Initiating Your Home Insurance Claim: Step-by-step Process In The Uae – When you use our links to purchase products, we may earn a fee, but this in no way affects our editorial independence.
This guide will walk you through the process of applying for home insurance, explaining everything you need to apply, what to expect from the process and how long you should expect before you get paid. We will also tell you when to file a claim, how to document your claim and what information the insurance company will ask for. Finally, we’ll cover mistakes to avoid in the process and what to do about things like a damaged roof that needs immediate repair.
Initiating Your Home Insurance Claim: Step-by-step Process In The Uae
Calling your home insurance company may not be the first thing you think to do after a house fire, flood, theft or other unfortunate incident. But it is important to do this as soon as possible, both for security reasons and to start the application process. In this section, we’ll walk you through the application process, which includes the following steps:
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1. File a police report if necessary If it’s a crime like theft or vandalism, file a police report before making any other calls. Be sure to write down the names of any police officers you speak to or who come to inspect your property.
2. Notify your insurance company The next call should be to your insurance company or insurance agent. Most homeowners policies require that the insurance company be notified immediately after any damage, theft or injury that could result in a claim. While this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to call right away, the sooner you do, the sooner the recovery process will begin. Application requirements may vary by insurance company and circumstances, but your policy and supporting documentation will tell you what to do. Some companies also allow you to apply online.
3. Carry out emergency repairs Then carry out any reasonable emergency repairs that can prevent further damage without endangering yourself. Most home insurance policies allow this, and some even require it. Be sure to keep copies of all receipts and take detailed photos of the damage before doing any work.
4. Document the claim Document all damage, stolen items and anything else that will form the basis of the claim. Take lots of photos or videos detailing the damage, going from room to room if necessary. This is especially important if urgent repairs are needed to make the structure safe and habitable. Compile a list of damaged, stolen or destroyed property, along with their approximate value. This will be much faster if you have made a detailed household inventory of your possessions in advance. The insurance company will schedule an appointment for an appraiser to interview you and assess the damage to determine how much compensation you can expect. Be sure to go with the appraiser during the inspection and point out any structural damage or areas of concern.
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For more information on home insurance claims, see How does home insurance work? And what does home insurance cover?
Not all homeowner’s insurance claims need to be reported to local authorities. A leaking roof or wind damage, for example, is usually not an appropriate reason to contact the police. But if there is criminal activity, such as vandalism or burglary, or if there is a fire, you need to get the authorities involved as soon as possible. The same applies if someone is injured on your property. Share all relevant details of the event with the authorities and keep copies of their reports. You will need them when you apply.
You should not call 911 unless your house is on fire, you suspect a burglar is in your home, someone is seriously injured, or there is another true emergency. Most police departments prefer that non-emergency calls go to their dedicated non-emergency phone line. Discovery of vandalism or theft subsequently is usually not considered an emergency.
Some communities allow and even encourage citizens to report criminal activity online and report themselves to the police. After you enter some information about yourself, your location and the incident, your case will be assigned a number and you can print a copy of the report. An officer will accompany you as needed.
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If an officer comes to your home, provide as many details as possible about the incident, including an explanation of any damage to your home and note any damaged or missing property. Answer all the officer’s questions and carefully inspect the area yourself to make sure you haven’t missed anything.
Most homeowner’s insurance policies require you to notify your insurer immediately after a storm, theft, fire, injury or any other incident that could lead to a claim, whether you intend to make a claim or not. Your policy will outline what is required and where to start.
In addition to calling your insurance company or insurance agent directly, have insurers allow you to contact them online or through an app. Unless you’re making a minor claim, it’s probably best to speak directly to an agent or company representative.
Before you make the call, read your policy to get an idea of what is and isn’t covered, what exclusions and limitations are included, and what additional coverages you have that you may have forgotten. If it’s been a while since you bought a policy, this would be a good time to remind yourself. Make a list of questions as you go through the policy.
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If the damage is minor and the repairs are likely to cost less than your deductible, you may not want to file a claim. You may be better off paying out of pocket and not risking a potential rate increase. “If the loss is within the deductible, or even close, I would think twice about filing a claim,” says Jay Feinman, an insurance expert and Rutgers University law professor.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to know how much the repairs will cost without a professional estimate. If this is the case, it’s probably best to call your insurance company. Your agent or insurance company representative may be able to help you estimate the cost, or you can consult with a local building contractor. Just be sure to apply and submit your claim within the time limits specified in your policy.
When you’re ready to notify your insurer of the damage, have your copy of the policy and a list of questions handy. Describe the damage and confirm whether or not you are covered. Don’t be shy with questions and try to get a clear picture of what awaits you. Ask how long it will take to get the necessary paperwork for the application and how long you have to complete it. Find out if you’ll need to get estimates for major repairs to include in your claim and if and when an insurance agent will come to inspect the damage.
The more thorough you are now, the better off you will be later. Remember, you don’t need full details of the loss or a detailed inventory for the first call, but timeliness is key. If you’re calling about something like a storm that caused a lot of damage in your area, you should get in line for an insurance and repair adjuster as soon as possible. Describe the damage as best you can, ask if you are covered and what details will be required from you. Find out how long you have to apply and start preparing accordingly.
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Applying for home insurance can be time consuming and tedious and requires a lot of attention to detail. But the more thorough you are, the faster you’ll get a settlement.
Keep a record of every phone call and conversation you have as you go through the process, starting with the event that triggered the claim. That record should include the date of the interview and the names of the people you talk to, from police officers to insurance representatives to contractors who provide estimates.
Take photos or videos of the damage, including as much detail as possible and walking around the room as needed if necessary. Now is the time to pull out a home inventory if you have one, with photos of the items before the damage occurred, along with their estimated value. Give this information to your insurer, along with pictures or videos showing the damage, to help identify what was lost. If you don’t have a visual record from before the incident, you’ll still want to create one that shows the damage along with a detailed list of items damaged or stolen.
If the claim is the result of burglary, vandalism, or other criminal activity, be sure to include a copy of the police report along with the names of the officers you spoke with. If someone is injured on your property, be prepared to provide details and receipts for medical or other out-of-pocket expenses.
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Be sure to include details of anything your insurance company specifically requires and provide any additional backup documentation or receipts that are requested. More
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