Tips to Help You File an Insurance Claim

Getting organized will help the process go smoothly.

Something you should tackle sooner rather than later is to snap digital photos of your household belongings. The digital phots will help back up an insurance claim should your possessions be destroyed by a storm, fire or stolen. Taking pictures is just a starting point in cataloguing your household inventory. You should itemize all your belongings and record details such as purchase price. You can use the Insurance Information Institute’s free Know Your Stuff online home inventory software.

Four tips for when you have to file an insurance claim:

1. Call your insurance company as soon as possible if your home has been damaged and let your agent know where you can be reached.

2. Make a list of your damaged property and take photographs to substantiate your losses. Having digital photos of your belongings before they were damaged and a home inventory will help with this step.

3. Keep receipts for hotel rooms and restaurant meals if you are unable to live in your home. Most companies will reimburse you for these expenses (up to 20% of the total insurance you have on the structure of your house).

4. Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage — and keep the receipts.