Will My Insurance Cover The Water Damage Expenses?

photo by HypnoArt- https://pixabay.com/en/users/HypnoArt-202249/

The first question many homeowners ask once the water has finally receded is “Will my insurance cover the expenses?”

We would like to tell each of our clients that they will be able to return to a repaired home at no cost to themselves but unfortunately that depends on quite a number of circumstances.

And it can be a bit overwhelming to learn not only was your home damaged severely during flooding, but that you are going to be completely responsible for the expenses. So to better help you prepare for the unexpected, it pays to spend a few moments to determine whether or not you will be covered if damage strikes your home and what you can do to ensure your home is covered in the event of water damage.

Learn Your Policy‘s Coverage And Your Risks

The easiest way to ensure you will be covered in the event of water damage is to first check with your provider themselves. Often providers will have a set of exemptions and exclusions that may bar your claim from being accepted. So it is best you acquaint yourself with your policy’s limits and extend coverage where necessary.

It is important to know, that many policies do not cover damage caused by flooding, so if you live in an area prone to wet and volatile weather we suggest seriously considering  purchasing natural disaster coverage.

Mitigating Damage And Policy Coverage

Even if you are fortunate enough to find yourself covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy, it is important that you act promptly to address the damage caused to your home. Often at times, insurance policies will only cover home owners if the home owner acted in a way to mitigate the damage, within their means. If a provider finds water was allowed to sit for an extended period or if you did not take steps to limit the damage they would be responsible for, by removing valuables, possessions, furniture, and appliances from affected areas etc…, they may decide to waive your coverage, leaving you footing the entire cost.

This highlights the importance of calling an expert as soon as possible, every moment wasted not only means more damage sustained to your home but can also mean that your provider will not cover your expenses.

File A Prompt Claim

If your policy covers the damages and you’ve acted well within your responsibly towards your provider, the only thing left to do is to ensure you file as soon as possible. Often, delaying filing your claim can lead to unforeseen complications which may mean you will be initially held financially responsible for the cost while your provider determines the outcome of your claim.

Whether or not you are certain your homeowner’s insurance policy covers water damage, it is imperative that you act quickly at the first sign of damage, and call a qualified professional to help mitigate damage and begin the restoration process.

If you need help restoring your home back to normal after flooding, feel free to contact one of professionals today and schedule a consultation.