While a lot of things are out of your control when it comes to processing and completing work on an an insurance claim for property damage, there are a few things you can do to help the process go that much more smoothly and have your home back in working order that much quicker.
1: Return all Documentation As Soon As Possible
Never be the one to stand in the way of your claim bing processed. Spend some time right away looking through the paperwork and making the decisions you need to make so the rest of the process can work its way through.
2: Pay Your Deductible Right Away
Your contractor will not start work on the claim until the deductible is paid. This may seem like a huge burden when cash is tight and you are experiencing other expenses not covered by insurance. See out article on 5 ways you can get your deductible back if this is a problem for you.
3: Consider Allowing a Lock Box to Be Placed at Your Property if You Can’t Be Home to Let the Contractors in
The contractors permitted by the insurance claims are all bonded and insured. Theft should not be a major concern when getting work done. If you insist on being home whenever the contractor comes to do work on your claim, this could end up being a very expensive and time consuming experience for both you and your contractor.
4: Take the “Preferred” Contractor
You have a choice, albeit somewhat limited, of which contractor you want to perform the work on your property. If you have a favourite contractor that you have used in the past and that you trust their work, by all means consider using that contractor. However, if you choose the contractor that is “preferred” by your insurance company, the claim will flow that much smoother and faster because there are systems of communication and paperwork in place to get the job done easier.
5: Pick the Flooring Out Right Away
If you need floors replaced, the sooner you select your flooring and get it ordered, the sooner it can be scheduled for installation. Flooring can sometimes cause delays of months at a time, so take care of this early on.
6: Go With Your Contractor’s Flooring Company Recommendation
While is it always a good idea to check pricing and quality of various flooring options, all else being equal, by going with the contractor’s recommendation for flooring, the ordering, delivery and subsequent installation will go that much smoother because there is a line of communication and coordination already in place between the contractor and that company. Also, the flooring company, because of the large volume of orders from the contractor, will give them preferential treatment with ordering, fulfillment and delivery of the product – which provides that extra security that the job will be completed on time.
7: Make Yourself Available for “Emergency” Discussions
Sometimes, in the middle of a major project, questions come up, exceptions are discovered, and new decisions must be made. When your insurance company or your contractor needs to contact you, make sure you are available to discuss what needs to be discussed, and are able to make decisions in a timely manner. While it may be stressful going through a major repair process, the more you can adapt to the process the quicker it will get done.
While it can be difficult going through the process of a property claim and trying to restore your home back to the way it was before, the more you can do to facilitate the process getting done, the faster it will go through. At the same time, it is true that there are a lot of things you have to allow for. The process can be slower than we would like at times. This is unfortunate. If the delay seems excessive, there are some outside remedies you can seek out to get the process “back on track.” We will discuss those in another post.