Home insurance is one of the most important types of insurance to have. The last thing we want is adverse weather destroying our home and having nothing to remedy it. Fortunately, there are ways to get more out of home insurance claims
Make Sure You’re Looking for a Good Home Insurance Policy
When you consider buying insurance, you need to make sure you’re taking a good look at the policy and what it offers. Not everyone looks at the terms and conditions of their insurance policy and this can come to bite them later in the future. When you look at home insurance policies, it’s vital that you check how much coverage you’re entitled to, what damage it covers, and also the process involved in getting everything fixed.
If you neglect to look at your insurance policy then you might get a nasty surprise when you realize that it doesn’t cover everything you hoped it would. It’s a good idea to confirm with your insurance company if you’re not sure about a specific term or condition as well.
Get Ready to Negotiate and Fight for Your Claim
Insurance companies really don’t want to pay out, hence why it’s important to stand your ground and get ready for a fight. Insurance companies are going to push back against your claims and they might try to lower the amount you’re entitled to. They might give excuses such as a lack of documentation or proof of the damages. While most insurance companies aren’t like this, there are certainly a few that will do everything in their power to lower the settlement amount.
In cases like this, you may want to consider hiring an insurance public adjuster to help you. An adjuster essentially examines the claims and calculates how much you’re entitled to based on the damage and circumstances. Insurance companies hire adjusters to examine the claim, but there are situations where you might want to hire an outside adjuster to validate it yourself. If you’re almost certain that the insurance company is offering you less than you’re entitled to, then hiring a public adjuster is a great option.
Give the Insurance Company All the Documentation They Need
Insurance companies are going to want to see everything about the damages. If you don’t have proof of what’s damaged and what condition your home is in, then you’re going to get a much smaller settlement. Start by taking videos and photos of the damage. You might be tempted to immediately start cleaning up as soon as something happens in your home, but it’s vital that you record the extent of the damage so that it can be presented during the claim.
You should also keep track of any of your possessions that have been damaged and take photos and videos to accompany those claims. You’ll also want to start performing a few repairs and contact different companies to help you perform larger repairs. Keep all of the receipts since you’ll want to give them to your insurance company to be reimbursed.
