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Here in the U.S., water damage insurance claims are on the rise. We’re noticing a serious uptick in the number of homeowners dealing with a burst pipe, appliance leak, or flood damage. This damage ranges from a slow, creeping problem to a widespread, chaotic invasion of your home or business. You’ll notice the ceiling sagging, the walls peeling, and the floorboards warping in time. It’s quite a mess.

For this level of damage, you cannot do without insurance. Your policy should, depending on the type of damage, cover the situation. First, you need to file the water damage insurance claim before you can schedule restoration work. We’re here to guide you through the first steps.

Helpful Prep Tips Before Filing a Water Damage Insurance Claim

When water damages your property, you may find that your insurance company is more difficult to work with than they should be. They’re constantly a part of the process and always have something to say. Here are a few prep tips to make filing easier.

• You Have Choices – When it comes to finding a restoration company, you have choices. You don’t need to choose the company the insurance provider recommends. In fact, you probably shouldn’t, as their service likely means a large cut for the insurance company as a preferred contractor.
• Flooding Designations – When you do call to file a water damage claim, avoid calling the situation a flood, if at all possible. The average homeowners insurance policy does not cover flood damage. They will deny your claim. So, if it’s a burst pipe, call it that. Be specific.
• Mitigate Damage – It’s written in the fine print of your insurance policy that you must do everything in your power to mitigate further damage. That does not mean, however, that you can make permanent repairs. The insurance company won’t pay for those. You can soak up excess water, start drying the area, and removing damaged goods from the scene.
• Use Caution – Depending on the situation at hand, your home may be a hazard to your health or safety. There’s always the risk of contamination, scared animals, downed power lines, gas leaks, and electrocution when dealing with water damage inside of the home or office.
• Take Photos – Photograph everything. You want clear evidence of the damage via photographs or video. Also, consider taking a thorough inventory of any lost or damaged items. This information will help you obtain proper coverage amounts for the damages.
• Home Audit – While the insurance company will send over an insurance adjuster of their very own, you may want to hire a private adjuster or schedule a home audit yourself. An insurance adjuster is supposed to save the company money. A private contractor works for you. They’ll provide clear evidence of the damage with supporting documents to back up the case.

Before you go filing an insurance claim for recent water damage, call your local Restoration 1 for a full assessment and to start mitigating damage.