How To File An Insurance Claim After Water Damage In 5 Easy Steps

3/18/2023 (Permalink)

When a water damage event occurs in your home, it can be hard to know how to file an insurance claim, especially if you have never experienced a water loss before. Here are the steps you need to follow to make sure you're doing everything right.

Stop the water flow.

If your home has suffered from a water leak, the first thing you should do is stop the flow of water. To do this, locate the source of your leak or flood and turn off its main shut off valve. If there isn't one nearby--or if there is but it's inaccessible due to debris or other obstructions--shut down individual valves for individual rooms as well as any electrical outlets that may be affected.

Make a claim with your insurance company.

Next, it's time to call your insurance company and begin your claim. This is something that should be done as soon as possible. If you wait too long, they may not cover all of your losses or they may try to deny coverage.

Here's what you need:

• Personal information
• Your policy number
• Details about what happened

Take pictures of the damage.

Next, you need to take pictures of the damage as soon as possible. This will help your adjuster determine what needs to be replaced and how much it will cost to fix. You'll want to take pictures from different angles so they can see everything that was damaged, including any damage done to the structure itself, property, and contents.

Get your home inspected.

After calling your insurance company and filing a claim, it is important to get your home inspected by an adjuster. Usually, the insurance company will provide this service to you. The adjuster will look for evidence of water damage and document the extent of the damage. They will also inspect other structural elements like baseboards and trim boards as well as electrical outlets and switches to locate all the damage.

Call a water mitigation company.

You've probably heard the term "water mitigation" before, but you may not know exactly what it means. A water mitigation company is a professional who specializes in cleaning up water damage.

After calling your insurance company, you need to call one of these professionals as soon as possible. Your insurance company should be able to recommend several local companies that can do this work for you--or if they don't have any recommendations, you can look online for some yourself. This is an important step in order to prevent any secondary damage, such as a mold infestation due to water sitting unattended for an extended period.

Knowing how to file an insurance claim will help you get what you need from your insurance policy.

When you have water damage to your home or business, knowing how to file an insurance claim after water damage will help you get what you need from your insurance policy. The sooner you file a claim, the better. Take pictures of the damage and send them to your insurance company right away so they can start processing it.

If you have water damage, getting the right help can be very important. Our SERVPRO of Montclair/West Orange team is here to help with all your water damage cleanup and restoration needs. Our team will also assist you with the insurance claims process to ensure that you receive accurate compensation.