How the Home Insurance Claim Process Works
Owning a home can mean dealing with the unexpected - from trees falling on your roof to pipes bursting in your bathroom. Because you probably won't avoid all nasty surprises, knowing what to expect if you have a landlord claim can help put your mind at ease.
Although insurers can handle claims in different ways, here are some basic steps and procedures.
If your home is damaged:
- Get the OK to go home. If your home has sustained extensive damage, do not enter the home until it has been cleared by emergency personnel or local authorities, even if the damage is only to one room.
- Prepare your message. Typically, when making your claim, you will be asked to provide your name, contact details, policy information, type and date of death, and details of any deaths and injuries. If you have household goods, you may want to get them. Typically, your claim will be assigned a claim number, and a claims specialist, also known as an adjuster, will work with you to process your claim.
- Take steps to minimize further damage, such as buying a tarp to cover the hole in your roof. Be sure to keep your receipts.
Begin the Claims Process:
- Report your claim. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. If you are a Travelers customer, you can file a claim anytime online or by calling 1. 800.Claim33. The sooner you report it, the sooner your insurer can help you.
- Inspect the damage. The claims professional will usually call you to discuss what happened, and what your insurance policy may or may not cover and arrange to personally inspect the damage.
- Document your losses. Using photos or videos can help you remember things you may have missed. If you don't have inventory, look for photos of the damaged area. You will want to list all the damaged items in your home.
- Keep your receipt. When you make temporary repairs or necessary accommodation arrangements, protect property from further damage, or make temporary accommodation arrangements, be sure to keep your receipt. Your insurer may ask you to provide them as part of the claims process.
Moving after a disaster:
- Loss of use. If you are unable to stay in your home after a covered loss, your home insurance policy can reimburse you for other living expenses, such as hotels, car rentals, and other everyday expenses. days of temporary travel.
- Temporary residence. If you need temporary accommodation while your accommodation is being restored after the loss is covered, your carrier may send you to a service provider or allow you to stay in a hotel or a rental property.
Complaint handling:
- Deadlines vary. As every claim and every insurer is different, the time it takes to process a claim varies. Expert reviews of damages and details of losses will help determine the time required to settle a claim.
- Receive payment. Once a claims professional determines that your policy covers a loss, you can usually expect to receive a check based on the damage estimate, either there or shortly thereafter. If you are a travel customer, you can learn more about your property policy here.
- Protect your home while it protects you by choosing a property insurance policy that meets your needs
