Homeowners Insurance Claim? Don?t Worry. YOU are in the driver?s seat if you do it right
Homeowners Insurance Claim? Don?t Worry. YOU are in the driver?s seat if you do it right
Many homeowners feel that if they file a claim against their homeowners insurance policy, they’ll be facing a drastic increase in their premium. Nothing could be further from the truth.
It’s a popular myth probably started because, on and automobile insurance policy, that’s exactly what happens.
However, from the insurance underwriter’s perspective, it’s all about risk. For drivers, yes, accident claims put you in a different risk category. But for homeowners, risk assessment has more to do with geography and potential “Act of God” disasters like earthquakes, floods, fires or storms.
In fact, it’s almost unheard of for a single claim to raise premiums, especially if it is an Act of God. But what about other claims? A burst pipe that causes water damage? A faulty furnace that causes a fire or smoke damage? While these things are not typically considered “Acts of God” they are STILL covered under most homeowners insurance policies.
The big question is “Will non-Act of God claims increase my premium?”
While repeated similar claims COULD put you in a higher risk category, the rule of thumb is, if you have had no claims in the past 3 years, your rate will not go up.
There is one notable exception to this rule-Dog bite claims. If your dog bites someone on your property, you will typically be placed in a higher risk category.
Which leads me to–Should a homeowner file their own claim or seek assistance from a professional?
Most of the time, homeowners don’t know all these little rules about what will or will not increase their policy premium, so most are afraid to even file a claim. What’s worse, they will typically rely on their insurance agent to guide them through the process.
That’s a bad move. It’s bad mostly because insurance companies are in business to make money and paying out claims is contrary to that goal. So they will get you a payout….but the lowest payout possible.
For these reasons, it’s a good idea to consult with a professional Public Adjuster. Public Adjusters are claims professionals who know the ins and outs of the insurance game and can advise you what does and does not increase policy premiums. They take care of all the mundane details from start to finish. AND since THEY only get paid based on a percentage of your claim, it’s in THEIR best interest to get the highest payout possible without increasing your premium (and they’re GOOD at it!)
Initial consultations with a Public Adjuster are almost always free and well worth the call. Even if you don’t end up using one, you’ll feel a lot better that you are doing the right thing. They can even help with claims in progress or re-open past claims to re-negotiate payouts.
The bottom line is this…
…When you suffer a property loss and need to make a claim, YOU are in the driver’s seat. You pay homeowners premiums for a reason….to be protected to the maximum extent possible. It’s YOUR job to make sure that happens. Consulting a professional is a great first step. To learn more, go to http://www.clientinterface.info
Article from articlesbase.com


