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Working With Your Insurance Company On Water Damage Restoration Claims

Your home is your most valuable asset. Water is one of the cheapest things you can get. But excess moisture in your house can be very costly. According to The Travelers Companies Inc, the two main causes of water damage are: 1) weather events, such as rain or snow melt, and 2) internal plumbing issues, such as pipes bursting or appliance issues.

Thankfully, homeowners insurance may help cover damage caused by leaking plumbing if the leak is sudden and accidental, such as if a washing machine supply hose suddenly breaks or a pipe bursts. However, homeowners insurance does not cover damage resulting from poor maintenance. So, if damage results after you fail to repair a leaky toilet, for example, homeowners insurance likely will not pay for repairs.

Water Damage Restoration In Fitchburg

For many significant water incidences, understanding your coverage can be confusing. For example, no type of flood damage is covered by standard homeowners policies: from storms, over-saturated ground, overflowing bodies of water. (Depending on your location, you may be able to purchase a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program.)

So whether you have questions about insurance, you still need to pick up the phone right now. The longer water damage goes unchecked, the more the water will spread, the more damage is done, and the greater the potential for mold growth. According to EPA.gov it is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth. If your problem is too large to handle quickly on your own, enlist qualified water damage restoration experts. White Knight is on-call for you right now. 

Does “Covered” Mean It Is Free To Me?

Not exactly. Residential insurance policies have a deductible or co-pay; you are responsible for a preset dollar amount to repair the covered loss before the insurance company will begin to pay– as little as $100, or more than $1,000. Although most policies will cover the damage caused by unwanted water, they rarely cover the repair of the item that caused it.

Reputable, knowledgeable water damage restoration firms are not insurance representatives and cannot interpret your policy, but they can help you to meet your obligation to ‘preserve and protect’ your home and contents from further damage. In extreme cases, that may mean that they can board up the home to prevent unwanted visitors during the before the restoration process begins.

Move Quickly To Document The Damage 

Contact your insurer immediately after calling the water damage company. Take pictures of the affected area and everything that was damaged, as well as of the source of the water, such as a burst pipe or hole in the roof. Insurance carriers require detailed information like make and model, serial numbers, and receipts; try searching online bank statements for proof of purchase and exact costs. 

Use your phone to narrate a video– move from top to bottom and right to left. Record everything that you remember: cost, dates, manufacturers. As you remember important details, record in a master document. .

Claim Tips From The Industry

Be patient about the process. Be complete and accurate about your loss in all correspondence. The nature of water damage can make the full scope difficult to quantify, resulting in frequently underestimated water damage claims. Work in combination with our water damage restoration team and your insurance agent. 

  • Request a certified copy of your insurance contract from your agent or insurance adjuster outlining your coverage, including mold provisions, limitations and your responsibilities. 
  • Begin mitigation of the water damage, but do not begin restoration of your damaged property. Restoring your property should only begin after you and your insurance company have agreed to the exact scope of damage.
  • If you need to make any temporary repairs before the adjuster has a chance to see the damage, be sure pictures are taken and that you keep the receipts for any materials since you may be reimbursed.
  • An independent estimate from a contractor is useful in the event the insurance adjuster’s coverage offer is low.

Whether your water intrusion is from a broken pipe or due to storm flooding, the water damage restoration experts at White Knight Carpet Rescue Emergency Response Team (ERT) will treat you and your home or business with the respect you deserve. Our team serves Fitchburg customers with a one hour or less response time. Qualified water damage experts will protect your home with intense cleaning, refinishing and emergency flood response. The water damage restoration experts will rescue you 24/7 from water emergencies.

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