Everyone needs home insurance, even if they never really want to use it. If you've experienced a property loss, whether by fire, water damage or theft, you know it can be stressful. Once you've had a loss, the first step is to report the loss promptly to your home insurance company. To better understand the events surrounding your loss and determine the severity of damage, they will ask you a few questions. They will usually offer assistance if you need something immediately.
Your personal safety should be your priority. Do not go into your house if it was badly damaged. Contact the police immediately to file a report, and fix or replace your locks, if your home has been broken into. After a house fire, use a handkerchief or face mask over your nose and mouth so you don't inhale soot and ashes.
Do what you can to mitigate the loss - this is your responsibility. In other words, you are expected to minimize further damage by taking immediate action for emergency repairs or tasks within your control, with resources available to you. You are responsible for preventing future damage, so try to make any immediate repairs you can such as putting a tarp over a leaky roof. Save the receipts for this type of expense, so you can claim them and be reimbursed later.
You will usually need to fill out the required claims form for small and standard claims, and return it within a stated timeframe. With this you will also need to include receipts as proof of purchase for the items you are claiming on. If you can't lay your hands on the receipts, try digging out credit card statements which can prove the purchases instead. Ask your bank or credit card provider to send the relevant months' statements if you don't have these either.
Evidence can also be submitted in the form of photographs. Basically, the more documentary evidence you can produce, the smoother and quicker your home insurance claim will be.
Don't expect to make a claim on your home insurance if you just let a part of your home decay to the point of falling apart. Sometimes people attempt to make claims for maintenance because they are unaware that it is one of the main exclusions. Home insurance cannot and does not cover upkeep. You will never succeed in making a claim on your home insurance to check or replace roofing relating to maintenance. But, if a storm caused damage to your roof, you'd likely make a successful claim.
Again, be sure to separate items that may be cleaned or repaired. In short, before you discard any items you plan to claim as damaged, be sure to check with your claim representative. Also, be sure to review your policy for specific coverage information if you have not done so on a regular basis.
Your personal safety should be your priority. Do not go into your house if it was badly damaged. Contact the police immediately to file a report, and fix or replace your locks, if your home has been broken into. After a house fire, use a handkerchief or face mask over your nose and mouth so you don't inhale soot and ashes.
Do what you can to mitigate the loss - this is your responsibility. In other words, you are expected to minimize further damage by taking immediate action for emergency repairs or tasks within your control, with resources available to you. You are responsible for preventing future damage, so try to make any immediate repairs you can such as putting a tarp over a leaky roof. Save the receipts for this type of expense, so you can claim them and be reimbursed later.
You will usually need to fill out the required claims form for small and standard claims, and return it within a stated timeframe. With this you will also need to include receipts as proof of purchase for the items you are claiming on. If you can't lay your hands on the receipts, try digging out credit card statements which can prove the purchases instead. Ask your bank or credit card provider to send the relevant months' statements if you don't have these either.
Evidence can also be submitted in the form of photographs. Basically, the more documentary evidence you can produce, the smoother and quicker your home insurance claim will be.
Don't expect to make a claim on your home insurance if you just let a part of your home decay to the point of falling apart. Sometimes people attempt to make claims for maintenance because they are unaware that it is one of the main exclusions. Home insurance cannot and does not cover upkeep. You will never succeed in making a claim on your home insurance to check or replace roofing relating to maintenance. But, if a storm caused damage to your roof, you'd likely make a successful claim.
Again, be sure to separate items that may be cleaned or repaired. In short, before you discard any items you plan to claim as damaged, be sure to check with your claim representative. Also, be sure to review your policy for specific coverage information if you have not done so on a regular basis.
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