Tips For A Successful Property Damage Claim

Home insurance is essential in protecting you against the financial risk of property damage, particularly in the event of flooding, fire damage or structural degradation, proving to be a highly important investment for homeowners and businesses across the country. It can, however, be a stressful time; here at Simon Levy, we understand how difficult it can be to handle insurance claims at such a difficult and emotional time.

Here, we provide helpful tips for making a successful property damage claim, as well as pointing you in the right direction of our own team, to assist you in any way we can.

Preparation

Unless you have access to a crystal ball, chances are, you don’t have the capacity to see into the future. This means that, no matter how hard you try, it’s going to be nigh on impossible to predict the exact moment in which you’ll need to make an insurance claim on your property. Fortunately, however, there are a number of important ways in which you can prepare yourself for an insurance claim, to provide the necessary evidence and information required to substantiate your claim in the future.  

Preparation should include the gathering of evidence, to provide photographic proof of the current state of your existing property, but should also include maintenance, and documentation to prove it. This will help make clear to insurance companies that any damage sustained to your property was not a result of negligence or mistreatment. Insurance claims are often refused if this is seen to be the case, particularly in the event of fire or flood damage, where there is clear evidence of improper maintenance or care.

Communication

Although it may differ, insurance companies typically allow a timeframe of up to 180 days for you to make an insurance claim as a result of property damage, although it’s, of course, advised to inform them of any issues at the earliest opportunity.

Communicating with your home insurance provider quickly is highly important when handling your claim, especially in the event of a flood or fire, delaying an insurance claim here will likely lead to even worse damage. Insurance companies will help you get back on your feet, handle the claim and relocate you during maintenance works, if necessary, so be sure to liaise with them at the earliest convenience.

Evidence

As suggested, taking photographs of your property can be used as an important preparation tool, but it can also prove vital as a form of evidence. Taking photographs, or making a short video of your property damage, will be highly useful for insurance companies to determine what has happened, helping to outline the cause of the issue and potentially offer evidence to who may be liable.  

Equally, we strongly advise you don’t throw away any damaged items you may now have as a result of property damage, as insurance companies often want to assess your losses and analyse your home contents.  

Need to make a property damage insurance claim? At Simon Levy Associates, we can assist in building insurance claims on properties in Borehamwood, Barnet or Watford. Our professional team assists you in liaising with the insurance company and helps to specify the appropriate scope and quality of repair work to be carried out, ensuring that any and all work is administered, overseen and certified. Contact us today.