Making an insurance claim can be difficult at an already stressful time, maybe your home has suffered considerable damage or you were the target of a theft. However, it’s important to make the right decisions when making a home insurance claim. This blog is intended to help you gather your thoughts and prepare you for the best possible outcome for your home and claim.

  1. Is it worth a claim?

If repairs are easy to fix and very low value, I would recommend not contacting your insurance company as it can be a lot of work for very little pay off. Making a claim can also increase your premiums, so sometimes it’s better to make small, one-off repairs yourself.

  1. Be prepared

Damage to your home can be completely unexpected, but rather than being left in the dark straight away, there’s some things you can prepare in case of such an event. Here’s some examples:

  • Keep receipts of costly items. If any of your items are stolen or damaged, youll often be asked for proof of ownership and value, such as a receipt.
  • Have pictures ready. Receipts can easily be thrown away or lost, so taking a picture of your important appliances or items can save you from a rejected claim.
  • Maintain your home and keep it in a good state of repair.
  • Read your policy and see what you’re entitled to, you may be missing important cover.
  • Liaise with a Broker and see what type of insurance you need, they can save you money as you won’t be paying for specific cover that’s not important to you.

Claims are often turned down due to lack of evidence or if your property is in a poor state. Doing small checks such as clearing your facias and guttering or checking roof tiles every couple of years can give you extra piece of mind that you will be getting what you’re owed from your insurer.

  1. Call your home insurer straight away

The sooner you start the claim, the better. Most insurers will give you up to 180 days to make a claim, though leaving damage on your property can create further damage to your home and making the repairs more complex. A home insurance claim can take between 48 hours to over a year to be settled, depending on a number of factors, such as the type of damage being claimed for and how many people are involved in the process. So the sooner you contact your insurer, the better.

  1. Snap a pic

When you submit your claim, your home insurance provider will ask you for a full rundown of what has happened, as well as evidence. Taking photos of the damage done to your property and its contents, or making a short video, can be useful in the event of a dispute.

  1. Don’t chuck away

It can be overwhelming with damage to your property, however before you throw away and have a big clear out of any clutter or broken items, snap pictures and take videos of the items you wish to claim to your insurer. This is important in case of a dispute from your insurer.

  1. Will making a home insurance claim increase my premium?

Many homeowners put off making a claim due to the impact it could have on their premiums. Recent claims or incidents affect the insurers view of your level of risk, and so they may adjust your price accordingly. Unfortunately, you cant know in advance what your next home insurance renewal premium will be. Generally speaking though, a minor, isolated incident  like a broken or lost valuable  is less likely to lead to painful increases than something more serious or complex  like a burglary or damage to the building itself.

Whether you choose to claim or not, be alert at renewal time. If your home insurance premium has soared, consider switching to a new provider or haggle with your current one for a better deal. Find out more: read our reviews of home insurers Should I pay an excess to claim? Excesses help keep your home insurance premium low, marking a threshold of what youre happy  or required  to pay yourself in the event of a claim. Therefore the nearer the claim amount is to your excess, the more negligible the benefit is in claiming.

About BRS&

Building Repair Solutions provide specialist and professional services to the Insurance and Maintenance sectors. With services such as Surveying and Claims Management, were here for you to get the best possible out come for you. Email hello@buildingrepairsolutions.co.uk if you need assistance on a home insurance claim.