We all know how devasting storms can be, especially when it damages your property. If your home or business was unfortunate enough to have been hit by a storm, the next logical step would be to file an insurance claim. Here is everything you need to know about how to handle a storm damage insurance claim, to make the process go as smoothly as possible. If it doesn’t go smoothly then we have another special tip for you, hire a public adjuster!
First - When Your Property Gets hit By Storm Damage
What should be the first thing you do after your house is hit by a storm? Document everything of course! Let’s say a tree had fallen and created a massive hole in your roof. If you do not document it or at least take pictures of the damage before trying to remove the fallen tree, your insurance company will give you some trouble. Insurance companies like to see the extent of the damage at the time that it happened. Therefore, take as many pictures of the roof damage as possible to compare to your insurance company, before they send the insurance adjuster out to inspect the damages.
After Documenting Everything Contact Your Insurance Company
Now is the time to contact your insurance company. When it comes to filing any insurance claim, do not wait! The longer you wait, for your insurance company, the less of a priority it is to get your claim handled. You need to report the storm damage claim ASAP. Not to mention the fact that most insurance companies put a limit on the time when you can file a claim. If you are worried about this, the best place to check the time limit of filing a claim is on your insurance policy.
Research Quotes From Contractors
After your insurance claim has been started, there are a couple of steps you can take from this point on. One of those steps is researching quotes from storm contractors or restoration services. These types of companies can help with examining the damages to your home, everything from roof damage, wind damage, water damage, etc., and they can also help with repairing every piece of property damage.
Furthermore, a restoration service for example is independent of your insurance company contractor, so you do not have to worry about letting them choose for your who does the repairs to your home. However, be careful. Under your insurance policy, there may be a clause indicating that any property damage covered by your insurance provider will be handled by a “managed repair program.” As a public insurance adjuster, we highly recommend that you do not sign any insurance policy with this clause. They enact restrictions on you and your policy, which lets you not be able to choose who will be repairing your home. At the end of the day, it may take months to repair storm damage, and you should be in control of the company that does it.
After You Received The Money From Your Insurance Claim
At this point it may have been a long time in the insurance claim process, however, it is not over yet, unfortunately. Insurance claims take a while to sort out for various reasons, so don’t stress it! After you get your insurance money, there are some things you can do next to make sure that your storm damage is taken care of.
Begin to Repair the Damages Yourself - or Hire A Restoration Company
Now that you have the money to repair your home, you can begin making the repairs yourself. In the case of storm damage, we would suggest that hiring a restoration company to repair the damages for you is the best solution. When a storm damages your home, it can cause more problems than just your roof being damaged. Perhaps it will also lead to water flowing inside and causing water damage and eventually mold. Overall, if you try to fix the damages yourself, it is possible that you will miss something. This is why we recommend hiring a restoration company to repair your home.
Negotiate With Your Insurance Company For More Money
Storm damage claims are very expensive, and sometimes your insurance company may not give you the money you deserve to fix your property damage properly. If this is the case you can begin the claims reversal process. Your insurance company will do everything it can to ensure they are not giving away too much money. This is when you should hire a public adjuster!
Let Us Help You Through A Storm Damage Insurance Claim
Hire Performance Adjusting!
As we previously stated, if you are not getting the money you deserve from your insurance company, it may be very helpful for you to hire a public adjuster who is on your side. As a public adjusting company, we have helped homeowners deal with storm damage insurance claims for over 18+ years. Our public adjusters will handle your claim from start to finish, with no extra costs added on to you. If you are not getting the money you deserve, it's time to call us! They work for you and make sure you receive the best possible settlement. Call or contact us today for a free consultation and learn more about how we can help you with a storm damage insurance claim.