Home insurance typically covers two aspects: the structure itself and the contents within it. If you need to make a home insurance claim, avoiding common mistakes is crucial to ensuring a smooth and successful process. Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or a seasoned one, understanding the common home insurance claims mistakes to avoid can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim.
The following are the most common home insurance claims mistakes and how you can avoid them:
Failing to understand policy details – It is essential to review your home insurance policies to understand what may or may not be covered and to what extent.
Waiting to make a claim – Notify your insurance company as soon as possible when you need to make a claim. The sooner you file a claim, the sooner it can be resolved and failure to notify the insurer of a claim as soon as possible could result in your claim being declined.
Cleaning up before a claims adjuster arrives -When you make a claim, keep your property as it is so your insurance company can assess the damage accurately. If you clean up before they arrive, you may not be eligible for the total amount of your claim.
Failing to document damage properly – Take pictures and videos of the affected area, even if the damage seems minimal.
Making permanent repairs too soon – Make only temporary repairs until the incident has been appropriately assessed.
Filing too many claims – Avoid making claims for minor, inexpensive incidents. The more claims you make, the more expensive your premiums will be.
Using poor communication – Be clear, concise and timely in your communications to avoid delays or errors in your claim.
Neglecting to mitigate further damage – If you fail to prevent more damage from occurring, your insurance company may reject or reduce the claim. For example, if a pipe bursts in your home, you should promptly turn off the water supply.
At John Morgan Partnership we aim to provide you with the peace of mind that you are in safe and reliable hands. For further guidance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert team.