The Home Owner's Guide to Handling A Home Insurance Claim

The Home Owner's Guide to Handling A Home Insurance Claim

The Home Owner's Guide to Handling A Home Insurance Claim Handling an insurance claim by yourself can be tricky. You need to be able to interpret the small print and figure out which cover, exclusions and clauses apply to your particular case. You also you need to be able to understand the full extent of the damage. Remember that some damage is not obvious and the contractor you call in to quote may not have a full understanding of the secondary damage that can be caused by fire, flood, storm or subsidence. It is therefore always best to call in an Insurance Loss Assessor who is not tied to your insurance company and has a lot of experience in handling similar claims. He will be able to carry out specialised assessment and point out hidden damage areas which are not immediately obvious, but that are likely to surface after the claim has been settled and closed. It will save you expensive repairs out of your pocket in the future. Appointing an experienced Loss Assessor will also save you the stress and aggravation of dealing with the insurers and help you get you your 100%l compensation you are entitled to. However, if for whatever reason you prefer to handle your own claim, here are the steps you need to take if you decide to handle the insurance claim by yourself: Trevor Kelly T/A is a business registered in Ireland Business Reg.No.: 394918 Trevor Kelly T/A is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland Page 2 of 9

Insurance Claim Handling Process Most important - Don't panic. The success of your claim frequently depends on the steps you take immediately after the loss occurs. Don't start cleaning up or repairing anything before you document the damage. Photograph and then accurately describe all the damaged items. Include make, models and special features. If possible, find the receipts for the damaged items. Based on your policy wording, you need to assess what you are entitled to claim for. If your policy covers perishables, you have to make a list of all perishable items that were damaged, before you throw them away. In case of flood damage, if the flooding was severe and you needed to evacuate, it is vital that the soundness of the structure of your home is assessed before you step back inside. Flood waters often cause secondary damage such as subsidence; they also affect electrical wiring and cause sanitation problems. You need to ensure that it is safe to return and that there isn't a health hazard to you or your family, before you start mopping up. The next step is to call your insurance company, report the loss and get a claim number. Get a claim form to fill Source and obtain at least three estimates from contractors for the required repairs. Make sure that all aspects of the repair have been covered, you cannot make a second claim later. Complete the form as accurately and as neatly as possible. Do not cross anything out. If the Loss Adjuster cannot read the form, your Trevor Kelly T/A is a business registered in Ireland Business Reg.No.: 394918 Trevor Kelly T/A is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland Page 3 of 9

claim may be delayed. Think, before you fill it out. Preferably write things down first, before filling out the form. Call your insurance company to set up appointment with their Loss Adjusters. Meet with a Loss Adjuster who will assess the damage (Be careful here - They will adjust the lowest price estimate and reduce the claim where they think they can apply exclusions and limitations therefore reducing the insurance company's liability). Make sure that aspects of your loss have been assessed correctly. When dealing with the Loss Adjuster, don't be confrontational or lose your nerve if they come up with a figure which is way out from your estimates. It is their job to reduce the loss as much as possible. Be factual and firm. The insurers will offer you the final settlement less the policy excess. They will also keep a portion of your settlement back until repairs are completed and costs vouched. Don't accept the figure if you think it is unfair. Negotiate a better deal. Once the final settlement figure is agreed and approved by the insurers, you can go ahead and have the property repaired. The difference between the estimates and the actual cost of repairs will have to come from your own pocket. Insurance company will re-inspect your property to ensure that the repairs have been completed. They may take time to pay you out the amount retained. You need to call them and give them hard time if need be. Again, don't be abusive or angry. Be polite but firm. Pester them with frequent calls, but don't lose your temper. Good Luck! If you need help with any aspect of your claim management process, contact. We are Expert Loss Assessors acting on behalf of You, The Policy Holder, not the Insurance Company. We can help you get a fair assessment of your claim and the best possible compensation you are entitled to. Have a look at our case study below... Trevor Kelly T/A is a business registered in Ireland Business Reg.No.: 394918 Trevor Kelly T/A is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland Page 4 of 9

Fire Damage - Insurance Claim Case Study It was the night of St Patricks Day, when the fire suddenly erupted at the family home of Mr & Mrs S from Dublin. The fire spread very quickly and before anybody could do anything about it, all that remained were four outer walls. Thankfully no one was hurt and the damage extend was limited to just the buildings and the contents. Like many home owners, Mr & Mrs S decided to handle the claim themselves. They got all the necessary forms and following the instructions of their insurers, they called in some contractors to assess how much it will cost to repair the damage. The received quotes came to 160,000 including VAT, so they submitted this amount to the insurers and awaited patiently for their response. The estimate of 160,000 included the cost of entirely gutting the building, replacing the kitchen, wardrobes, walls, ceilings, doors, frames, bathrooms, floor and most of the possessions of the 2000 sq ft bungalow. They were shocked when they received an offer from their insurers for 96,000 in full and final settlement of their claim. This amount was 64,000 less than they had estimated it would cost them to get their life back to normal. On the advice of their friends they appointed Trevor Kelly of Insurance Claim Solutions to help them handle their claim. Trevor is a certified Building Surveyor and Insurance Claims Expert who has helped many policy holders get the full compensation they are entitled to. Trevor Kelly T/A is a business registered in Ireland Business Reg.No.: 394918 Trevor Kelly T/A is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland Page 5 of 9

