Water damage is a common problem faced by homeowners, especially those living in Lindenhurst and the surrounding areas. Such damage can be devastating, causing significant financial losses and compromising the structural integrity of your property. To mitigate these losses, it is crucial to file a water damage claim with your homeowner’s insurance as quickly as possible. In this guide, we will explain how to file a water damage claim with your insurance company and get the compensation you deserve.

Contact Your Insurance Company

The first step in filing a water damage claim is to contact your insurance company as soon as possible. This allows them to expedite the processing of your claim and send an adjuster to inspect the damage. Make sure you have photos or evidence readily available to accurately assess the damage sustained and ensure proper assessment.

During the evaluation, the adjuster will ask questions regarding where and how the water originated, who was at fault, as well as any documentation you may possess. Therefore, it is essential to keep a detailed record of your interactions with adjusters to have an accurate representation of what happened and was said. This can aid when filing claims later as additional documentation or agreeing on different adjusters may be requested from you.

Before having an insurance inspection completed, it would also be wise to relocate any belongings in the affected area until then. This will protect against further damage while decreasing how much money needs to be spent on repairs. If you hire a contractor for temporary repairs, save all receipts as this will form part of your total settlement agreement.

Document the Damage

The second step in filing a water damage claim is to document the damage. It is essential to photograph or videotape any water damage and damaged items immediately to provide evidence in support of your claim. In addition, provide your insurance company with an updated home inventory to help them accurately value all your belongings before the flooding.

When dealing with leaky appliances such as water heaters or washing machines, keep records detailing when and how long the device has been leaking for. This will give your insurance provider an accurate picture of whether or not your problem constitutes a covered loss. As soon as damage occurs, have a plumber inspect the area and take photos or video footage of its severity. Drying-up areas where there may be water or mold accumulation could help avoid further destruction to floors, walls and baseboards.

Schedule an Inspection

Step three is to schedule an inspection with your insurance company. This allows them to assess the damage and provide you with a written estimate of how much money it will cost to repair the property. They may ask questions regarding its cause and timing so as to accurately calculate repair costs.

If you are concerned about hidden water damage when purchasing a home, professional inspectors can perform an inspection to detect leaks or any other problems which might not be immediately visible to the naked eye. They have experience detecting problems which are otherwise undetectable by eye.

Inspectors often rely on infrared cameras to spot hidden water damage. The camera enables them to spot leaks not visible to the naked eye, potentially saving thousands in repairs if caught early enough.

Buying a house with a strong foundation and drainage system is also beneficial in protecting against future issues following repair of damage. These features may prevent further issues from emerging after any repair work has been completed.

Make a Claim

Step four is to make a claim with your insurance company. Homeowners insurance is an excellent way to safeguard against perils like fire, storms and theft – and should any such event arise, the best thing you can do to file a claim is contact your insurer immediately – this allows them to send an adjuster out quickly who can assess damage and determine repairs required before sending out a check for payment of said work.

Water damage claims are among the most frequently filed with homeowner insurance policies; according to the Insurance Information Institute.

20% of homeowner claims involve water damage. Therefore, it is crucial that you file your water damage claim with your homeowner’s insurance as quickly as possible; otherwise, they could find other grounds to deny your claim.

If the water damage resulted from you not taking action to address issues with your plumbing, for instance, your insurance company might deny your claim.

As mentioned previously, water issues in your house should never be neglected because they could lead to mold growth, which is both costly and detrimental to health. Immediate remediation must occur so as to stop further structural damage as well as respiratory conditions such as asthma or bronchitis developing due to mold spores spread by these organisms.

Mold can increase your insurance rates. Many insurance companies utilize a database called Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) to calculate how much they should charge you for their policies.

If you find it necessary to file a claim, take notes detailing everything that needs repairing so as to demonstrate the extent and cause of damage. This will enable you to successfully establish what occurred during a claim investigation.

Once you have an exhaustive list of items needing repairs, be sure to gather any receipts possible as evidence of damages. A public adjuster could also assess and negotiate with insurers on your behalf.

Additionally, you can also seek assistance from relevant agencies such as  National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to learn more about water damage restoration and insurance claims.

In general, the claims process will go smoothly, and you should be reimbursed for any costs of damage sustained to your property. However, you should continue checking with your insurer regularly throughout this process to ensure everything is handled in an expedient manner.

At True Restoration, we understand the stress and anxiety water damage can cause. Our expert team of professionals offers top-quality water damage restoration services in Lindenhurst and the surrounding areas to help you get back on your feet as quickly as possible.

Our team uses state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to restore your property to its pre-damaged condition, and we work with insurance companies to expedite the claims process and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.

We also offer a range of other services, including fire damage restoration, mold remediation, and biohazard cleanup. If you need help restoring your property after water damage, call True Restoration today for a free consultation.