Knowing when to file an insurance is important if you want to keep on good terms with your home insurance company.
No one likes experiencing home damage. It can be an extremely traumatic, costly, and it may even disrupt your entire life. Unfortunately, accidents happen even to the most careful of homeowners. When it comes to taking advantage of your insurance benefits and filing a home insurance claim, there are things you can do to help things go more smoothly. Here are some dos and dont’s when you are thinking about filing a home insurance claim.
DO call your insurance agent or company right away: Of course, you’ll want to make sure that you and your family are okay and in a safe place. Additionally, do what you can to minimize further damage if it’s safe for you to do so. Always call your insurance company as soon as possible.
DON’T assign your benefits to your Contractor: Contractors will make you sign a form called Assignment of Benefits which gives them full control of the claims process and ownership of any payments. Disreputable contractors have been known to collect the payment without finishing the job properly so be sure that your contractor is a trusted one.
DO take pictures: Do this with caution, as you don’t want to put yourself in harm’s way. If there was a fire and the embers are still scalding hot, you shouldn’t be stepping on them to get the right angle. Take as many pictures as possible to make your claim stronger.
DON’T throw out receipts: If you have to spend a few nights at a hotel while you find somewhere to live, you don’t want to throw out those receipts. Most homeowner insurance companies will cover your stay at a hotel while you look for another place.
To have the peace of mind that you deserve when it comes to your home, get in touch with your Pierce Insurance Group agent and contact us today for an all-encompassing homeowners insurance policy in McKinney, Texas.