- Secure your property. Insurance companies also cover temporary repairs to prevent from further loss or damage to your property.
- Call your insurance agent. Your agent will work with you in determining the extent of your damage and whether or not it will benefit you to make a claim with your carrier. Remember, it is always important to place your insurance with an independent agent. At Paradiso Insurance, we work on behalf of our customer, not the insurance carrier…we fight for YOU! Check out our video blogs for more information about why you should do business with an independent agent.
- Select a contractor to do your repairs. It’s important to choose a reputable contractor that is familiar with the insurance claims process.
- Have your insurance company and your contractor meet. This will ensure that all covered damages are addressed and all of your questions are answered.
- After you and your contractor have agreed on the covered damages and their final estimate for repairs, you should schedule the work to start immediately.
- The next step is to accept the material delivery. Double check amount and accuracy of materials delivered, size, color, etc. If there are any discrepancies, report them immediately to your contractor. This is the time when you would pay your 1st check/deposit for repairs, which would not exceed more than half of the total amount of the contract.
- Once the project is complete and you are a 100% satisfied, you will be expected to pay the outstanding balance, minus the deposit and your insurance deductible.
- After the job is complete you can now file the betterment claim. Upon the receipt of the completed invoice along with your initial deposit receipt, you can file for the dollar amount initially withheld by your insurance adjuster for depreciation.
- Always retain pertinent documents, letters with regard to your claim, warranty papers and waiver of lien affidavits.
- Keep your documents safe and treat them as you would any warranty information.
In the unfortunate situation of making a claim, we hope that these tips can help. Please call Paradiso Insurance today with any questions on your homeowners policy at 800-660-2991.
**To see the full “Filing a Homeowner’s Claim” article, please visit HubPages