24
Apr

You may think something in your home is repairable, but your insurance company may not. Then there are times when the insurance company believes the items are repairable, even if you think replacing is a better idea. A public adjustor can help with this situation, making sure you get everything you need.

Problems with Proving the Damage

There are times when adjustors will look at items and decide that the item hasn’t been damaged by the fire. It may have been preexisting or not considered damaged at all, and this leads to you not getting the insurance coverage that you need. There are also disagreements over the cost of the repairs.

All of this delays the payment you get to replace items in the home. You need to make sure you have documentation from before the fire. Whenever you buy something, it’s worth taking photos. Do monthly photos of your home, and if there is any damage ever outside of a fire, make a note of it.

Your Insurance Should Cover Professional Teams

A professional cleanup crew is essential for minimizing future issues from the fire. Smoke damage is difficult to detect but causes major health issues in the future. With a professional team, they know the likely places for smoke to hang around to get rid of it. Your insurance company should cover for something like this.

Don’t allow the insurance company to claim “like materials and quality.” A patched up rug is not the same as the new rug you had, for example.

Dealing with Replacement Coverage

If you have replacement coverage in your insurance policy, you’ll usually need to wait for the full reimbursement. The insurance company will usually only payout the depreciated costs at first. This is all you’ll get if you don’t have replacement coverage.

You will then need to go out and buy the new item. Keep the receipt and send it to the insurance company. This is the way to get the reimbursement for the difference. You don’t need to be thrifty. You have a maximum value in your policy, so use it! Get the item that you want, as this could be the only way you actually get paid out.

Create Your Inventory Today!

One of the best things you can do is create an inventory before the disaster strikes. There is software out there, and while it’s time consuming now, it’s going to be so much better for you when it comes to working with the insurance company.

Start with the high-ticket items. Note the cost, the date of purchase, and always keep the receipt. You can also document any damage here if you need to. Your insurance company will work with these details to determine the depreciation costs.

How to handle a wildfire insurance claim:

• Document all damage with photos and records
• Keep receipts for repairs and replacements
• Understand your coverage (replacement vs. depreciated value)
• Consider hiring a public adjuster
• Create a home inventory for future claims