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News & Blogs of the Restoration Industry

Water Damage Insurance Claim: What to Do?

12/22/2020

18 Comments

 
Water Damage Insurance can be tricky and can happen at any time. There are great chances that water damage will happen to you during your homeowner’s lifetime. Water damage insurance claims are among the most common types of property claims and the primary source of frustration.
Indeed, water damage can be a nightmare — first, the stress it causes and the destruction. Then, the administrative maelstrom it generates. Finally, the financial impact it creates for homeowners and insurance companies.
The trickiest part of water damage is and always will be the extent of your water damage.

Why?

The extent of your water damage is always difficult for homeowners to quantify and fully determine the extent.
water damage insurance claim, damaged flooring
Hence, if you speak to your insurance representative based on what is visible to you at the moment of the call, you may have inadvertently created hardship for yourself.

So, if water damage happens to your home or business, there are a few things to know.

Water Damage Insurance 1:1

Check your insurance policy.

In a nutshell, there are many different water damage insurance coverages, and they all vary. Before calling your insurance to log a water damage insurance claim, always ask for a certified copy of your insurance contract. 

Ask your insurance inside sales representative or agent to include all provisions, exclusions, and conditions. 
An insurance policy is a complex document with sometimes conflicting and confusing provisions for homeowners that are not used to reading and interpreting them. 
​

As an insurance policy uses a specific language, there is no shame in asking for a specialist’s second opinion. In some cases, public adjusters can help you clarify obscure sections of your insurance policy.
Even if most insurances cover for accidental or sudden damage, like in the case of a burst pipe in a basement, a toilet overflow, or sewer backup, other forms of water damage appear progressively and cause other issues to your building structure.

In the case of mold, for instance. Mold can develop progressively following water damage that was not identified or if the remediation was not appropriately handled. 
Typically, most homeowners would call their insurance and file an insurance claim for water damage to cover the remediation work. Of course, most people expect their insurance to cover this type of water damage fully. 
In reality, most of these claims are denied or do not cover all costs involved in the repairs because of a different interpretation of the insurance policy. 

​To avoid coming to that dead-end, there are a few things you can do.

What To Do Before Getting Your Water Damage Insurance Claim Denied.

Here is what you should consider when preparing or dealing with your water damage insurance claim:
  • Prepare the documentation: Obtain records from all of your receipts and pictures of valuables. ​
  • Take photographs of the disaster. If you were a victim of water damage, leave objects the way they are, even if items are floating on the water in some extreme cases. If there is still water in your basement, do not extract the water immediately yourself and do not clean. Take pictures first.
  • Contact a restoration company for advice and help to deal with the mitigation and containment. Once the restoration company is on-site, take pictures of the triage and clean up process. Take photos of the carpet, objects, and furniture being removed. ​
  • Have the restoration company investigate and analyze the root cause and assess your water damage’s entire scope.
  • Make an informed decision based on the restoration company’s feedback to contact your insurance and proceed to an official water damage insurance claim or not.
  • Team up with your restoration company to get estimates for the repairs. ​
  • Connect with your insurance based on your restoration company’s feedback. The restoration company can negotiate with the insurance company directly to fine-tune the scope and cost of the reconstruction part based on the inspection report.
  • Engage in the restoration phase.

Key Takeaways

  • Home insurance policies cover water damage when it is sudden or accidental. Most water damage insurance policies do not cover gradual water damage that occurs over time.
  • You can determine if your insurance policy covers gradual water damage by reviewing your insurance policy’s specific wording. Talk to restoration experts who are used to handling claims or public adjusters. They can help clarify specific wording.
  • To make your life easier, decide whether or not to file a water damage claim once you have discussed it with the restoration company. ​
  • Document every step of the damages.
  • If you decide to file a claim without using public adjusters or a restoration company, and it gets denied, immediately contact your insurance provider to learn why. It’s possible that you might need an endorsement policy to get water damage coverage. ​
  • Remember that you may avoid water damage if you do periodic checks, assessments, and repairs around your house. It is especially true for non-accidental or non-sudden water damage. ​
18 Comments
Water Damage Restoration Omaha NE link
7/5/2021 05:08:55 am

Very interesting and thanks for sharing such a good blog. Your article is so convincing that I never stop myself from saying something about it. You’re doing a great job. Keep it up.

Reply
Water Damage Restoration Company Denver CO link
8/16/2021 07:46:18 am

Thanks for sharing such great information. It is really helpful to me. I always search to read the quality content and finally I found your post. Keep it up, keep posting!

