Once your home has been the victim of damage as a result of fire, flood or some other type of catastrophe, the sensation of being pulled in many different directions can be overwhelming. With so much to take care of in the aftermath of such—not to mention the stress—the waters often become muddied as far as what steps you should be taking. As insurance claims management specialists to Minnesota homeowners, we would like to offer a few suggestions on what steps you should take.
The Documentation
Document every single possible issue that can be deemed a “loss.” Take a mountain of photographs and notes. Go room by room inside of the house, side by side on your home’s exterior. Take close-ups, zoom in. In cases of loss with regard to natural disaster in pursuit of recompense from your insurance company, it is far better to have way too much in the way of documentation than little at all.
The Fire Department
If you have even an ounce of concern over the safety of your property, call your local fire department. They will help you verify whether or not your home’s utilities are safe for use. They will also turn off your utilities if they are deemed unworthy of normal application.
The Home
If your home has taken on severe damage, board up your windows and doors. This will aid in the effort to prevent it from taking on even more damage, in addition to protecting the assets within. If you bring in a contractor to do such work, keep the receipt. You never know and keeping an accurate log of all transactions related to the disaster your home has endured will go a long way in aiding the insurance claims management process.
The Insurance Company
Get a hold of your insurance company as soon as is possible for you. You will want to provide them with every possible detail on the event that caused the damage, the damage sustained and all losses that have occurred. Ask your insurance company for a copy of the ACORD claim form so you that you can prove that an insurance claim was indeed filed. Do not hesitate to also get a hold of your mortgage company to inform them of the goings-on and inform them of any damage or loss.
For more information on insurance consultants in Minnesota, call Norcia Insurance Consultants at 866-512-LOSS (5677) or Schedule a Free Consultation.
