To file or not to file a water damage claim
9/24/2020 (Permalink)
We have talked about acting quickly when you have a water damage claim. “It was just a little water,” may be a subjective thought, but if you delayed maintenance and cleanup, then you may be negligent. When problems develop like mold or rot and you want to file a claim it may not be covered. Most insurance policies will cover water damage that is sudden and accidental. In most scenarios homeowners’ policies exclude losses that are considered continuous over an extended period of time. An example is a leaking water line, or leaving wet carpet and baseboard unattended to the point of mold or rot.
Before filing a claim, if you are unsure if the damage will exceed your deductible, you will want to ask us to come out. It will be better to spend a little money now or you may be faced with paying for a lot by yourself later. If you do have to file a claim then it helps to see a SERVPRO professional has been on site. In one such case, in one customer case, I was told by an adjuster that he sees that the homeowner took steps to limit the amount of damage by calling SERVPRO. In the event of a covered loss, insurance adjusters are grateful that SERVPRO is on the scene quickly to prevent further damage. We will also be an advocate for you to ensure that your property is restored to a preloss condition.
Some things you will want to know before filing a claim. What perils are covered in your policy? This will be important depending on the source of the loss. If you took the less expensive policy you may not have sewer backup as a rider on your policy and may not be covered in that case. So, knowing what you have covered is important.
What is the deductible? It is practical that you may not want to file a claim if the cost of mitigation and restoration is less than double your deductible. Insurance is there to protect you from major losses and your deductible represents the amount of risk you’re willing to take. Our commitment is to ensure that this is your only out of pocket expense to return the property to a preloss condition.
This is just another reason to call quickly to SERVPRO of West Forsyth County to handle your water damage. Whether it is covered or not we can help with water damage. Call us directly at 336-946-1131