How to File a House Insurance Claim
You bought homeowner’s insurance, but do you know how to file a house insurance claim? This article will explain not just how to make a claim, but how to prepare before a claim.
How to Prepare for a Claim
You just bought insurance. It’s time to prepare for possible claims on your personal property. What about the house? No prob. The insurance company has pictures of the house. The burden of proof for the dwelling is on them. You should focus on your belongings inside the house. Personal property, or contents, is coverage C on your policy. If you don’t have personal property coverage, you can skip this section. Otherwise, read on…
Receipts, Pictures & Videos
You can prove you own your property through receipts, pictures, or videos. If you have receipts, scan them to your computer. Not everyone has receipts for all their belongings. Videos are good, but they’re large in file size. It’s best to take pictures of your personal property. Write down any brand names, serial numbers, etc. You can search the internet to easily find the total cost new of your possessions. Upload your pictures to your email. Save copies in multiple locations.
Can You Prove It?
An insurance company doesn’t care how much you insure your belongings for. The more you insure the more money they get! But it’s up to you to prove what you own. You can insure your property for millions of dollars. But if you can only prove that you owned $10,000 of property in total, you’ll only get $10,000 back at most. It may be time consuming, but it will save you money to do know the value of your contents while you are getting house insurance quotes. Make sure to take pictures of your most valuable possessions. Take pictures of your furniture, appliances, electronics, etc.
Jewelry, Guns & Appraisals
You may have jewelry, guns, collectibles, antiques, or other rare items. Did you know that your homeowners insurance only provides limited coverage for these things? Normal homeowner’s policies only provide:
- $1500 for jewelry, watches, furs, and precious stones. If your jewelry is worth more than this, see Perfect Circle Jewelry Insurance.
- $2500 for guns, firearms, and related equipment. If your guns are worth more than this, see NRA Gun Insurance.
- Some personal belongings require an appraisal. A piece of art, for example, may be worth $100 at face value. If it was painted by a famous artist, it’s probably worth A LOT more. This would not just require an appraisal, but a separate insurance policy all together.
Will Claims Increase My Insurance Rate?
Not necessarily. It really depends on what the claim was for and how much was paid. If the claim is clearly your fault, the rate will almost definitely increase. For example, your house gets struck by lightning. That’s not your fault. Your rate might stay the same. Fall asleep on the couch with a cigarette in your hand? That’s your fault. Other claims are also looked down on are dog bites or theft.
When to File a Claim
You can file a claim under these circumstances:
- When damage is sudden and accidental.
- When the damage done is covered by your insurance. For example, if your house is flooded, your insurance will not cover the damage unless you have a flood policy.
- When the deductible is met. For example, if you have a $2500 deductible, damages would have to exceed $2500 for insurance to pay.
Should I File A Claim?
Sometimes the real question is not “can I file a claim?”, but “should I file a claim?” Claims CAN make your insurance price increase. Insurance companies use CLUE reports to see claim history. A CLUE report is a background check on your name, date of birth, and property address. It can show what kind of claim you had and how much your insurance paid. If I have a $2500 deductible and there was $2600 damage done to my home, I could receive $100 in insurance. Should I file that claim? Not if it risks my insurance going up a few hundred dollars every year! Getting insurance money in the thousands would be a better claim. See article: To claim or not to claim.
Remember: Insurance doesn’t cover age or maintenance. If your AC unit stops working due to old age, insurance won’t replace it. If it’s struck by lightning, insurance can replace it.
When Your Property Is Damaged
When your property is damaged, you must take action by doing these things:
- Do everything you can to prevent further damage.
- Take pictures or video of the damage.
- If you paid money in this process, save receipts.
- Make sure your claim is valid and meets your deductible.
- If there’s enough damage to claim, call a contractor or a repairman and get an estimate for repairs. This will help the adjuster expedite the claim. Note: the claim must first be approved.
- If there’s a theft, call the police. Get a police report. Submit the report to the adjuster.
- Call your agent!
To file a claim online, to go https://www.heritageins.net/claims/
Call us during working hours at 251-945-6666