It's also a fairly simple process to pay your homeowner's insurance premium each month (and if it's set up to auto-pay through your mortgage, you might not even have to think about doing it).
What about making a claim with your homeowner's insurance? Navigating insurance claims for water damage may be difficult, which is made worse when you consider how costly the damage might be.
Let's speak about the procedures you must follow when filing an insurance claim for water damage. We've talked about several methods and ideas to safeguard your property from water damage claims and scenarios that may have been avoided.
How to File a Successful Insurance Claim for a Water Leak
Water damage insurance claims are the third most frequently claimed losses, behind hail damage and wind damage from hurricanes. Almost anyplace, at any time, water damage can occur; it's not usually the result of bad weather or flooding.
Remember that homeowners insurance does not provide coverage for water damage brought on by flooding. To cover damage from floods, you'll require a separate flood insurance policy.
Although it happens frequently, insurance claims for water damage don't always get approved, and if they do, the costs could be very high.
When you recognise anything is wrong, take into account these four fundamental procedures if you want to submit a successful insurance claim for water damage:
1. Control the leak and water accumulation
The insurance adjuster will want to come out and document the incident and ask you for pictures after the damage has occurred, so don't think that means you can start making repairs or restorations.
2. Publish Everything
As much as you can, document using photos and videos so that you have the proof you'll need to make a successful claim. This may include the leak's origin and the regions of your house that have sustained water damage.
3. Contact your insurance company as soon as you can.
Once you've stopped the leak, you should call your insurance provider right once to start the claims procedure and find out what will happen next.
4. Get a second opinion and be ready to do so
You'll need to make repairs after working everything out with your insurance provider. Obtain quotes from many local contractors before you start making repairs to your house, and don't be hesitant to get a second opinion on the cost of the work.
What happens if my claim for water damage is rejected?
What are the most frequent justifications for denying water damage insurance claims? Negligence and harm over time. To clarify the distinction, consider the following two instances:
Gradual Damage
This occurs when a little or gradual leak has accumulated over time. The leak may have become worse because you were unaware of it, resulting in standing water or mould. Insurance companies frequently reject claims when gradual damage is involved because they believe you are at least somewhat to blame for the loss.
Negligence
Because of negligence, your claim may be rejected if, for example, your pipes burst because they weren't properly maintained. When an appliance is old or plainly failing, negligence may also be a reason to reject a water damage insurance claim.
List of Insurance Claims for Water Damage
It can be challenging to comprehend the terms of your insurance. When you make a water damage insurance claim, gradual damage is frequently rejected, but that isn't always the case.
Another scenario is when a tree harms your roof and you file a claim to have it repaired. Water continues to seep in from the patched area of the roof over time, causing mould or other issues. Because this claim is related to an incident that was already covered by your homes insurance, it may be approved.
Your best strategy is to prevent water damage (as much as you can) in the first place if you don't want to have to figure out whether or not your claim will be paid. The following list could assist you in preventing future claims denials:
Keep track of all the times you had your appliances or plumbing inspected by a competent firm. This can aid in disproving the notion that your water damage occurred gradually.
Regularly inspect all the potential water-damage hotspots, such as your air conditioner, water heater, pipelines, and crawl spaces.
Ask your insurance company if there are any other protections (like mould protection) you ought to think about incorporating in your current policy.