1. Contact your Home Owner Insurance Agent right away
Inform your agent of any damages that you may need a claim for. Your agent should provide you with the information that you need and walk you through the steps to take for your policy. Keep your insurance agent’s contact information where it could be available even if you are not home, like in your wallet. Make sure to regularly communicate with your agent about your home owners insurance claim and take note of what you have discussed every time.
2. Document and Asses
Document the extent of the damage with a video or digital camera together with a list of all the damages you noticed immediately.
3. Prevent further damages
Ensure the situation would not get any worse. You can make temporary repairs like having a tarp over a leaky roof or having minor repairs. Keep the receipts for the supplies that you used so you can have the costs reimbursed. Reasonable expenses will keep you from your imbursements being denied.
4. List all items you suspect are missing or damaged
List all those items you think are damaged or missing. Gather your family members in a room to remember all the things previously there. However, all your personal property items should be replaced if you have replacement cost coverage available. It would help though, to have a list of items kept in a safe place prior to any accidents occurring.
5 Be Patient
If you are anticipating help from a severe disaster, there would be a lot others in your area that might have been damaged as well. Contact your home insurance agent while waiting for help and check on its progress. Remember your loss of use coverage included in your home owners insurance policy which will cover expenses that go beyond the normal living expenses in the event you are having repairs or have been denied by access by a government order to your home. If you feel that your policy has been handled inappropriately or are being treated unfairly, you can file a complaint with your state insurance commissioner.