There are times when you wake up to find that your water heater is no longer working properly. You might wake up to a dripping noise only to find the pipes under the sink are leaking. The problem comes when these leaks are located in your roof and start to damage your personal possessions. This is something that most homeowners have to face at some point. Once you have taken care of the source of the leak, you have to file an insurance claim. These claims allow you to restore any damage caused by a malfunctioning machine or leaking pipe. The problem is that they can be denied if you are not careful. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to increase the chances that your claim will be approved.
Thoroughly Check The Insurance Policy
The best step to take to ensure your claim is not rejected is to check your policy. Take the time to read through your policy documents and find out what is expected. If you have done your policy homework, you will be able to go into detail and provide the insight the insurance companies want. You will also be able to provide these details in a way the insurance company understands. This will make your claim stronger and increase the chances of it being approved.
Report The Claim As Soon As Possible
The longer you wait to make a claim, the more dangerous the water damage problems you can face. You will want to get compensation to cover all the damages and waiting will not help with this. The longer you wait to make a claim, the longer the responsible companies will take to fix the damage. Insurance companies may also reject your claim if you wait too long which is why you should avoid doing this.
Pictures Can Tell The Whole Story
While you need to provide a written claim, pictures can make a bigger impact when attached to your claim. Pictures can detail the damage in a way you might not be able to convey and will improve your claim. Of course, the pictures need to be relevant to the claim and clearly show the issue. You should take a number of good quality pictures whether you want to move or fix something. The more pictures and documentation you have for the claim, the stronger it will be.
Avoid The Term Flood In Your Claim
When you put in a claim, you need to use the right terminology and knowing your policy can help with this. As you use the right language, you also need to know what language to avoid as it creates a sense of disbelief in the claim handler. Using the word flood can create a lot of claim problems for you that are easier to avoid. Ground flooding is not the same as a burst water pipe and it is best to not use this wording. It is better to say water flow and water damage for burst pipes.
Never File An Incomplete Insurance Claim
The most common reason for a water damage claim to be denied is when there is not enough information. Before you submit your claim, you need to ensure you have presented complete information and provided all the documentation required. If your claim is considered incomplete, it will be rejected. Take the time to read through the claim before you submit it to ensure that you have mentioned everything you need to.
Avoid Claims With Proper Maintenance
The best way to avoid your claim being rejected is to not make a claim at all. Unless you are living in a flood area, you can take some precautionary measures to avoid these claims. This includes maintaining your home appliances such as heating equipment, tubs, and showers.
