Preparing for an Adjuster Visit After Water Damage

9/23/2021 (Permalink)

Schedule as soon as possible a visit with an adjuster after water damage in your Ogden, UT home.

Water damage can stem from a variety of circumstances, from pipe breaks to storm surges. While your home insurance policy will vary depending on the cause of the damage, in most situations, an insurance claim will require a visit from a home adjuster. The adjuster will want to identify and verify any damage to make a proper recommendation about claim approval. During their visit to your home, the insurance adjuster will be looking for several things, including:

• Evidence of structural damage
• Cause of the damage
• Receipts for claimed losses
• Estimates for repairs
• Mitigation attempts
  

Looking To Ensure Damage Was Mitigated

While you might feel overwhelmed after a water disaster, you need to remember that you still have responsibilities as the homeowner. An insurance company expects all clients to mitigate further loss after a disaster, meaning if water damage occurs because of a hole in the roof or a pipe break, you are likely expected to either cover the hole or shut off the water supply to prevent more damage to the property. Be aware that failure to mitigate further loss can result in the denial of your claim.

It is also worth mentioning that your insurer likely doesn’t expect you to resolve the issue completely. They mainly want to see that you put forth an effort to minimize the extent of the damage. Additionally, you do not have to mitigate the problem alone; it is strongly advised that you seek assistance from a professional mitigation company in Ogden, UT.

The home adjuster will take time to assess mitigation efforts because if they find evidence that you didn’t do enough, it saves the insurance company money. Remember, the insurer is not your friend; they do not want to give you money, and they especially do not want to give you more than they have to.

Making the Adjuster’s Visit Easy

Do yourself a favor and make the adjuster’s visit as straightforward as possible. To make their visit easy, you should put together a loss inventory. This document will include an itemized list of all damaged or destroyed items. If possible, include pictures of all the items along with copies of receipts.

Additionally, you should compile a list of any structural damage to your home. The list should identify the specific location and any damage; for example, the left interior wall of the basement has a crack and is showing signs of moisture penetration.

Finally, you will want to have copies of repair bids. The adjuster will need to see estimates of the damage done to the property. A remediation company can help you gather any necessary information, including a loss inventory.

It is important to remember that while an insurance company might have preferred contractors, you do not need to work with them for a claim to be approved. It is important to hire the professional you feel most comfortable with.

A home adjuster visit is a requirement of the claims process. While every insurance company is different and will have different expectations for their clients, the above information is pretty standard. For more information, you might want to contact your insurance provider.