How to Correctly File a Water Damage Claim

Filing an insurance claim is never fun, especially if an individual is unfamiliar with the process. Horror stories have put off many people from filing a claim, especially a water damage claim. A recently published article on InsuranceAgents.com, however, reveals that the real reason some homeowners fail to file a successful claim is because they are unaware of the difference between flood and water damage.

“[Water damage and flood damage] are two different things,” the article, Filing A Successful Water Damage Claim, states. Homeowners are also discouraged from wrongly mentioning the word ‘flood’ because it may get their claim denied outright. “Standard home insurance policies do not include flood coverage, and homeowners have to purchase this coverage separately. So remember, if a pipe burst and damaged your property, it’s a water damage claim, not a flood.”

There are four main steps homeowners can take to ensure a successful water damage claim. First and foremost, homeowners should prevent damage from occurring by taking steps to protect their property, such as stopping a pipe’s flow should it burst. If damage does occur, however, they should do the following: After reviewing their current homeowners insurance policy and documenting the damage, homeowners need to file the claim under the right type of damage.

“If a homeowner (without flood coverage) tells their insurance agent they want to file a flood damage claim, they may find very little help and a categorically denied claim,” the article warns.

Another way homeowners can file a successful water damage claim is by calling their insurance agent and asking about the claim’s process. By being patient and cooperative, homeowners can increase the chances of their water damage claim going through successfully.

Staff contribution: Rafael Onak

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