Steps to Take Before & After Filing Your Claim
What to Do Before a Loss Occurs
- Before something happens -- be prepared.
- Keep a room by room list of all the contents in your home, and put it someplace safe like a bank deposit box or someplace away from home. Good records help speed up the settlement of your claim.
- Document, document, document. This is important both before you need to make a claim and when you need to make one. Take pictures and update the list annually. Many people video tape each room and its contents. Keep receipts for all "big ticket" items.
- Because the cost of replacing your house rises each year, review your policy annually.
What to Do After a Loss Occurs
- In case of theft or vandalism loss, contact the police immediately.
- Make temporary repairs. If your home is damaged, you should make whatever temporary repairs are needed to protect your home and you from further damage or injury. If you have taken some action to prevent further damage such as boarding up damaged windows and doors, moving personal property to a secure area, or temporarily fixing holes in roofs, keep a record of your costs. The cost of such repairs can become part of the claim. Don't make extensive permanent repairs until after the claims adjuster has been to your home and assessed the damage. Your claim might be denied if you make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects the damage. If you make any temporary repairs, make copies of the bills for your records.
- In case of property damage or theft, begin by making a list of everything that has been damaged or stolen. The more information you can provide, the more quickly we can adjust your claim.
- List as much detail as possible including the manufacturer’s names, model and serial numbers, dates and places of purchases, and prices. Try to locate owner's manuals, canceled checks and credit card bills, receipts or proofs of purchase, especially for major appliances and more expensive items.
- After the loss, take all necessary steps to protect the property from further damage. Don’t discard damaged goods, damaged furniture, and other expensive items until after an inventory has been taken and the adjuster has had the opportunity to see them.
- If damage is extensive enough, your homeowners policy will pay for the covered expenses that exceed your normal, day-to-day living costs, such as food and housing costs, telephone or utility installation costs in a temporary residence, extra transportation costs to and from work or school, relocation and storage expenses and furniture rental for a temporary residence. Save receipts from any additional living expenses you may incur, they are helpful in determining how much you should be reimbursed.
- Take steps to minimize the impact of a loss at home. Do not try to clean the damaged items as sometimes cleaning things without the proper equipment can do more harm than good. The adjustor can advise you how to best protect your property and review what is covered. If your home has suffered water damage, move all your possessions out of the affected areas and then make sure that all the water is removed. A wetvac or emergency cleaning service can help with this job. If you use a cleaning service, save your receipts. Avoid using electrical appliances, including stereos and television sets, that have been exposed to water unless they've been checked by a technician.