Homeowners insurance offers us security and peace of mind. It allows us to relax knowing that, should the worst happen, we’ll be covered and our home will be repaired or our property replaced.
Of course, things get a little more nerve-wracking when something bad does happen to our homes and it comes time to claim. As most of us know, insurance companies aren’t always as supportive as we need them to be, so it’s best to go into any claim knowing about what may hurt your claim.
The 6 tips below will help you make the most of your claim and stay calm through the process.
6 Best Tips for Making Homeowners Insurance Claims
1. Check Your Coverage
Whenever it’s time to make a claim, it’s a good idea to check what you’re actually covered for. You may find that you’re covered for additional benefits you didn’t know were on your policy. Going through your policy again will also make you feel confident going into any conversation with your insurance company, as you’ll know exactly what they put down in writing. If they then try to charge you additional charges or tell you they won’t cover something, you’ll know whether that’s something you agreed to or not.
2. Document Any Damage Thoroughly
Whether a tree branch destroys the porch roof or someone breaks into your garage, start documenting the damage as soon as you can. Grab your phone and take plenty of photographs of the damage as you assess it. Video can also be beneficial, especially if you have an expert out to assess the situation. With their permission, try to video the damage while they talk you through what needs to be done and how much it will cost.
3. Make Things Safe, But Don’t Do Repairs
After a natural disaster or a break in you’ll inevitably need to do some work to make your home safe to stay in (if it’s not safe to stay in, your policy will likely cover a hotel stay, so make sure you contact them as soon as possible). While you can work with a local contractor to add additional supports to prevent further damage or can put wood up to cover a broken window, don’t start doing any real repairs until your insurer has given you the go-ahead.
4. Talk to Your Adjuster
If you’ve ever had a bad experience with an insurance claim in the past, you may see your adjuster come along with their clipboard (or tablet) and their serious expression and assume they’re looking for ways to try and reduce your claim as much as possible.
They’re not – while they may be intimidating, they are simply assessing the damage on behalf of the company paying for the repairs to make sure your home is repaired properly. Talk to them, answer their questions truthfully, and ask questions if you have them.
If you aren’t keen on doing this, you can hire a public adjuster to communicate with your insurance company’s adjuster on your behalf. They’ll make sure things go smoothly and help you avoid any pitfalls that may mean you lose out on some money with your claim. Be aware, however, that their fee is a percentage of the total value of the claim (if successful), so factor that into your budget.
5. Log Everything
Keep a Google doc or notebook and log every interaction you have with your insurer from the time you first make the claim until the work is completely finished and your home is repaired. Log the date and time, how you communicated with them, who you spoke to (if anyone), and what was discussed. This will help you keep track of everything that has (and hasn’t) been said, and will help you keep them accountable if you encounter any issues in the claims process.
6. Be Timely
If your claim isn’t one so large that it keeps you from carrying out your day-to-day routine, you may find that your insurer’s requests for additional information may be something you put off doing. However, make anything to do with the claim a priority. If they request you call them back, do so whenever you are next able, even if you hate doing it. Failing to fulfill their requests can invalidate your claim at worst, and will leave you with the claim hanging over you at best.
What to Do If You’re Not Covered
While this worst-case scenario is highly unlikely to happen, some people do start the claims process only to find they aren’t covered for a repair on their home they simply cannot afford out of pocket. If this is the case, you have 3 options:
- Reach out to friends and family for financial support
- Reach out to your local community and local government to seek out grants or low-interest loans to help you afford the repair
- Sell your home
While the latter may not be something you want to do, it’s a better alternative to keeping hold of a home that’s uninhabitable or badly damaged. While selling a home that needs repairs can be a challenge, investors are often interested in making you an offer on your home.
We Buy Homes in Massachusetts
If your home has been damaged and you’ve found your insurance won’t cover the repairs, we buy homes in Massachusetts in any condition. All you need to do is reach out to us with a few details about the property and we’ll send you our best cash offer. You’re under no obligation to accept, but if you do, we can close in as little as 2 weeks, leaving you with the funds to move on with your life as soon as possible. To find out more or to get your offer, click here.