Insurance Claim Process
How does the Insurance claim process work?
If your home has been damaged, you will need to file an insurance claim as soon as possible. You can get compensated for the damage to your home, belongings, and more. If you have ever wondered how the insurance claim process works, read on to learn more.
File the Claim ASAP
As soon as you suffer a loss or damage, it’s prudent to call your insurance company immediately. If you have a local agent, you can contact them directly. If not, use the insurance company’s toll-free number to start the claims process. Be open and honest and make sure that you give them as many details as possible when starting your claim. The sooner you file, the easier the rest of the insurance claim process will be. Do not speculate what occurred if you do not know or it is not obvious. Instead, prepare to get inspections to find out what happened. This will often determine if the loss is covered or not, so be very careful with what you say to the insurance company. This is the perfect time to call us as your public adjuster!
Complete Paperwork
Once you file a claim, you will have to complete some paperwork. This paperwork can include an affidavit stating that your claim is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge. You might be asked to include photographs of the lost items or your damaged home. Make sure you document everything as much as you can. This will protect your claim.
Assessing the Damage
Your insurance company will send THEIR adjuster to take a look at the damage to your home. The adjuster will assess the damages and write down a list of everything they see. Keep in mind that the insurance adjuster represents the insurance company and they Do Not carry many tools to deeply check for damages since the more damage they find, the more money the insurance company has to pay out. Thus why hiring a public adjuster is so very important!
Make sure you fully show everything that has been damaged, including your belongings. This is your chance to show and tell.
Initial Payment of the Claim
You should receive an estimate regarding the cost to repair or replace your home, and/or belongings. You will see the deductible reduce the payment of the claim as most insurance companies simply remove this amount from the total payout you receive. In most cases, you can expect to receive a check for the amount offered by the insurance company in about 3 weeks from the date of inspection.