If your home recently suffered water damage, you've probably filed a claim with your insurance company to pay for the necessary repairs. As a result, your insurance company will send out a water damage claims adjuster to evaluate the cause, condition of your home, and necessary repairs. Understanding what to expect from this process and what you can do to make it easier may help you to address the situation appropriately.

Know Your Policy Coverage Terms

Before you meet with the adjuster, it's important that you fully understand the coverage terms of your policy. The more you know about what is covered and what's excluded, the easier it will be for you to discuss the situation with the adjuster and advocate on your own behalf. 

Also, you'll want to avoid introducing any damage that may not be covered as you don't want to have the claim denied because of something that's not included in your policy. This is important with water damage because some water damage issues are only covered under flood insurance, and those issues won't be covered by your traditional homeowner's policy. Stick to addressing covered damage when you talk with the adjuster.

Remember That The Adjuster Is Not Your Adversary

There are a lot of people out there who see claims adjusters as employees of the insurance company who are only out to deny claims. This couldn't be further from the truth. Your claims adjuster is simply there to evaluate the damage on behalf of the insurance company as they determine the value of the damage to help you pay for repairs. Working with the claims adjuster will make the entire process easier and far more pleasant than if you feel defensive. Remember that the claims adjuster is there to help you.

Be Prepared Ahead Of The Adjuster's Visit

If you want to ensure the best possible chance of success from your visit with the claims adjuster, you should take some time to prepare beforehand. There are some preparation steps that can make the whole process easier for both you and the adjuster.

For example, gather any pictures you might have of the area before it was damaged. That way, the adjuster has something to compare the current condition to. In addition, if you have an inventory of the items damaged or any pictures of them, that's helpful as well. If you had to do any kind of emergency repairs or patches before the adjuster showed up, make sure that you have documentation of what was done, why it was done, and provide receipts for the work or supplies.

Don't let the insurance claims process stress you out or put you on the defensive. With these tips, you can enjoy a successful claims review and get your home repaired. Contact a water damage insurance adjuster for more information.