Reply
Water Damage Restoration Company Dallas TX link
8/17/2021 04:32:27 am

Such an amazing blog, I love reading all your blogs. They are super amazing and informative at the same time. Bookmark your page already, keep posting more

Reply
Here link
1/19/2022 12:47:28 am

This is excellent information. It is amazing and wonderful to visit your blog. Water damage insurance provides coverage to homeowners against certain forms of water damage. Thanks for sharing information on water damage insurance.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
1/30/2022 07:30:37 pm

Thank you for reminding us that following a flood, it is important that we get in touch with our insurance agent or company to ask about our claims and benefits. The other day my sister's house was hit with a massive flood due to a thunder storm. I will remind her to get in touch with a professional to start the paperworks pronto.

Reply
William Cramer link
2/9/2022 10:19:59 am

Most homeowners would call their insurance and file an insurance claim for water damage to cover the remediation work. Thank you for making this such an awesome post!

Reply
Braden Bills link
3/21/2022 09:47:17 am

A pipe burst in my basement and ended up getting things wet. It makes sense that I would want to get a professional to help me out with this. That seems like a good way to ensure that I don't have to worry about mold or anything.

Reply
William Henley link
4/15/2022 02:55:02 pm

Mold can develop progressively following water damage that was not identified or if the remediation was not appropriately handled. I’m so thankful for your helpful post!

Reply
nikkwilliam link
4/16/2022 08:46:58 am

Poland & Sullivan Insurance Agency works on a personalized experience that learns about what’s important to you and connects you with solutions and financial professionals to help you achieve your goals. Here are the Poland & Sullivan Insurance Agency phone number, Poland & Sullivan Insurance Agency Contact Details so that you can communicate with their team via phone, video, or in person.

Reply
ankit link
5/4/2022 03:21:07 am

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We’ve taken the guesswork out of finding the best insurance Group by analysing important factors that will affect your customer experience. We evaluated large insurance Group based on average rates for a variety of drivers, coverage features available, levels of complaints, grades for collision claims from auto body repair professionals, and how understandable the insurers’ websites are. You can check the Stapleton Insurance Group Reviews.
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Reply
Roy Devore link
5/31/2022 02:50:42 pm

Water damage insurance does not cover damage resulting from the homeowners' negligence or failure to maintain the home in good repair.

Reply
nikkwilliam link
6/20/2022 01:43:11 am

Markel Corporation Insurance Company is an American multinational Company whose subsidiaries provide insurance. They provide a full range of insurance and financial Company products, including auto, business, homeowners, farm, and life insurance throughout the world.

Reply
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7/21/2022 04:06:07 pm

An insurance policy is a complex document with sometimes conflicting and confusing provisions for homeowners that are not used to reading and interpreting them. Really great article thank you so much!

Reply
Afton Jackson link
7/24/2022 05:51:11 pm

Having a restoration company assist me with proper documentation of a water disaster could be a great way to get compensated for the costs. This way, I will be sure that they have pictures and examples to show whatever insurance company I end up working with in the future to allow myself a better chance of paying off the damage. I'll definitely keep an eye out for any flood damage experts that can lend us a hand with something like this should we encounter it.

Reply
Jessie Holloway link
10/6/2022 06:37:47 pm

Thanks so much for the advice on how to work with insurance companies to get help restoring your home. My cousin's house recently flooded and they don't know what to do next. Filing a claim will help them speed up the restoration process and have money to hire some professional rebuilders.

Reply
restorerz link
11/18/2022 07:29:00 am

This is why water damage clean up is so important! Sometimes floods are bigger than expected and can overtop levees or floodwalls. If a river floods for a long time water can damage a levee. Aging dams can be overwhelmed, releasing water with deadly force. Even using the latest techniques and design, structures can and do fail, and the consequences can be devastating.

Reply
Iris Smith link
11/22/2022 09:47:11 pm

Thank you for noting that you should always request a certified copy of your insurance contract before contacting your insurance to file a water damage insurance claim. Flooding has damaged my grandmother's home. I'll advise her to get in touch with her insurance provider and a water damage restoration business to handle my grandmother's house damage.

Reply
Victoria Addington link
12/6/2022 04:53:12 am

It got me when you discussed that it is hard to fully determine the extent of water damage. My friend told me that their basement was affected by the flooding. I should advise him to hire an expert in residential water damage repair to ensure reliable work.

Reply



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    Mike McCullough is the owner of County Action Restoration

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