Property Insurance Claims

The filing of property insurance claims can be a long and complicated process. It is important to know what your insurance policy includes when you sign up for coverage, instead of in the aftermath of a disaster. It is too often the case that policy holders receive less from their insurance policy than they expect because their property is not insured to its full value. Or, just as often, they do not understand exactly what type of damage they are covered for.

In the event of a home disaster, you should notify your insurance company immediately that you will be filing a claim. If you were affected by a large natural disaster, such as a hurricane or tornado, the insurance company will be processing many similar claims; therefore, your wait time to see an adjuster will vary greatly. In some cases the company may send their adjuster to the scene of the disaster quickly to speed up the processing of the claims in your area.

Property Insurance Claims Process:

There are many steps that you need to take throughout the claims process beginning when you pick up the phone to call the insurance company. In the initial phone call you should verify that your claim is covered under the insurance policy, get submission deadlines, and find out how long they expect it will take them to process your claim.

Part of the property insurance claims submission process includes detailing out a complete inventory of everything that was damaged or destroyed. This includes personal items, household furniture, as well as structural damage to the house and outbuildings. Make sure that you have this list of damages available when the insurance adjuster arrives to inspect the property so that you are sure that you don't leave anything out of the report.

Once you have filed your property insurance claim, there may be a long waiting period before you get your settlement. If you were part of a large natural disaster, the insurance company may be backed up with claims. If the claims process is taking excessively long, be sure to contact the insurance company for an update on the claim status. If you feel that your claim is being ignored, you may want to enlist the help of a public adjuster to advocate to the insurance company on your behalf.