Having homeowners insurance seems pretty straightforward. You experience unexpected damage or loss to your property, you file a claim, and you receive payment to cover your losses. If only it were that easy!
Many insurance companies try their best to avoid paying out claims. After all, it is in their best interest to deny your claim or to drastically underpay what you are entitled to under your insurance policy.
To make sure your claim is taken seriously and you receive the maximum payout to recover after a loss, you need to be prepared! The loss adjusters at Liberty share some of the questions you can expect when you submit an insurance claim.
What to Expect When Insurance Contacts You
After you file a claim, your insurance company will most likely contact you to conduct an interview. The insurance company is looking to document what occurred from your point of view and then determine what damages occurred to your property.
While it is not recommended to speak with your insurance company without a public adjuster, if you do decide to make sure to keep these tips in mind:
Obtain contact informatioN
Make sure to get the name, position, and contact information for the person you are speaking to. Make sure to document your conversation in a notebook and include the date and time.
Give limited personal information
You should provide basic contact information such as your name, address, and telephone number. You do not need to give any detailed information regarding your job, income, or family situation. They can use this information against you and your claim.
Do not downplay the damages
A lot of times people will inadvertently downplay the severity of the damage. This can cause the insurance company to deny or lowball your claim.
Do not give out speculative estimateS
Do not give out any speculative estimates over the phone to an insurance company. Oftentimes, insurance companies may ask, but you can be polite and nicely tell them you do not want to speculate at this time. They can use these guessed estimates to downplay or deny your claim.
Remain polite and calm
Stay calm and speak politely. Speaking rashly with an insurance company representative is not going to help your claim.
Questions You May Be Asked by The Policyholder
To be better prepared for your conversation with an insurance company representative it is important to be aware of some questions they may ask you.
The more prepared you are and with the correct answers, the more likely you are to be in a good position of receiving your settlement. Remember: if you submit a claim with us, our local public adjusters will handle all the questions for you.
What happened?
Make sure you can demonstrate the circumstances of the damage or loss and show how it is covered under your policy. This will ensure you receive payment.
What was damaged?
Provide a full inventory of all property that was damaged—both real and property. This will make the claims process proceed more smoothly.
What was the value of the damaged property?
Make sure to provide receipts, photographs, and contractor estimates that can help establish the correct value of your loss or damages.
Has anything changed since the damage happened?
Make sure to document, by video or photographs, all the damaged property as it existed immediately after the damage/loss occurred. This will help an adjuster to see the damage if you did have to make emergency repairs before they could come out.
Do you require temporary living arrangements due to the damage?
Your insurance policy may cover some of the costs of temporary living arrangements if the damage or loss from your home makes it uninhabitable. Understand your policy’s limits and save your receipts to show your actual expenses.
The Importance of a Public Adjuster
Filing a claim with your insurance company can be difficult; sadly, claims are often denied or underpaid. There are many ways your insurance company can use your words or lack of documentation against you.
Unlike that of an insurance company adjuster, a public loss adjuster, like Liberty Adjusters, is there to represent your best interest. Our Florida public adjusters know your rights with insurance claims and seek to achieve a fair settlement.
Lean on Liberty Insurance Adjusters
When you are filing or fighting a property claim, you need to have an experienced public adjuster by your side. At Liberty Insurance Adjusters, our knowledgeable and experienced public adjusters work with property insurance companies every day.
We make sure you are not taken advantage of. Our loss experts also prepare you for any questions you may be asked, help you determine the true value of the damage, and work with the insurance company on your behalf.
Lean on Liberty Adjusters, we are by your side from start to finish and we can help at any point of your property claim. Our services cost you nothing and on average we can significantly increase your claim settlement. Call us at 813-922-5129 or submit your claim online. Let us be your advocate!