If you’ve had a disaster in the home, there are probably a million things running through your mind. Restoring damage, protecting your family, finding the best deal, and contacting your insurance are all necessary next steps—but which one of these should absolutely come first? You may be thinking that you should immediately contact your insurance company if a natural disaster has befallen your home, but this is not always the correct first step to take.
In truth, sometimes homeowners are not always happy with how their insurance company handles the aftermath of a disaster. Since these situations are often confusing and desperate, homeowners are at risk of making hasty decisions that aren’t good for them in the long run. If you don’t want this to happen to you, consider these tips for making an insurance claim following a disaster before you act.
Why Taking a Pause is Best
If you’ve experienced a flood, fire, wind damage, or serious mold growth in the home, the last thing you want to do is wait to act. Flooding and mold are problems that must be handled immediately to prevent further damage while fire and wind damage can be just as, if not more, urgent matters. Calling your insurance company is not the wrong thing to do, but doing so can cause you to lose control over a situation that is directly affecting you and your family.
Some insurance companies have been known to take advantage of a situation and fix only what the insurance covers, which can result in some damage being left uncovered or undone. When it comes to natural disasters, you don’t want any loose ends, which is why you must handle everything just right. So, what should you do? Call the professionals first.
Calling the Professionals: Tips for a Smooth Restoration
The following tips should help you navigate when and how to make an insurance claim after a disaster:
- Contact the Restoration Company First: When you have a restoration company that you trust, there should be no fear in contacting them before your insurance company. When you do contact the insurance company, their job is to restore the damage for you, but how they do this remains to be seen. Sometimes your insurance won’t cover the fill damages, which means that the restoration services they choose may not be exactly what you need. If you want the job done, you must contact a company you trust first to ensure you’re getting the full range of services to make your home feel like home again.
- Be Clear with the Restoration Company: Even though you do plan to file a claim, don’t withhold information on what needs to be restored. The restoration company has the skills and experienced technicians needed to handle everything from fires to floods. With this in mind, you have a great chance of getting an accurate quote on how much repairs will cost, as well as having the repairs done right. In the meantime, find ways to make temporary repairs that help prevent further damage.
- Do What You can to Stay Involved: Don’t allow yourself to get steamrolled by your insurance company. When you do file your claim, stay as involved as you can by requesting that your restoration company of choice is used, addressing all issues caused by the disaster, and getting maximum savings where you can.
- Don’t Wait Too Long to File a Claim: If you wait too long to file a claim, you may find that you won’t be getting as much assistance as you need, which means repair costs (even after the restoration company steps in) will be coming out of your pocket—and they can be super expensive. The goal is to get your home repaired as soon as possible, and you have to act accordingly to help realize this goal.
If you’ve dealt with a fire, severe flooding, a mold infestation, wind damage, or another natural disaster, you have to be smart about how you proceed. Your home, finances, family, and security are on the line, but they don’t have to be for long.
Before making any rash decisions, think through your options and outline the best way to react to the disaster. Be sure to follow these tips to makes the aftermath of a disaster as smooth as possible.