
1. Be sure everyone is safe.
2. Turn off the water to stop further damage. If you cannot turn it off at the source, cut off the water where it comes into the house or out at the street.
3. Move any valuables that you do not want damaged out of the affected area.
4. Close off the area as much as possible to limit the water's ability to travel in and out of the affected area since more water leads to more damage.
5. If possible (and SAFE), remove as much water as possible from the affected area. Standing water continues to damage materials until it is removed. This is possibly the most important reason to call ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens right away since we have the tools to extract water limiting the damage.
6. Be sure to take pictures of everything that got wet before any cleanup is performed.
Before you file a claim DO NOT:
1. Assume that since the water loss was minor, a water mitigation is not needed. Water travels into cavities and becomes trapped which can lead to mold growth in places you can't see until it is too late.
2. Throw out damaged items before adjuster approval. While it may be easier to toss out wet items, they may not be covered under the loss if the insurance company cannot evaluate the damage to it.
3. Make repairs before your insurance adjuster's approval. There are many reasons why this is true so save yourself the headache and hit to your wallet by getting approval before doing any repairs to the affected areas.
When you are ready to proceed with filing a claim:
1. Review your policy to be sure you understand the coverage allowed, deductible amount you will have to pay, any deadlines, limitations and exclusions related to the claim.
2. Be sure you have good photos or video of the damage before ANYONE touched ANYTHING other than to stop the damage from getting worse.
3. Now is the time to call ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens. We work with all major insurance companies to help you navigate the initial evaluation of the damage and walk you through the process of water mitigation.
4. Be sure you have with you for every conversation about this loss the following information:
a. Date of the loss.
b. Location of the loss - where specifically in your home is it?
c. Contact information of the person responsible for making decisions regarding this loss.
d. Any receipts, estimates or invoices for anything related to this loss including services performed, parts needed for repairs, or food and lodging if the home is uninhabitable.
e. A complete list of all damaged items and materials.
Be sure to keep a detailed log of who you spoke to and when regarding this loss. This includes the insurance company, service providers and contractors. Be sure to note the date, time and content of each call. Also keep a notebook to store any paperwork related to this loss and a digital folder to store any electronic communications.
Any loss is stressful, but hopefully these tips will help make filing the claim easier for you and help you navigate the process with as little difficulty as possible.
Call ServiceMaster 5 Points Athens today to help you with your water damage mitigation.
