Making a Water Damage Claim: Five Steps

11/23/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage in a kitchen in Guthrie, OK.

Five Steps to Filing a Water Damage Claim

If a burst pipe has led to flooding and related damage to your home, you are probably interested in the process involved when making an insurance claim. Read on to learn about 5 important steps you need to take to submit the claim and prepare for an insurance adjuster to arrive.

1. Check Your Insurance Policy

One of the first things that you will want to do after a pipe burst in your Guthrie, OK, home is to review your homeowners insurance policy. Water damage is covered by some policies and not others.

2. Call the Insurance Company

If you have learned that you do indeed have flood coverage, the next step is to call your agent to make an insurance claim with the company that handles your policy. If all goes well with your report, an appointment will be set to have the damage surveyed.

3. Take Pictures and Record Damage
Once you learn that an adjuster is coming to evaluate the situation, you will need to get working. Take pictures and record any issues that you find, as these will be valuable resources for the claims team to take into account.

4. Fill out Forms

You may have to fill out claim paperwork before the adjuster arrives. Be as thorough as you need to be, and make sure to meet the stated deadline.

5. Make Repairs

It is usually a good idea to make at least some repairs when you can to preserve your property to the best of your ability before the adjuster arrives at your home. Contacting water damage specialists is often your best bet to get the work completed quickly and accurately.

Filing an insurance claim can be difficult after water ruins your valuables and property. The emotional effects of having your home in danger are challenging enough without going through complicated insurance processes. Remembering the steps above will help you to better understand what is involved and how to accurately file a claim so you can figure out a way to move forward.