4 Steps To Prepare for an Insurance Adjuster's Visit

11/20/2020 (Permalink)

Insurance adjuster visit in Miami, FL

How To Prepare For The Visit

If your Miami, FL, residence suffers damage covered by your insurance, a home adjuster from your insurance company will likely come out to assess the damage. The following steps outline how to prepare for the visit.

1. Maintain a home inventory. This crucial step should be undertaken well before your home incurs any damage. Make a list of all items that you would want to be replaced if they were damaged. Include the purchase price and date. Update the list after every large purchase. Additionally, take photos or video of your home in its normal state. This allows the insurance company to adequately determine the value of your property. Be sure to keep the home inventory in a secure location, such as cloud storage, so that you can access it even if your home is destroyed.

2. Understand your policy. This step should also be completed before any damage occurs. Read your policy thoroughly, and ask your agent if you have any questions. Make sure you understand covered losses, exclusions and the coverage limits.

3. Call your insurance company. After your home suffers a covered loss, you will likely need to file an insurance claim. Call your agent, explain the situation and ask for instructions. He or she can help you make an appointment with a home adjuster and may be able to recommend a reliable restoration company.

4. Document the damage and make temporary repairs. Depending on how busy the insurance company is when you file the claim, it might be a while before the adjuster can assess the damage. In that case, you will likely need to begin making repairs to avoid further problems. Before beginning repairs, take photographic or video evidence of the damage. Make sure the photos or videos are detailed. Label the photos or narrate the video so the adjuster can match the damage to the preloss inventory. Keep receipts for expenses related to temporary repairs.
Home insurance provides peace of mind, but the homeowner has responsibilities as well. Being proactive before the home adjuster arrives helps the process go more smoothly and allows the insurance company to properly compensate you for the loss.