Do you know what NOT to do after a small fire in your home?
June 8, 2022
During a storm, your home may sustain flood damage, damaging winds, or get struck by lightning. Whichever damage your property sustains, the aftermath of the disaster can present other severe risks, injuries, and dangers. For this reason, the first thing to do is to ensure you and your family are safe and sound.
If the structural integrity of your house has been compromised, it is recommendable to evacuate or arrange for a temporary housing alternative for you and your family until your house is safe again for habitation.
Assessing and Recording the Storm Damage
Once you have determined it is safe enough to move around your property, you can assess the damage after inspecting the area. Although it is an emotionally challenging exercise, it provides vital evidence when making your insurance claim. This is especially true if your insurance policy covers only particular types of damage.
You can use your smartphone or camera to capture videos and photographs. As you continue documenting your home’s exterior and interior damage, be cautious, especially if the property has evidence of structural damage. Some of the things to capture include:
• Broken doors and windows
• Leaks or holes in the roof, dents on gutters and vents; missing, broken, or loose shingles
• Fire damage
• Moisture damage
• Exposed power lines
• Basement flooding
• Since most homeowner’s insurance policies cover personal property to a certain limit, document the destruction or loss of personal items
• Broken or damaged furniture and appliances as a result of water damage
If you had pictures of your house before the storm struck, it could be quite helpful in comparing the before and after images. This confirms to your insurer that you are not blaming the disaster for preexisting damages.
Contact your Insurance
After documenting the storm damage, you should contact your insurance agent or company to explain your situation immediately. Provide proper documentation as well as photos when discussing the damage. For this, our experienced personnel will guide you through the proper process of making a claim.
After this, your insurance company will send an adjuster to properly evaluate the considerable damage extent before issuing payment for repairs. At this point, it is essential to discuss with the adjuster to get an accurate claim estimate.
Here at Precision, we work with every insurance company. We are able to work with them and help figure out the best plan to properly repair your home.
