Most homeowners don’t know their rights as homeowner insurance policyholders. They feel insecure when dealing with their insurers after experiencing a loss—knowing when to file a home insurance claim and when not to can make the process less confusing and intimidating.
When To File An Insurance Claim
You need to read your policy carefully before filing a claim. However, there are situations you can file a claim on your home insurance policy, as long as the cost of repairs isn’t over your deductible. Use these scenarios as a general guideline to know when to file a homeowner insurance claim.
- Wind and hail damage
- Substantial damage to your roof
- Significant damage to your belongings
- Fire damage and theft resulting in substantial losses
When You Might Need Extra Home Insurance Coverage
Remember that your policy might not cover every casualty by default. You may need to get an additional policy to protect yourself against situations like fire, flooding, or specific kinds of damage.
When Not To File A Claim
There are specific scenarios where it won’t make sense to file a homeowner insurance claim. Here are a few situations when you shouldn’t attempt to file a claim.
- The claim isn’t covered in your insurance policy.
- Poor maintenance caused the damage.
- The cost of repair or replacement is less than your deductible.
- The cost of repairs is slightly more deductible.