What to expect when you file a claim
It happens to everyone: you get some storm damage and you call your insurance to file a claim. Now what? If you don’t have a trusted professional handling the process for you, it can be confusing and difficult to navigate. Here is a brief overview of what to expect and what each step looks like.
Inspection.
The first thing you will want to do is confirm that you have storm damage. The easiest way to do that is to schedule an inspection with a trusted, local professional. If you cannot find one, you will need to do a comprehensive inspection on the entire exterior of your home.
Filing the Claim.
The next step is to file an insurance claim. You will need to have your policy number handy, as well as the claims line for your insurance company. If you are not sure how to file a claim with your agency, you can always contact their general customer service line and ask for instructions. If you are working with a professional, they can be present to help you file the claim with the correct kind of damage and the correct storm dates.
Insurance Adjuster Meeting.
Next comes the adjuster inspection. This step is crucial in ensuring your home is covered fully, so we always recommend having a professional that you have chosen be present for this inspection. Your insurance company may recommend certain companies, but it is always advised to choose your own contractor for this. Your adjuster will do an inspection of the property and assess what is and is not considered storm damage. It is important to have your own photos from your inspection available to be sure everything is properly assessed and covered. At this stage, you will generally find out if the claim is approved or denied.
If it is approved, you will wait to receive the insurance estimate, also called the scope.
If it is denied, you can either complete the repair or replacement out of pocket, or you can file for a re-inspection.
Scope.
Receiving your insurance scope should be the next step in the insurance claim process if your claim is approved. This document provided by your insurance will cover the structures that were damaged, the surface area that was damaged, and the pricing they are allotting for each.
Contract Signing and First Check Receipt.
This step is very straightforward if you are working with a professional. Most contractors will require a deposit of at least 50% of the contract value up front for materials and labor. If you are working with a professional, they will go over the color choices, the exact contents of the insurance scope, and what to expect on the day of installation with you. If you are doing it on your own, you will now want to look for estimates from contractors to compare who can complete the work the best, and according to the budget allotted by insurance. Your insurance should have sent you what is called the Actual Cash Value (ACV) check, which is typically about 50% of the total claim. This amount will not include your deductible, the amount of the claim that is your responsibility to pay to the contractor. This is where the contractor will sign a contract with you and collect the first payment.
Supplement.
It is not uncommon for the initial scope to miss a detail or two, or to have pricing that won’t cover the damage. When you have a professional assisting, they will be able to submit what is called a supplement for approval to your insurance. This will be an estimate to cover the trades that were missed on the scope along with proof and any applicable local codes to ensure it is appropriately covered. If you do not have the assistance of a professional here, you will need to be sure you have all of this information and submit is correctly to your insurance.
Installation.
If you have worked with a professional, they will monitor the job site and manage any issues that may arise during installation, leaving you to go about your day like normal. If you have done this process on your own, you will want to be sure you are there to oversee the job site and be prepared with any additional materials or technical issues that may arise.
Final Documentation.
Once the job is installed, you now need to submit proof to your insurance. They will usually require an itemized invoice, a signed and executed contract, and a certificate of completion signed by both you and the contractor certifying that the contracted work is completed to the satisfaction of all parties. Insurance companies also like to see completion photos in line with their policy. Most insurance companies also require this information to be sent to a specific location. If you have worked with a professional, they will know where to send it. If you are doing the process on your own, you will likely want to call the general customer service line or contact your adjuster for information on where to send all of the documentation.
Final Payment.
After everything is received by your insurance, they will typically send the final payment, or the Recoverable Depreciation (RCV) check, within 2 weeks if everything is correct. There are normally some questions at the end and additional documentation needed, but that can be supplied by a professional easily. Once the payment is released, you can finalize paying the invoice to your contractor.
Congratulations, your home repairs are now complete!