ICS Approach Trevor Kelly engaged a professional smoke and water damage restoration expert to carry out forensic testing on the smoke and water damaged items. The tests confirmed that the damage was too severe to be repaired and the items needed to be replaced. We also flagged to our clients insurers that mould had started to grow in some of the areas and that it needed to be eradicated and treated before any repairs could be carried out. On behalf of the property owners, Trevor refused the 96 000 offer of settlement and submitted a revised claim for 205,000, 45 000 more than the initial claim filed by the property owners. List of Issues During preliminary investigation, Loss Assessor discovered that: The insurance company excluded from the compensation kitchen units, appliances, flooring, doors, furniture and most other items. Mould growth had started to appear in the cavity walls and was also in other hidden areas throughout the building. The insurers were using unrealistic pricing to calculate the cost of reinstatement. The insurers were insisting on cleaning smoke damaged clothing and furniture, which in reality was not viable. Achieved Results Mr & Mrs S were thrilled to receive a compensation of 205,000 which allowed them to restore their home to its former glory. Trevor Kelly T/A is a business registered in Ireland Business Reg.No.: 394918 Trevor Kelly T/A is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland Page 6 of 9

Why should you appoint an experienced Loss Assessor to handle your Insurance Claim? Many people think that once they suffered a loss, all they have to do is to tell their insurance company about it and then sit and wait for the cheque. Unfortunately it does not always work quite that way. When you have suffered a loss, you may be stressed or traumatised and therefore not thinking clearly of the best way to compile and pursue a claim. Mistakes are often made which can have a costly effect on the outcome. Insurance Companies try to minimise their losses If you have ever dealt with an insurance company in the past, you are probably aware that insurance companies rarely live up to their advertising statements. In order to make a profit, they have to minimise their losses. Your claim is their loss. After you file a claim, your insurance company appoints professionals to scrutinise the small print in your insurance policy to see if any exclusions can be applied. This is done so they can decline the claim or to reduce your settlement. They also send out their Loss Adjuster to assess your claim. The Loss Adjuster is not on your side. His role is to minimise the losses to the Insurance Company. So he often omits the damages that are not immediately obvious and you are none the wiser, until you receive the final settlement figure and compare it to the actual repair bill. The gap is often much bigger than expected. Another common tactic in settling the insurance claim is delay. Insurance companies know that the longer you wait for settlement, the more desperate you become and the more likely you are to accept a lower settlement figure, just to get your life back to normal. It is therefore always better to appoint an experienced loss assessor who is going to make sure that your claim is dealt with promptly and fairly. Someone who knows the game and protects your interest. Trevor Kelly T/A is a business registered in Ireland Business Reg.No.: 394918 Trevor Kelly T/A is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland Page 7 of 9

can help you prepare and file your claim and manage the entire claim negotiation process... are experienced Public Loss Assessors and Insurance Claim Experts dedicated to guiding you through the minefield of claim process. Our Loss Assessor can help you handle the entire claim settlement process from start to finish, taking care of all paperwork and the negotiations with your insurer. We can take care of whole claims process from start to end and in most cases negotiate a much better settlement than you would be able if you were to handle the whole process yourself. We work exclusively on a NO WIN - NO FEE basis. This means that there is no risk to you and there is no payment required, until you receive your cheque. We have a very high success rate - read our testimonials and insurance claim case studies. Most of our business is repeat business and through the word of mouth, so you can rest assured that your claim will be in good hands. We are: Certified Insurance Practitioners Members of the Insurance Institute of Ireland Have an in-depth knowledge of insurance policies and policy conditions, often written in small print Have an in-depth knowledge of consumer code of practice and acceptable conduct related to insurance companies We have full Professional Indemnity Insurance We are registered Insurance Loss Assessors Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland If you need help with any aspect of your claim, contact Trevor Kelly on 086 357 1713 or visit http://www.insuranceclaimsolutions.ie for more information. Trevor Kelly T/A is a business registered in Ireland Business Reg.No.: 394918 Trevor Kelly T/A is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland Page 8 of 9

About Trevor Kelly Trevor Kelly holds BSc.(HONS) in Building Surveying and is fully qualified Building Surveyor, registered with SCSI (Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland). He has worked as an Insurance Loss Assessor since 2005 and is also a certified Insurance Practitioner, member of the Irish Insurance Claims Consultant s Association and the Insurance Institute of Ireland. He has vast experience in handling all types of property claims, both business and domestic. As a Public Loss Assessor, representing the insured, not the insurance company, he has helped thousands of policy holders to get the full compensation following damage to property caused by fire and smoke, flood, pipe leaks, oil leaks, subsidence, storm, theft and malicious damage, no matter how complex the claim. You can contact Trevor Kelly on 086 357 1713 or send him an email via a callback request on our website www.insuranceclaimsolutions.ie Trevor Kelly T/A is a business registered in Ireland Business Reg.No.: 394918 Trevor Kelly T/A is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland Page 9 of 9