Top 10 Questions
Fire & Smoke
Damage
& Homeowners Insurance
1.
How do I document or record what I
have in my home? How do I complete a home inventory?
Before the damage is a major concern or
issue it is best to complete a Home Inventory.
You can start your home inventory by
making a list of your possessions, describing each item, and noting the make
and model and where each item was purchased. Include sales receipts, purchase
contracts and appraisals if you have them, too.
A few home inventory organization
tips:
Remember to list big-ticket items like
jewelry, artwork and collectibles.
Take pictures of rooms and important
individual items.
Videotape your home by walking through
it and describing the contents throughout the house.
Save an inventory list on your personal
computer and store it on a separate disk or drive.
Put all your photos, lists and
videotape documentation in a safe deposit box.
Align Group Insurance can
provide you with our Home Inventory Worksheets to help you document and not
miss anything.
2.
How is a fire damage estimate
completed relative to an insurance claim?
Typically items that can cause further damage to
the structure are taken care of with a service authorization and down payment.
This fire damage service may include emergency drying, protection of metals and
mirrors and glass, board up, air filtration, and demolition. Then a contractor can
offer an estimate for repairs for reconstruction to the insurance company.
Sometimes they will send an adjuster, other times they will use the estimate
and documented photos to allow proceeding with construction to occur. Most
companies will want to see a detailed sketch of each room, line items with
specific costs and photos.
3.
When should the emergency remediation
start?
Immediately. Most insurance companies will
allow for covered losses starting immediately as long as the unit costs conform
with the correct cost for damage due to fire.
4.
How long after I file my claim will
it take for the insurance company to send someone out to inspect the loss site?
That depends on whether the site is
accessible and safe, and whether your loss is one of many in a broad disaster
or a single home fire or other type of loss. Most policies say that once you
provide notice to your insurer in writing, the company must begin investigating
your claim within 15 days, unless there is a named storm, which may give them additional
time.
5.
What are my duties and what are my insurers'
duties after a loss?
Your Duties:
Give your insurer written notice of your claim.
Cooperate with reasonable requests from your insurance
company.
Support your loss by providing requested
information to the insurer.
Mitigate your damages (Take steps to prevent
further damage).
Your
insurer's duties:
Investigate your claim thoroughly and in a timely
fashion.
Treat you fairly.
Pay for covered damage promptly.
Tell you in writing why your claim or part of your
claim was denied.
6.
Who is responsible for clearing the debris
from my lot and is that covered under my policy?
It is your responsibility to have
debris removed. If your home was damaged in a disaster, your city or county may
offer to clear your lot as part of a coordinated debris removal program.
Coverage for debris removal depends on your policy's specific wording.
7.
Is there anything I need to do before
my lot gets cleared?
It is recommended to take pictures of the debris
and any visible items. Start thinking about the items damaged, destroyed or
missing to try to jog your memory. List the items as you recall them. Record
the condition of the site on video if you can.
8.
The cause and origin of the event
that destroyed my home is not 100% clear. How will it be determined? What do I
need to do to protect myself so that I am covered for damages?
The cause of your loss has an impact on
whether or not there is coverage. It is
the policyholder's burden to prove the cause of loss. For that reason, it is
important that you document everything carefully and provide expert opinions to
back up your position, especially if there is any question or suspicion about
what caused your loss. Don't leave it up to the insurance adjuster to determine
the cause. If you have multiple policies, be sure to file claims with all
possible insurers.
9.
Do I need to question everything my adjuster says or just on
"big-ticket" items related to causes and amounts of damage?
Yes, it is recommended to get second opinions on "big-ticket" items. Also, refer to your Homeowners Inventory for these items as well.
10.
Will my insurance company make arrangements for temporary
housing? What items can I claim for reimbursement as covered under the
Additional Living Expense (ALE) portion of my coverage? How long will my
insurer cover temporary rent/living expenses?
If you have Additional Living Expense coverage, your insurance company should reimburse you for temporary housing. They may arrange housing for you. Generally you will need to make your own arrangements.
Additional Living Expense coverage will reimburse you for reasonable expenses for food,
lodging, gas, etc. that are over and
above your usual costs of living. Look to your policy to see the extent of
your specific coverage. Sometimes you
can ask for an advance to get yourself situated. The insurer will determine the
time needed to properly repair/rebuild. There is likely to be a limit in your
policy for amount of money and time (number of months). However, you don't have
to take their first offer if in fact more time is required. Don't use up your
Additional Living Expense too quickly if at all possible, but basically your insurer will pay what's
reasonable.
