There are some common mistakes many homeowners make when they file a home insurance claim. These mistakes, no matter how small, can have severe consequences. Below are five common mistakes to avoid when filing your home insurance claim.

1. Not Reading Your Insurance Policy

Not all home insurance owners know what their insurance policy contains. Few homeowners know for certain what their policy covers and what it does not. To remedy this, read your insurance policy in-depth to ensure you understand it fully. This includes the entire contract, its featured endorsements, and other elements within. Thereafter, review the policy again, to ensure that you now understand it fully before filing a claim. You can request the aid of your insurance provider or broker if you don’t understand some of the contract’s wording.

2. Not Keeping Track of Your Personal Property

 Before you purchase a home insurance policy, take inventory of your personal property. To do this, make a detailed list of all of your property, taking special note of valuable items. Document them both in writing and pictures. Do not leave out anything, including your home’s interior. Take pictures of your closets, cabinets, electronics, etc. These pictures and notes will help you easily remember the items that are damaged or lost while making a claim.

3. Failing to Retain Damaged Property

 In the event of damages to any of your properties through fire or other disasters, avoid throwing your property away. Instead, leave it alone until your adjuster comes for inspection unless it is unsafe to do so. Most property policies require the policyholder to reserve the damaged property for inspection. In addition, make sure to protect the reserved property from further damages. This will keep you from destroying valuable evidence that can help your case.

4. Not Filing an Insurance Claim Before Compensating the Third Party

 Imagine that a guest falls and sustains a minor injury on your personal property. If the injury is minor, you might be want to compensate for it by paying out-of-pocket. However, you should not do this because of two primary reasons.

  1. The injury might end up being more serious than it initially appeared to be.
  2. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) general liability form prevents you, the policyholder, from making voluntary payments, except for first aid, without its consent. It also prohibits you from making out-of-pocket payments to third parties.

5. Not Communicating with Your Adjuster

 After property damage occurs, many policyholders wait for their insurer to contact them and then reimburse them. Unfortunately, this is not the best course of action. Instead of sitting back, constantly follow up with your insurer through emails or phone calls. Also, ask them for regular progress reports.

Filing an insurance claim can be tedious, especially when the damage to your property is significant. Luckily, there are certain steps you can follow to make the process easier and smoother. However, try to avoid making the mistakes mentioned above during the process. If you need help with your home insurance or want more information, contact us at Scautub Agency today!