How to File A Water Damage Claim

Filing a claim with your insurance company typically means that something unfortunate has happened, yet your insurance policy is the fallback and silver lining that you can take out of your recent misfortune. After all, having peace of mind in the event of an unforeseen situation is the reason why you purchased your insurance policy in the first place. But filing a water damage claim can be a little bit more complicated than filing a claim against your auto insurance policy, for example. That’s largely because homeowner’s insurance policies have a tendency to vary on how water damage situations are covered. On that note, the first step we advise taking when it comes to filing a water damage claim is to review your policy to get a better idea as to what exactly is covered under it. Here’s a look at the three-step process we propose to filing a water damage claim:

1. Address the situation quickly: Take action as soon as you notice water damage. This is important because damage may not only spread, potentially weakening the structural integrity of your home or business, but subsequent mold growth may also occur. Start by assessing the severity of the situation and analyzing your insurance policy. Most homeowner’s policies will cover all damage if it was inflicted by the home (faulty appliance, busted pipe, etc.), while weather-related water damage is typically only fully covered if the policy includes flood coverage.
2. Document the damage: This isn’t necessarily a requirement, but it can help out your insurance company big time if you do your part in documenting the damages. Take lots of pictures and jot down notes that you can provide as your claim gets filed and resolved. Upon filing a claim, your insurance company will still likely send a representative out to assess the damage, but it never hurts to be able to provide additional information and documentation.
3. Contact your agent: Also key to filing a claim is contacting your insurance agent or insurance company to actually do it. This doesn’t necessarily have to happen last in the process, though we do recommend being able to provide some sort of proof that backs up your issue in order to best complete the claim process. Again, what all you’re covered for depends largely on your policy, so it helps to have an idea of how much you’ll be covered for when it comes to your water damage issue.

For more information on filing a water damage claim, contact us today.