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As a Water Damage Restoration Clean up professional for over 35 years, I have seen too many water damage calls to the insurance claims department to count .
Although SI Restoration and its employees are not claims professionals and cannot give claims advice , we can offer some possible suggestions to assist in the communication with your adjuster .
Communicating with your insurance company claims department and insurance adjuster is crucial to having a successful claims experience.
Number one suggestion is to be calm when speaking to your adjuster or claims professional . Before calling take a deep breath or wait a few minutes to be calm .
Your insurance claim specialists is not the enemy - Don't believe what others say that the adjuster is out to deny your claim to save the insurance company money . Your policy is your contract that states what you are entitled to.
Just the facts Ma'am/ Sir !- I have noticed almost every time , the insured ( that's you ) starts talking about every detail since you bought the house. Although I'm sure your house has an interesting history , but unless it's directly related to the claim don't share this information .
If you see it, then say it - Too many insureds ( that's you again ) explain to the adjuster what may have happened or what may have caused the damage . Unless you have actual knowledge don't bring it up . Insureds will explain to the claims professional that a situation has been going on for months when actually they are guessing or assuming . Not only could the insured be wrong , but it could effect the claim being covered . When the claims professional asks when the damage happened , explain actual day when you saw it . Period.
Here are some steps and tips on how to proceed in finding out first if the insurance company will pay for your damage.
Look for your insurance papers (documents) that you received from your insurance agent and look for the phone number that contacts the claims office of your insurance company. Sometimes even the agents themselves have trouble digging through the paper work to find the claims phone number. The best suggestion is to look on the internet for your insurance companies claim number. It's usually easy to find on the first page of the site.
Before calling understand the insurance language. The insurance company person on the phone that you will discuss your possible water damage claim is called an adjuster. Your damage is referred to as a claim,peril or a loss. I know loss sounds strange but that's the language that is used. There maybe someone who will come to your house from the insurance company and that person is also called an adjuster. The documents or paper work that was given to you originally by your agent is called a policy. The policy is your contract and in most cases clearly spells out what is covered and what is not. That leads us to the word covered that I just mentioned. The word covered is used when the insurance company accepts responsibility to pay the costs of the damage of the items that were damages by the water damage and the clean up costs and repair costs of home items like drywall, carpet.
When talking to the adjuster on the phone don't talk to much. Just keep it simple with just the facts. As honest as you are, insurance company adjusters are not out to deny every claim as everyone thinks. There are state and federal laws that the insurance companies must follow, so the insurance companies work on proof.To keep it easy get proof of why the water damage happened like a bill or written statement from a plumber or the city or county of why something happened. Pictures are great and your dishwasher or washer machine appliance repairman will be your best friend to prove to the insurance company your damage is a "covered loss."
These days insurance companies will suggest a water damage restoration company to come out and mitigate the damage. Mitigate is the term that is used to clean up and stop further damage from happening. Most insureds (that's you the homeowner) believe that the water damage clean up work will be guaranteed because the company mentioned their name. Actually the company only suggests and will not back up any companies work. Remember that you the homeowner has the legal right to use anyone you want to.
Contacting the insurance company to make a claim can be nerve racking to some homeowners. Just remember to be calm and relay the facts.
If you need Water Damage Services please call us at the number above or use our Contact Form to send us a message.
SI Restoration water damage clean up services are available in the following Maryland areas :
Towson
Pikesville
Catonsville
Bel Air
Baltimore City
Baltimore County
Dundalk
Essex
Laurel
Parkton
Westminister