Prepare for a Visit From Your Home Insurance Adjuster After a Disaster

11/22/2021 (Permalink)

If your Greenville, NC, property is damaged, prepare a visit from your home insurance adjuster.

If your home sustains a disaster of any kind, a home insurance adjuster will have to visit your Greenville, NC, property. This experience can be anxiety-provoking, though. What should you expect? Will you receive the reimbursement you need from your claim? Your home adjuster will require some specific information about the damage so they can file the claim. There are several ways you can prepare for your insurance adjuster's visit to make the process operate as efficiently as possible for everyone involved.

Begin With These Steps

1. Contact the Insurance Company

First, you'll need to contact the insurance company and give them all the information about the disaster and the damage your home sustained. They'll schedule an appointment for the insurance adjuster to visit to assess the damage. They'll tell you exactly what to expect during the process, explain what is covered and what isn't, inform you of what the adjuster will need, and how you can mitigate damage in the meantime.

2. Photograph All Damage

After a disaster, things can change significantly from one moment to the next, so you should take pictures of all the damage as soon as possible. Capture detailed photographs of as much as you can safely obtain.

3. Make Temporary Repairs

Don't make any changes or repairs before the adjuster's visit unless absolutely necessary to avoid more damage (e.g., tarping a damaged roof to keep more rain and debris from getting in). The insurance company will want you to mitigate the damage if it's an emergency situation, but not anything that can wait without getting worse. Either way, take detailed photos before you do anything.

4. Review Your Homeowners Insurance

Review your homeowners insurance policy so you can be familiar with what is covered and what isn't. You can also prepare yourself with more questions for the home adjuster during the visit.

5. Become Familiar With the Claims Process

Take some time if you can to become more familiar with how the claims process works. The adjuster may offer you a settlement check on the day of the visit. If they determine that there is more damage than initially thought, you may get another check later.

6. Complete Claim Forms

If you can complete the insurance claim forms before the visit, it can be beneficial. Your insurance company may allow you to fill them out and submit them online.

7. Keep All Documents Associated With the Claim

Make sure you keep all the information associated with the disaster and the claim in one file so you can have them at hand when you need them. This file should include insurance company information, damage photos, contact information, repair estimates, bills, and receipts. You should also have detailed work information from storm damage remediation experts or similar professionals in this file.

When your home gets damaged, whether by a storm, fire, or another disaster, it's essential to get the insurance claim process underway immediately. This will allow you to obtain your settlement money quicker to begin repairs. Consider these tips to be better prepared for a visit from your home adjuster.