When a disaster strikes your home, such as a fire, weather event, or major water leak, the aftermath is overwhelming. It’s difficult to know where to start. Who do you call first?
If you are in need of major home restoration due to fire or water damage, here are the steps you can take to handle the mess and your insurance company.
BE SAFE
First things first, always keep safety in mind. In an emergency situation, immediately contact the proper authorities. Account for everyone in your home and leave the house, if necessary. It’s not fun to lose your material possessions, but in these situations your life and wellbeing are most important.
ASSESS THE DAMAGE
Once you have taken the necessary safety precautions and have determined that it is safe to return to your home, you can begin to assess the damage. Take notes on the type of disaster that occured, the areas or percentage of damage to the home, and any exposed areas such as holes in the roof, missing shingles or broken windows.
Do not attempt to clean up at this time. You may feel the urge to start the repair process by cleaning your property, but this could potentially affect your insurance claim. Instead of cleaning, take thorough photos of all the damage.
CALL CARPET TECH
After your initial assessment, have a restoration professional take a look at your situation. Carpet Tech’s certified technicians can examine the extent of the damages and provide you with an initial estimate for repairs. With this information, you will have a better idea of the total cost, repair timeline, and whether or not you wish to pursue insurance.
Carpet Tech is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide restoration services to homes in all of our service areas. Our friendly team can be there in less than an hour and is ready to handle repairs big and small, from start to finish.
CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY
The next step is to call your insurance provider to file your claim. As you can expect, dealing with insurance is a lengthy process, so be patient. Don’t wait too long to file a claim or you’ll risk being denied coverage.
The adjuster you work with should know the details of your policy and be able to let you know quickly whether or not the repairs are covered under your insurance. Once they agree to pay for the damages, tell them that Carpet Tech is your preferred vendor. You have the right to choose your own vendor, regardless of any preferred vendor programs the insurance company has in place.
Once you file your claim, an insurance adjuster will visit the property to make their official assessment. This could be quick or it may take up to two weeks in some cases. This is especially true for weather events that may have affected multiple homes in your area, which is why it’s important to get the ball rolling as quickly as possible. In the meantime, Carpet Tech can perform any work necessary to prevent further damage, such as boarding up windows or laying tarp over a damaged roof.
FINALIZING YOUR CLAIM
Following the visit from your insurance adjuster, you’ll go through a claims negotiation period before agreeing on the amount of money you are entitled to receive. Your insurance company will issue you a check and you can begin working with Carpet Tech to repair and/or rebuild your home.
Dealing with a disaster in your home that results in fire or water damage is a long and difficult process, but Carpet Tech can help to alleviate some of the headache. You can request a free estimate for your home on our website today. Click here to get started.