07/31/2025
Hey Bedford Agency fam — Uncle Matt here, and I’m long overdue for a quick insurance tip.
Let’s talk about something I see quite often: When to file a claim and when not to.
Insurance is for sudden accidents and losses — not wear and tear or maintenance. Things like roof deterioration from years of weather exposure are considered maintenance issues, not insurable losses. For a claim to be covered, there has to be a specific cause of loss, like a hailstorm or a fallen tree or a burst pipe, etc.
🚨 Before calling the claims number, call your agent!
Too often, people file a claim hoping for a new roof, only to find out their roof is 20+ years old, and there’s no clear event that caused the damage. The adjuster can see that spot where the shingle used to be is now a faded grey because it's been exposed for a while now. If that shingle broke recently, whatever was underneath would still be much darker or fresher looking, not a faded grey and the claim adjuster denies the claim and now they have a claim on their record — and no payout.
A couple of years later, a real issue hits — say, a burst pipe — and they file another claim. Now they’ve got two claims in five years, and guess what? Their carrier won’t renew them.
👎 No preferred carrier wants to write a new policy with multiple recent claims. That means your agent is placing you with a carrier you've never heard of with much higher premiums (cost to you).
✅ Moral of the story: call your agent first. We’re here to help you avoid unnecessary headaches and sometimes, it's not what you want to hear but we've got your best interests in mind.
Hope everyone is enjoying their summer.
