Insurance Claims: Steps in Making an Insurance Claim

A homeowners insurance policy is a contract between the homeowner and the insurance company. Within the contract are certain rules and procedures that the homeowner must follow in order to receive the appropriate assistance. In the event of injury on the insured property or damage to the property the homeowner may choose to file a homeowners insurance claim.

One of the first steps to filing an insurance claim is to obtain a police report if you are the victim of a crime. If your home has been vandalized or burglarized it is important that you have documentation of the event as well as the names of the officers who witnessed the damage. A list of stolen items and/or photographs of damaged property are essential forms of documentation. Some insurance companies suggest creating a home inventory in the form of a list or videotape.

Protect your property from further damage by boarding broken windows or fixing locks and keep all the receipts for the insurance company. If the property is uninhabitable, find other accommodations and keep receipts for related expenses. This is covered under the "loss of use" provision of the standard homeowner policy.

Insurance companies set statutes of limitations on the filing of insurance claims. Contact your insurance company promptly regarding any damage or theft. The insurance company is required by law to send claim forms within a certain time period regulated by the state. Talk with an agent or representative if you have questions regarding the filing of your insurance claim. Some questions might be:

It is important to review your home insurance periodically and upgrade it according to improvements made to the property. Damaged property that had not been added to the policy generally will not be covered. In some situations an insurance company will request an estimate for repair. Often the insurance company will send its own adjuster to your home to assess the repair.

Once the insurance claim has been filed your payment should be received promptly. State laws prevent insurance companies from holding insurance claims for extended time periods. Unfortunately, some insurance companies are refusing to renew policies where more than one insurance claim has been filed. Check with your insurance agent to make sure there are no hidden clauses about filing insurance claims.