You woke up this morning and saw that your water heater started spraying all over your laundry room, or you have a pipe under the sink that is causing damage to your carpet and belongings. After stopping the water, your next move is to file a homeowner’s insurance claim so that you can move forward with water damage repair and restoration measures.
Our water damage claim tips can help you avoid getting your claim denied.
Water Damage Claim Tips to Maximize Your Chances for Approval
It’s enough stress once you’ve stopped the water from flowing all over your floor, but the prospect of having your water damage claim denied can cause even more gray hair. Being armed with the knowledge of how to approach making a claim can increase your chances of getting your coverage approved. Follow these simple steps:
1. Read Your Policy
One of the best ways to avoid getting your water damage claim denied is by reading the policy and finding out exactly what kinds of exceptions they’ve laid out. Even though this is dull work, knowing the ins and outs of your policy can give you insight into the language you need to avoid as well as the details that you should absolutely include to give yourself the best chance of approval.
2. Never Say “Flood”
Just as covering your bases by knowing your policy in and out can help, just avoiding the word “flood” when possible is one of the most important homeowners insurance claim tips we can possibly give. Even though you and they both know well enough that ground flooding is not the same thing as a burst water pipe causing problems, the word “flooded” can be enough to give them cause to deny your claim if you don’t have flood insurance. Instead use phrases such as “water damage” or “water flow.”
3. Report Your Claim ASAP!
The longer you wait to make your claim, the more the damage may escalate with the potential to skyrocket repair costs. You’ll want to mitigate this as much as possible to ensure that the compensation you receive is actually enough to cover all the damage.
4. Take Pictures
You’ll need to be careful what you decide to clean up so that there’s sufficient evidence for the insurance company to make a decision in your favor, but you still have to do what you can to prevent further damage. If you have to move or fix something before the insurance inspection, take pictures before you do so. The more documentation you have during this process, the stronger your claim will be, especially if a dispute arises.
5. Do Not Send Documents With Missing Information
One of the most common reasons what water damage claims are denied is simply not enough information and incomplete data. We stress this as one of the most important water damage claim tips you can follow. Be forthcoming with everything you know and ask your insurance company questions if you get to sections that you’re unable to complete.
Once your claim has been approved, it’s time to immediately start the restoration and repair process so that you can return to normalcy once again. It’s possible that your insurance company will suggest a particular restoration company to perform the work, but keep in mind that you do not have to take their advice. Here at TRS, we work with insurance companies and individuals to return our clients to a sense of normalcy after water damage has happened, and we can clean up the area as well as mitigate the likelihood of mold forming. Contact us at (702) 749-9999 today to find out more about our restoration and repair company can do for you.