After a Fire or Flood: What Should You Do Before Contacting Your Insurer?
Discovering serious fire or water damage at your home or business can be overwhelming. Your first thoughts will naturally be about safety, protecting the property and getting back to normal. However, the decisions made during the first few hours and days can also have an important effect on your insurance claim.
At Bell Green, we help residential and commercial policyholders manage insurance claims following major property damage. As independent loss assessors, we work for the policyholder rather than the insurance company. Our role is to ensure the full extent of the loss is identified, documented and presented correctly.
So, what should you consider after suffering serious property damage?
Make Safety Your First Priority
Before thinking about your insurance claim, make sure everyone is safe. Following a fire, you should not re enter a damaged building until the appropriate professionals have confirmed that it is safe.
The same principle applies after significant flooding. Water can affect electrical systems, floors, walls and the structural integrity of a building.
Do not put yourself at risk to retrieve possessions or inspect damage. There will be plenty of time to assess the property once it is safe to do so.
Avoid Clearing Everything Away Immediately
Once you are allowed back into the property, the natural reaction can be to start cleaning. However, removing damaged materials and possessions before they have been properly documented could make your insurance claim more difficult.
Photographs and videos can provide valuable evidence. Take images of affected rooms, damaged fixtures, furniture, equipment and possessions where it is safe to do so.
For businesses, this may also include damaged machinery, computers, stock, furniture and other assets.
Unless something presents an immediate safety risk, avoid disposing of damaged items until they have been recorded and you understand whether your insurer needs to inspect them.
Understand the True Extent of the Damage
What you can see may only represent part of the problem.
A fire can leave obvious damage in one room while smoke and soot travel throughout the rest of the building. Heat may also affect materials and structural components away from the main source of the fire.
Water creates similar problems. It can travel beneath flooring, enter wall cavities and affect areas that initially appear untouched.
This is one reason why professional assessment is so valuable. A detailed inspection can identify damage that might otherwise be missed during the early stages of an insurance claim.
Keep Records of Everything
Good record keeping can become extremely important as a claim develops.
Keep copies of correspondence relating to the incident and your insurance claim. You should also retain invoices and receipts for reasonable costs incurred as a direct result of the damage.
Businesses should consider keeping detailed records of how the incident has affected their normal operations. Depending on the insurance policy, business interruption may form an important part of a commercial insurance claim.
The more organised your records are, the easier it can be to demonstrate the financial impact of the incident.
Do Not Assume the Insurer Will Prepare the Entire Claim
One common misunderstanding is that the insurance company will identify everything you are entitled to claim for.
The insurer may appoint a loss adjuster to investigate the incident and assess the claim. However, that person is working for the insurance company.
An independent loss assessor works on behalf of the policyholder.
At Bell Green, we assess and document property damage before presenting the findings to the insurance company. We can also negotiate the financial settlement under the terms of the policy.
Having someone representing your interests can be particularly valuable when dealing with a substantial residential or commercial claim.
Be Careful Before Agreeing to a Settlement
After experiencing major property damage, you will understandably want the claim resolved quickly. However, speed should not come at the expense of accuracy.
Before accepting a settlement, it is important to understand whether it covers the full extent of the insured loss.
Have all affected areas been considered? Has hidden damage been investigated? Have all relevant possessions, fixtures or commercial assets been included? Are the proposed repair costs realistic?
Once a claim has been settled, correcting something that was previously overlooked may become much more difficult.
Taking the time to establish the full extent of the loss can therefore be extremely important.
How Bell Green Can Support Your Insurance Claim
Dealing with an insurance claim while trying to recover from a fire, flood or other major incident places considerable pressure on homeowners and business owners.
Bell Green provides independent support throughout the claims process. We assess the damage, document the loss, communicate with insurers and negotiate on behalf of the policyholder.
Our team handles both residential and commercial insurance claims, including fire damage, water damage and theft claims.
The objective is simple. We want to ensure your claim accurately represents the damage you have suffered and that you receive a fair settlement under the terms of your insurance policy.
If your home or business has suffered serious property damage, getting professional advice early can help you understand your position and provide a clearer route towards recovery.
Contact Bell Green Loss Assessors today on our 24hr HELPLINE