Information fuels insurance companies and facilitates a quick resolution. Individuals want their home disaster resolved quickly so they can get back to their normal lives. A home disaster is traumatic enough without the added stress of a protracted insurance claim.

In today’s world, it’s important for individuals to collect as much information as possible on their own before they notify the insurance company and file a claim. The good news is that there are steps that individuals can take to expedite the process.

Preventative Steps

The insurance company will want to know that the homeowner took steps to avoid additional damage. That can include placing a tarp over the roof or shutting off the water, depending on the situation. Remove any item that would lead to further damage.

Homeowners should never say, hint or intimate that they were in any way responsible. Likewise, they shouldn’t say that something they did or didn’t do might have led to the problem. Doing so can result in a claim being denied.

Information

Document the damage before the insurance company’s adjuster arrives. Take photos and/or video of any applicable damage to the home and possessions. Be meticulous and save a copy of the photos and video to a thumb drive or the cloud.

Create a written account of the damage in every affected area. If there are receipts for any affected items or possessions, make copies and save them to where the photos and video is stored.

That includes receipts for a hotel, food and other necessities if the home is unlivable while the damage is being repaired. Include any materials that may have been needed to remediate the damage.

Availability

Be present when the insurance company’s adjuster arrives to assess the damage. It gives the homeowner an opportunity to explain exactly how the damage occurred, what was damaged, and provide clarification if needed. Keep a record of any conversation with the adjuster and the date and time it took place.