Maximizing Your Water Damage Claim: Expert Tips

You pay for homeowner’s insurance, so you’d expect the claims process to be easy, right? Often, it’s far from simple. Often, insurance companies are reluctant to pay or want to keep the payments low. Here, we offer some advice on getting the most from your water damage claim.

• Take steps to limit ongoing damage. Once you realize water damage has occurred, take necessary precautions to keep it from getting worse. If there’s a plumbing leak, turn off the water to the house. If there’s a leak in the roof, put up a tarp. Drain any standing water and dry the area as much as possible. It could hurt your insurance claim if the company thinks you didn’t do everything in your power to mitigate the damage. Call in the appropriate professional to help, but don’t sign any binding repair contracts until you know how much insurance will cover.
• Don’t throw away the evidence. Remove damaged items from your home so that you don’t expose your family to flood contamination. However, don’t throw these things out. Instead, bag and store them so that you can show them to the insurance adjustor as proof of damage.
• Document everything. Part of this is holding onto damaged items, but an even bigger part is gathering photographic evidence. Take photos and videos of the home damage and the suspected cause, being very thorough so that you’ll have sufficient proof for the insurance company.
• Contact the insurance company quickly. Reporting water damage is a time-sensitive task. Even if you think it won’t be covered or you plan to repair it yourself, report damage to the insurance company to avoid problems later.
• Know the difference between flood damage and water damage. Flood damage is the result of natural causes, while water damage is water intrusion from appliances, roof leaks, and so on. Most insurance will not cover flood damage unless you have additional flood insurance, but other types of water intrusion are typically covered.
• Use your own vendors. The insurance company will recommend vendors, but don’t go with them. They’re beholden to the insurance company and will not always be unbiased or have your best interest at heart. Know, too, that you have the right to hire your own insurance adjustor and to negotiate once the insurance company’s adjustor makes an offer.

From negotiating with the insurance company to drying out your house, water damage or flood restoration can be a complicated and time-consuming process. That’s why it’s smart to call on the professionals to handle the job. Water damage restoration experts use state-of-the-art techniques and equipment to quickly and effectively remove water from your home, using innovative and proven restoration methods.

When you need help with the restoration process after water damage, call the experts at Pacific Flood Restoration. We offer full-service, 24-hour, on-call emergency services, and we’ve earned a reputation for being dependable, on time, courteous, and ethical. No matter the extent of your damage, our certified and ensured technicians have the experience, proven techniques, and state-of-the-art equipment to restore your home in Encinitas, San Marcos, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Oceanside, Vista, or Escondido, fixing whatever damage it may have sustained. Call 832-294-5462, or contact us through our website.