04/16/2024
If you have damage from the storm today, here is a little information that might help as you decide whether or not to file a claim.
Prior to filing a claim:
1. I don’t know if I should file a claim? I have some damage, but I don’t know if the damage I have will exceed my deductible?
-You have a year to file a claim.
-There is no advantage in rushing to file a claim.
-Can you live in your home? If the damage you have doesn’t affect your ability to live comfortably in your home, please stay patient as the worst damage gets taken care of first.
-You can call our office anytime 319-986-5433 from 8:30 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday and we can talk about your individual situation.
2. Don’t I need to file a claim to find out if I have damage?
-Potential problem. You can file a claim and we can send someone out to take a look at your property. However, if there is no damage, or the damage you have doesn’t exceed your deductible, you now have a claim that we can’t take back. Unfortunately all claims count, even if no money is paid out for damage. We don’t want to discourage you from filing a claim, but we want to make sure that we file claims when they are needed. Not just to find out if you have damage.
3. How do I find out if I have enough damage?
-Contact a local contractor and ask for a free inspection and/or estimate. This may take a little time. Contractors may be very busy and reluctant to take small jobs. Stay patient. You have a year.
4. Oh no. I filed a claim already and I don’t actually think I have that much damage. I just did because I thought I needed to file right away to be eligible for payments for damage.
-It’s ok. Contact our office and ask us to stop the claim process. If anyone from the claim office calls you. Tell them you need to stop the claim process and have the claim closed as a “Record Only” for the time being. This will prevent the claim from counting against you as a claim in the future. If at anytime in the next year. You find that you have enough damage to pursue a claim. We can open up this “Record Only” claim and move forward with it as we need to.