Most of the time water losses are covered by homeowners insurance. That isn’t to say it’s a guarantee that your insurer will pay for the cost of our services, but 9 out of 10 times we are able to get a successful claim for our customers. Call us if you’d like to discuss the particulars of your situation and we can help you better assess the best path forward.
No, you do not need a claim. Usually we suggest waiting until the initial water containment portion has begun before calling your insurer and filing a claim. We take a lot of pictures to document your loss so there is no need for an adjuster to visually assess the loss before beginning work. In fact, that costs us precious time and means the cost of the claim to the insurer will only go up as more water damage occurs.
That won’t happen. If an insurer doesn’t agree to certain repairs, it’s simply because they are not fully informed of the situation. That falls on us to properly communicate every single action we’ve taken and the reason for that action. We are the experts at properly mitigating water damage, and for an insurer to willfully reject our recommendations makes them potentially liable should you suffer any health issues and future property damage due to the structure not being properly mitigated.
A deductible for homeowners insurance can range from $500 up to a percentage of the property’s assessed value. You’ll need to carefully read your own policy to know where you fall, but generally speaking the deductible is in the $1000 range. Deductibles are paid out during the build back portion of the project when any sections of your home that had to be torn out are replaced.
Hopefully not, but that will ultimately be determined by the status of your loss. Generally speaking though, it’s more cost-effective for us to dry-out your structure in a non-intrusive way than it is to have to tear out and replace things. So we, like you, want to keep your existing surfaces intact and dry them whenever possible!
If there are things that have not been soaked that you can safely remove, you’ll want to get those out of the way. But if something has already been soaked, at that point it’s a part of the loss and you don’t need to remove it. We’ll want to take pictures of the items. Wet couches, soaked storage boxes, etc. all need to be properly documented before we begin the water damage mitigation service, so please don’t remove them.
You have suffered a fire loss. While you are waiting for help to arrive, below are some tips to help deal with the damage.
You should never reenter affected areas of the home until fire officials have deemed the home safe. Even when the fire is out, there are potential safety hazards to be aware of. The potential for slips and falls from the water that was used to put out the fire, and cuts and scrapes from exposed, sharp edges are real. Only perform tasks that can be done safely.
The aftermath of fire damage are measured down to microscopic levels. Even for a short period of time, entry by a person can lead to extra damage. It is best to enter the affected area on a limited basis and only if absolutely necessary.
Never use any stereo, TV or other electrical appliances until they have been inspected by a professional. If the electricity is turned off, empty the contents of your refrigerator/freezer completely and prop the doors open with a rolled towel.
Move pets to a clean environment until your house has been fully cleaned and restored. If possible, open windows to ventilate and close all doors in affected areas to confine smoke odors. Avoid walking on carpet when possible. Do not use D.I.Y. home carpet cleaners. Don’t wipe or attempt to wash ceilings or other absorbent surfaces. Rinse plants with water and mild soap, cleaning both sides of the leaves. Don’t consume any food exposed to smoke or canned products that have been exposed to excessive heat. Change the air conditioner or furnace filter if the blower is operating. Use masking tape and double thick pieces of cheesecloth to cover air registers.
A severe storm has recently passed through my neighborhood, but I’m not sure how much damage my home has received.
Contact a qualified restoration contractor who can make any immediate repairs, like tarping off a damaged roof to prevent water from leaking in. You need to stop any further damage from occurring; your insurance company wants you to minimize your losses. A professional restoration contractor can also give your home a thorough inspection and document all the damage, which you’ll need to file your claim.
Report the damage to your insurance company as soon as possible. Most companies have a toll-free call center number or you can report the loss to your agent.
The purpose of insurance is to protect your property against losses that affect value, functionality and safety. If your home has sustained damage, your insurance company will provide compensation to have your property repaired.
Typically, insurance companies cannot single out a homeowner for a rate increase based on an "Act of God" storm damage claim. However, your insurance company can raise rates for everyone in your area. So, if you don't file a claim, your increase in premium will pay for everyone else's repairs, except for yours.
If your insurance company is paying for your repairs, it may not be in your best interest to hire the cheapest contractor. The factors you'll want to consider are quality, service, workmanship, materials and warranty.
If you have lost power, and it is safe to do so, remove perishable foods from your refrigerator and freezer. The odor created by spoiled food is usually impossible to remove.
If you must relocate, even temporarily, make sure to give your insurance company and your contractor a phone number where you can be reached.
Water Damage Minneapolis™ is ready to come to your rescue!
Call 763-242-2103 now or send us an email: help@waterdamageminneapolis.us
