5 Tips to Succeed When Filing for Home Insurance Claims

After a severe storm, homeowners check their house for any damage. For every bit of damage they find, the insurance claims can pile up. While you expect to have the support of your insurance company whenever tragedy hits your house, you might wonder why there are so many underpaid, denied, or delayed claims.

These cases usually happen because policyholders do not have enough understanding about their home coverage. Know what you are entitled to; here are considerations to take when filing a claim:

1. Make it a point to review and understand your coverage. Do it in advance so you have an idea of what to expect when a disaster occurs. If you have no clue whatsoever about the homeowner's policy that you buy, it is better to seek the help of a professional agent. The agent can interpret the terms and clauses in your policy that seem to be ambiguous.

2. Make use of your mobile device to capture the scenario. The advent of cell phones and digital cameras make it easy for you to document before and after the incident.

If there is a storm watch, take pictures of your home including the roof, walls, ceiling, windows, and so on. Insurance often do not acknowledge claims, in which the damages are caused by wear and tear, or pre-existing ones.

3. Do your own temporary repairs.

You can wait for an insurance adjuster to repair and replace your home damages, but this may take too long. Start making your own fixing. Deal with the leaking roof or broken windows. Some insurers deny a claim because the homeowner waits for the adjuster to address the issue.

4. Do not make assumptions.

A claim that is denied initially may mean differently in the policy. For example, a homeowner's claim was denied because the reason for the damage was mold. However, if water damage or leak brought about the mold, on can be included in the coverage.

5. Consider fighting for your claim.

If making claims seem to be giving you a hard time, and problems increase each time, you can choose to file a counterclaim. If you believe you have a chance at winning, then prepare for battle. Also, many states require insurance firms to provide reimbursement if the initial claim is proven to be insufficient.

As a homeowner and a policyholder, do you know if you are getting full compensation from your homeowner's insurance plan? Make sure you do because you may need to file a claim sometime in the future. At Cornerstone Insurance Agency, we work hard in making sure that our clients are well-protected with policies that they can afford. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact our agency at (888) 661-8831 or Click Here to request a free quote.
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