In the unfortunate event that your home sustains water damage, you might wonder if your homeowners insurance policy will cover the cost of restoration. In many cases, it will. But you need to take the right steps from the beginning of the event.
- Take reasonable steps to stop the flow of water. If you’re dealing with a plumbing disaster, turn off the main water valve to your home. If you have a roof leak, place bucket to catch water where possible. Sop up water whenever possible with towels or other absorbent material.
- Read your homeowners insurance policy. It will help to become familiar with your policy, so that you know how to talk about the event with your insurance representative. In most cases you will need to emphasize that the water damage was sudden and accidental, and not the result of neglect or intentional action on your part. You’ll also want to know your deductible. You may not want to file a claim if the damage does not exceed your deductible – because it will most likely make your insurance premiums go up!
- Call us. We can help you get started on the water damage cleanup process right away. The earlier we start, the better. We hope to minimize the damage and get your home back to normal as quickly as possible. We’ll also help you coordinate the effort with your insurance company to help you get your claim covered and processed as fast as possible.
- Call your insurance representative. We can assist you with this communication.
- Determine whether you can stay in the house. Turn off the electricity if you’re dealing with standing water. Leave the home if safety issues are present (such as sewage or wastewater that entered from outside the home).
- Take photos of the damaged areas. If necessary, gather old receipts or photos of items that you hope to have reimbursed by your insurance carrier. Again, we will help you to coordinate all of this in order to minimize your stress and facilitate the payment of your claim.
And of course, if you have any questions about water damage cleanup, stay in touch with us throughout the process. We can help you learn what to expect, and refer to you contractors who can help with repairs.