Picture this…..it’s a perfect Sunday afternoon; you are doing your laundry while watching your favorite show. An hour later you go back to check on the laundry and your washing machine has overflowed and there is a puddle of water on your floor……should you call your insurance company?
The answer is: probably not.
With insurance claims, an insured has to learn how to pick their
battles. Unfortunately, insurance
companies do keep a tally on their
customers. Reporting too many small
claims that could have been fixed by the insured can lead to premium increases
or for large claims that do warrant the process, to be denied. Insurance Companies are meant to cover big
disasters….disasters that cause a dent in one’s financials, not small items
that cause temporary discomfort. If you
seea spot on your ceiling and it just remains a small spot, it more than likely
is not a cause of concern. If the spot
continues to grow and your ceiling starts showing discoloration, then it’s time
to consider opening up a claim…preferably with the assistance of a Public Adjuster.
There is no real formula to insurance claims, but, here are two helpful
tips to consider before picking up the phone to call your insurance carrier:
1)
If the damage is under $1,000, try to repair it
yourself. Often times an insurance
deductible surpasses the $1,000 mark.
2)
Call your local Public Adjuster for a free
consultation. A Public Adjuster has a
trained eye and can instantly assess the magnitude of a potential claim.
Finally, analyzing whether an insurance claim should be submitted
requires some hedging because there is something called neglect or not
mitigating damage in your home. Homeowner’s policies specifically exclude
problems that result from rot or other indications that you have failed to
properly maintain your property. You are
also penalized if you make the problem in your home worse. For example, if damage on your roof causes a
hole in your roof and you leave it uncovered, you can lose your argument on
coverage for contents that were exposed to further damage.
In short, be prudent with your insurance claims and always seek the
assistance of a licensed Public Adjuster.
They can help you analyze a potential claim and point you in the right
direction. If it is a large claim, a
Public Adjuster can take the process off your hands and negotiate the claim for
you, so you can concentrate on rebuilding. A Public Adjuster works on a
contingency basis which means if there is no recovery, there is no fee.