Tips for Filing a Water Damage Claim

11/8/2022 (Permalink)

Filing a water damage claim

The Best Ways to File a Water Damage Claim

Water damage is a nightmare. It can be difficult to prepare for and even more challenging to deal with. If you find yourself in this situation, there are some steps that you can take to help make the process less stressful on everyone involved.

Notify Your Insurance Company Right Away

Notifying your insurance company as soon as possible is the first step in filing a water damage claim. You should have already made sure that it’s covered by your policy before you start cleaning up any messes, so having to go through that process again is no fun at all.

When you call, be prepared to answer questions about what happened and how much damage has been done. Your agent or company will also want to know if there are any witnesses who can corroborate what happened. Keep your policy number handy for reference; it greatly speeds up the process of filing a claim!

Stop the Water Damage If You Can

If you can, shut off the water supply. If you're able to stop the water from flowing, it could prevent further damage and help you save on repairs. To shut off a faucet, turn the handle clockwise until it clicks. You can also use a wrench and unscrew it from its base.

If turning off your faucet didn't work—maybe because there's no handle or knob—you should try to contain as much water as possible by using towels or rags. Once you've got rid of as much liquid as possible, get in touch with your insurance professional for help filing a claim so that we can come assess the situation and get restoration underway as quickly as possible. 

Document the Damage

Before you start filing a water damage claim, it's important to document the damage and try to get a sense of how much it will cost to fix everything up. For example, if there was water in your home that damaged your furniture and other items, take photos of each item with a list of damaged items—and keep track of the value of each item too! If possible, take pictures of any receipts for things you've purchased (like food or clothing) to replace some (or all) of what was ruined by floodwater. This will help bolster your case when submitting a claim later and make it easier for an adjuster from your insurance company to assess exactly how much money is owed out-of-pocket.

Reestablish Access To Your Home

• Open all doors and windows to allow the water to evaporate.
• Use fans to speed up the drying process.

Record Anything That Was Damaged and Its Value

The next step is to make a list of everything that was damaged and its value. This will help you when filing your claim with the insurance company or adjuster, because it gives them an idea of how much money you need from them to cover the damages. You should also save receipts for any items that you replace, as well as receipts for any repairs made to your home.

Never Throw Anything Away Until the Insurance Company Tells You To

When dealing with your insurance company, it's important to remember that they're not on your side. You're paying them for the service of helping you file a claim and recover from damages—not being an ally in the process. The single most important thing to remember is this: don't throw anything away until the insurance company tells you to. Even if it seems like nothing is salvageable, keep it in storage until they tell you otherwise. 

Be Sure to Keep Receipts For All Expenses You Have Related To the Loss, Such as Food and Lodging

If possible, keep receipts for all expenses you have related to the loss. If you rented a hotel room or apartment after your home was damaged, include any charges you make to your credit card and write down the date that each charge was made. If you used a mobile banking app to pay for food or gas while away from home, add those purchases as well.

Steps You Can Take To Get Your Life Back on Track after Water Damage

Here are some tips on how to go about filing a water damage claim:

Make sure you’re covered. You should talk with an insurance agent before your home experiences a major loss, so that when the time comes, you’ll be ready to file a claim.

Start by taking pictures and video of the affected areas. This will help provide evidence and help in determining the extent of damage done by water.

Contact an independent adjuster or claims handler if your insurance company does not cover all costs associated with repairing your property after a flood. The adjuster will come out to assess what repairs need to be made and determine whether or not they can be completed within certain parameters set by their company's policyholder agreement.

Water damage is no laughing matter, and it’s important that you take the right steps to protect yourself and your belongings. It can be tough to deal with this kind of loss, especially if it happens when you least expect it. But don’t worry—we’ve got your back! With these tips in mind, hopefully you’ll be able to get back on track even faster than before.