Flooding can be a devastating loss that affects your mental and emotional well-being, even when minor. On top of navigating the loss of your home or belongings, you must ensure you and your family are safe when dealing with contractors, adjustors, and insurance claims. You want to do everything possible to provide the best outcome, whether caused by groundwater, rainfall, storms, or system malfunctions.
Report the Flood to Your Insurance Company
The first thing you need to do after your home floods is to report the losses to your insurance company. If you rent, you’ll want to work with your landlord and the insurance company. The insurance company will review the details by specifying an excess amount or deductible, which must be paid before the insurer pays for the damages. The insurance company can also send a loss adjustor to your home to review and assess the damages.
Begin Documenting Damage
After your home floods or during construction to repair the damages, you may have to find temporary housing until your home is considered safe to return. It can be a stressful experience managing the paperwork, insurance claims, and locating your valuables. You must collect documents and pictures to track all the damages to your property, furniture, appliances, and more. It will help you accurately estimate your need to repair and recover. If you can collect receipts of your damaged items, it can help ensure the accuracy to reduce delays and get you back in your home to begin the process of cleaning up.
Submit a Proof of Loss (POL)
Once you’ve completed documentation of the damages, you need to submit Proof of Loss within 60 days of the event. You’ll want to be detailed and attach all receipts, photos, documents, and a licensed engineer report if necessary. When the insurance company is unsure of the extent of the property damage claim, you can submit a supplemental claim to help cover the additional costs for repairs or replacements.
Hire a Public Flood Adjustor
You can work with a public flood adjustor to alleviate much of the undue stress by having someone to work on your behalf with your insurance company. These professionals have extensive experience managing flood loss. They can help ensure you get the settlement you deserve and need by thoroughly assessing your property and valuables and handling communication with all parties.
Begin the Cleanup Process
After a flood and you are cleared to return home, you want to begin the cleanup process as soon as possible to minimize additional damage. Standing water, damp furnishings, and fixtures can be breeding grounds for mold and mildew growth. If you can’t remove the water yourself, hire a water damage company to help. You can contact your insurance company through a 24-hour hotline to help you manage the cleanup process by providing recommendations and local professionals who may assist.
Purchase Additional Flood Insurance
If the National Flood Insurance Program does not cover you, you can purchase separate flood insurance through private companies or the federal government. The policies allow coverage of up to $250,000 in flood damage. These insurance companies can help pay for temporary repairs with high-quality materials. Therefore, help you return to your home safely before permanent repairs begin. Before hiring a contractor, wait until you have the final price approval from the insurance adjuster. Save receipts throughout the process to submit to the insurance company to be reimbursed.
Dealing with the aftermath of a flood can be challenging. You must sift through your belongings, document damage, and manage the claim. Therefore, it requires a lot of patience and time. However, diligently following these tips, you can move through the complex claims process efficiently. Thus, getting your home back so you can move forward with your life.
For more info, visit https://www.bsaclaims.com/services/flood-claims-service/
