If your home has been damaged by a hurricane, you'll probably be working with your homeowners insurance company in the coming days. The following tips can help with this process.
Call and File a Claim as Soon as Possible
It's important not to wait to file a claim with your insurance agency. When hurricanes are a concern, many insurance companies have more employees working their claim lines and more insurance adjusters working to help with claims than usual. Your insurance company might accept claims 24 hours a day over the phone, through an app, or on their website. Regardless of how you file the claim, remember that filing it sooner is better than filing it later.
Be as Descriptive as Possible About Your Damage
When telling your insurance company about what is going on, make sure that you provide as much information about the damage as you can. Additionally, taking photos and submitting them to your insurance company is also a good way to let them know what is going on, so they'll know what to expect when handling your claim.
Keep Your Claim Number in a Safe Place
You will probably be given a claim number when you file your claim. When checking on the status of your claim or handling other matters related to your claim, you will probably need this number. Therefore, you'll need to make sure that you write it down and keep it in a safe place. If you're concerned about it being damaged by water due to flooding in your area after the hurricane, consider putting it in a plastic zip-top bag to help keep it protected. You can also use your phone or computer to store your claim number both on your device and on the cloud so that it can be retrieved later.
Be Patient But Diligent
You probably expect to receive prompt service from your homeowners insurance company. This is totally understandable, but it's important to be realistic with your expectations. After a hurricane, there is a good chance that your insurance company might be receiving a lot of calls and claims. Additionally, it might be dangerous for insurance adjusters to travel to the homes in your area due to flooded roads, downed trees and power lines, and other issues. Therefore, you may have to be a little more patient than you would normally be. Of course, it's not a bad idea to follow up with your insurance agent or the claims line for your insurance company regularly to check on the status of your claim, but expect for things to take a little bit longer than usual.
For more information, contact insurance agencies like Crowel Agency, Inc.
