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Friday, 17 August 2018

How Do You Know When There's Sense In Making A Home Insurance Claim?

By Jose Hamilton


Is there anything on the list of homeowners' nightmares worse than being welcomed by the sight of a broken-in house? Or a fraction of tree that somehow forced its way inside thanks to Mother Nature's tantrums? Clearly not. However, it's in such instances that you thank your instincts for showing you the need for home insurance Houston Tx.

Although a home cover is meant to shield you from loss, the reality is that it's not always in your best interest to seek compensation. Why? Because some claims can have a have a negative impact on your insurance status. As such, it's important to learn what factors you need to examine when something goes wrong with or on your property:

Take a Stock of Things: First things first: take a few breaths to calm yourself down, after which you can visually assess the damage. Of course, you'll want to avoid anything that could impede your safety or worsen matters. And if the situation requires to be brought to the attention of the police, be sure to contact them.

Document Everything: Taking photos documenting the damage will give you the evidence you will need in the event you launch a claim. Ever scolded yourself for splurging on a pricey smartphone? Scold no more-- it's in such instances that its high end camera comes in handy. Alternatively, seek help from a neighbor or colleague if your phone lacks the said feature.

Review Your Coverage: It's standard practice for insurance companies to clearly outline the instances that are covered under a particular policy. In addition, coverage comes in levels ranging from basic to comprehensive. Combine these two factors, and what emerges is the obvious need for you to review your contract so you know what is and what isn't included.

Be Mindful of Liability: It's commonplace for cases involving an injured party to mature into expensive lawsuits. As such, it's recommended to file a claim when someone sustains injury on your property. Your insurer will also want to be notified as soon as possible.

Consider Past Claims: Insurers use your claims history as a shorthand way of assessing how well you manage the risks of home ownership. If you've made more than 2 claims within the last five years, taking this route once again could see you get tagged as a high-risk case. As a result, you'll have a hard time shopping for coverage in future.

Consider the Cost: Based on your assessment, calculate how much it will cost to address the damage. Weighing this amount against that of your deductible will help you determine if it makes sense to pursue a claim. To elaborate, the latter would only be worthwhile if the potential return exceeds what you'd have to pay out.

Personal property insurance is meant to look after your interests when a disaster comes along. As such, it's no rocket science that you'll want to refrain from filing frivolous claims, plus anything else that would damage your credibility. Remember that your actions determine not only your chances for qualifying for coverage, but also your exposure to potential disasters.




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