When a powerful windstorm strikes your community, it can have devastating effects on both homes and businesses. Even if you have property insurance to protect against such events, the cost of repairs might not be covered by your policy. That’s where wind damage insurance comes in. In addition to standard home or business coverage, some insurance providers offer optional policies that cover wind-related damages to your home or business. The upside is that this coverage typically comes at a relatively affordable rate. The downside is that different policies have varying coverage limitations and deductibles. So before signing on the dotted line, make sure you understand what you’re getting yourself into. With these helpful tips on how to file a wind damage insurance claim and visiting acepiblicadjusters.com, you’ll be prepared if another damaging storm hits your area in the future.
Know the Basics of Your Windstorm Insurance Policy
First and foremost, make sure you understand the basics of your policy. In particular, you’ll want to know the following details: What type of property is covered. Some policies include coverage for all types of buildings including your home, garage, and outbuildings. Others may only cover the structure of your home. What type of damage is covered. Some policies cover all types of wind damage. Others may only cover damage from wind gusts in excess of a specific speed, such as 100 mph. What type of loss is covered. Some policies cover all types of losses from the event while others only cover a percentage of the overall loss. What the policy’s limits are. This is particularly important when it comes to dwelling coverage. What the policy’s deductible is. Keep in mind that the deductible applies to all losses on the policy, not just wind damage.
Document the Damage
Even though you’ll want to make sure to document all of your losses, you’ll primarily want to focus on the damage related to the windstorm event. For roof damage, use a ladder or climb onto the roof if needed to capture photos of the roof’s current condition. If you cannot do this, call in a roofing contractor. You can also use a drone to capture aerial photos of the roof from above. For other types of damage, take photos from ground level. When documenting damage on a building, you’ll want to take a few extra steps. First, make sure to account for the existing conditions of your building before the storm. You can do this by taking detailed photos of the building’s pre-storm condition. Second, make sure to account for any pre-existing damage. You can do this by taking photos of any pre-existing conditions related to your building.
Contact American Claims Ensurance to start the claims process
After the storm has passed and you’ve accounted for your loss, contact American Claims Ensurance to start the claims process. The sooner you do this, the sooner they’ll be able to investigate your claim and determine the proper course of action. The public adjuster from American Claims Ensurance will document your loss immediately. Our adjuster will help you complete a proof of loss form if he feel it is needed. You can expect the claims process to go much quicker if you’ve already have the right the documentation. That’s because having the required documentation allows the public adjuster to quickly assess the extent of your loss. If you don’t have the necessary documentation, we will help you provide it.
Confirm that no further damage is possible
One of the first questions the claims adjuster will ask you is whether or not further damage is possible. In other words, they’ll want to know if there’s a chance that a subsequent storm could cause more damage to your property. If you’re in an area that’s known for being particularly susceptible to damaging storms, there’s always a chance that another storm could cause more damage to your property. If another wind claim happens, the amount of the claim may be reduced or even completely denied. Make sure you let the adjuster know if there’s a chance that additional damage could occur so temporary repairs could be made to your building.
Ask for an Advance on Your Claimed Value
If you need money to pay for repairs while your claim is being processed, you may be able to ask your insurer for an advance on your claimed value. Keep in mind that the advance payment will go towards the repair of the damaged property. Some insurers will also advance you money for temporary repairs to prevent further damage to your property. If you’re able to get an advance on your claimed value, it’s best to only use it for critical repairs. Doing so reduces the amount you’ll receive when your claim is finalized.
Re-measure and re-document the remaining damage
After your claim has been finalized, your claims adjuster will send an inspector to your property to re-measure and re-document the remaining damage. This helps the adjuster determine the correct amount of your claim. Make sure to be present when the inspector is at your property. That way, you can confirm that they’ve measured everything correctly. In addition to measuring the remaining damage, the inspector will ask you to sign a form that confirms the amount of the claim. This is your chance to confirm that the amount is correct. If you feel like the amount is too low, American Claims Ensurance will negotiate with the company adjuster for a hire amount.
Wind Storm Insurance
If you live in an area that’s prone to damaging winds, it’s a good idea to look into purchasing windstorm insurance. While this type of coverage may come at an extra cost, it can be well worth it in the long run. With these helpful tips on how to file a wind damage insurance claim, you’ll be prepared if a powerful storm hits your area in the future.
Give American Claims Ensurance a call at 800-204-2463 or go to acepublicadjusters.com to find out how we can help you.