Many individuals will never have to file an insurance claim for their home. According to iii.org only 5.3% of all homeowners insurance policyholders filed a claim in 2014 and while your chances aren’t that great that you’ll ever need to file, you should understand the entire claims process. This way if you do happen to suffer a home loss you’ll understand what you need to do and who you need to be in touch with.

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A Little Effort Before An Insurance Claim Can Go A Long Way

No one expects to file a homeowners insurance claim, but if mortgage lenders and individuals didn’t think policies were needed then no one would buy them. Claims happen and no matter where someone lives they need to prepare as if one is inevitable. Doing so can save a policyholder a lot of headaches and money.

Professionals across the insurance industry stress one thing in particular that homeowners need to do: Prepare a detailed list of personal belongings and their value.

Taking an inventory of personal property does two things. First, it ensures that a policyholder doesn’t forget anything that might be covered and can be lost. Second, it helps when negotiating a payout for a claim. Insurers don’t simply write checks for the claim requested. They pay as little as someone asks and if there is any ambiguity in the claim, they pay the least amount possible while still making a policyholder whole.

It might sound silly but, depending on the number of items someone owns and the degree of the loss, a policyholder could easily forget things.

Most people won’t forget that they had a television in their living room and two end tables. People forget small things and small things add up. Some DVD’s on a shelf, a tablet computer in a drawer and an antique picture frame in the hallway can easily slip someone’s mind.

Ideally, a full, written inventory describing each item and what it would cost to replace it is best. Walking around a home and taking a video of every belonging is better than nothing, though, and will do the trick.

Not doing anything is ill-advised. Without those details, a policyholder weakens their case to their insurance company to pay any claim they submit. There’s no sense in paying an annual homeowners insurance premium ($952 on average in the U.S.) and not getting the appropriate payout if you need to file a claim.

Suffering a Great Loss Might Mean It’s Time To Call a Public Adjuster

This is not something insurance companies tell policyholders, infact they typically give the opposite advise. Much like an Attorney of the Law, Public Adjusters represent your interests using years of experience with Insurance Policy Terms and Coverage.  The as a Public Adjuster is to investigate, document,  prepare, and negotiate your insurance claim, all while protecting your interests and getting the money you are owed under the policy.  Often with most of the property damage claims Miller Public Adjusters handles, any dispute or problem with your Insurance Company can be resolved fairly without ever having to go to Court.

We know what your Insurance Policy's Coverage entitles you to and as a Licensed Public Insurance Adjuster we will help you take full advantage of your policy to ensure that you receive everything you are entitled to, which typically yields you more money for your insurance claim.  

Be Sure To Review The Terms Of Your Insurance When You Renew Your Policy

It’s common to assume that nothing has changed when your premium stays the same, but in reality insurance companies constantly make changes to the language of their policies. They might not always be big changes, but even the smallest change can make difference to the policyholder should they suffer a loss.

Call us 24 hours a day at 800-958-4829 to schedule an appointment or please fill out a Free Claim Review to see if we can help.