Overall Guide to the Home Insurance Claims Process
Every insurance claim is different. Please use the guide below for a general understanding of what the process looks like overall from start to finish.
Initial Emergency &Â Reporting Phase
It’s important to act quickly on any damage to your home to prevent further deterioration. Get your insurance process started ASAP.
- Contact Your Insurance Company: Call your insurer's claims hotline to report the incident. Have your policy number ready. The representative will create a claim file and provide you with a claim number. Click here to learn how to call in your claim.
- Document Everything: Take photos and videos of all damage before any cleanup or repairs begin. Make an inventory of damaged items with approximate values.
- Rescue Titan is happy to assist with this as part of our service.
- Emergency Mitigation: Your insurance company may authorize emergency services (like our company) to prevent further damage. This typically includes water extraction, tarping roofs, or boarding up openings.
Assessment Phase
After you've reported your claim, your adjuster will likely need to come out to your property themselves. Meanwhile, our mitigation team will continue to monitor your dry progress daily to ensure both that everything is drying properly and that our machines aren't there for longer than necessary - we know they are loud!
- Claims Adjuster Assignment: Within 1-3 business days, an adjuster will be assigned to your case and will contact you.
- Adjuster Inspection: The adjuster will schedule a visit to assess the damage in person, usually within 3-7 days of reporting the claim, depending on the disaster's scale.
- Mitigation Monitoring: Our team will monitor the drying process and provide regular updates to both you and your insurance company.
- Scope of Loss Development: The adjuster develops a detailed scope of necessary repairs based on their inspection and our mitigation documentation.
Settlement Phase
It is common for a mitigation company to need to negotiate with insurance about their invoice with consideration to what is covered under your policy, any policy limits, the standard practices of your particular insurance company etc. If your claim process is taking longer than expected, this stage of the process is usually why. We may ask for your help contacting your insurance to ensure that your claim does not stagnate at unresolved. Remember that your insurance adjuster is always required to speak with you and return your calls.
- Initial Payment: Many insurers will issue an initial repairs payment based on the adjuster's estimate. Your deductible is applied to the first payment they send out. Note:Â please be advised that you may be responsible for paying Rescue Titan Restoration your deductible if it is taken out of our bill.
- Estimate Review: Both Rescue Titan Restoration and your insurance will write an estimate of covered damages. You are able to request these from either party at any time.
- Negotiation: Our project manager will coordinate with your insurance regarding the estimate(s). Some level negotiation is very common.
- Depreciation Consideration: Depending on your policy, your insurance may pay actual cash value initially, with remaining depreciation released when repairs are completed (replacement cost policies). There are also actual cash value policies where depreciation is not recoverable.
Check out our full guide to insurance payments here.
Restoration Phase
The repairs is the second part of your claim. Once our mitigation is finished and your home is dried and / or cleaned, you will likely want to proceed with the repairs process to put back any materials that had to be removed like drywall, carpet, cabinets, tile etc. Rescue Titan Restoration is available to provide these services, but you are also welcome to seek quotes from other contractors if that helps you feel more confident in your decision.
- Contractor Selection: You can choose your preferred contractor or use one recommended by your insurance company. Rescue Titan Restoration does also offer repairs services as well.
- Work Authorization: Before restoration begins, you'll sign work authorizations and contracts with the restoration contractor.
- Permits & Approvals: If permits are required, your contractor will obtain necessary building permits and schedule required inspections.
- Restoration Work: Depending on the extent of damage, restoration can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Your contractor will be able to give you a more specific timeline tailored to your specific needs.
- Progress Payments: For larger projects, the insurance company may release funds in installments as work progresses.
Completion Phase
Once service is completed, there are just some final steps to ensure that your claim is settled.
- Final Inspection: Once work is complete, a final inspection ensures everything meets quality standards.
- Depreciation Release: If you have a replacement cost policy, submit proof that repairs are complete to receive any remaining depreciation. Contact our office for help with this process.
- Mortgage Company Involvement: If you have a mortgage, your lender may be listed on insurance checks and need to endorse them before funds can be used.
- Claim Closure: Once all repairs are complete and final payments made, your claim will be closed.
Important Timeframe to Know
To reitorate:Â every claim is different. This is a general timeline of how we normally see the claims process go, but it can be much longer or shorter depending on the specific circumstances of your claim.
- Claim reporting: Immediately (most policies require reporting within 24-72 hours)
- Adjuster contact: 1-3 business days
- Adjuster inspection: 3-7 days
- Initial payment: Often within 3-5 days of adjuster inspection
- Complete restoration: Varies significantly based on damage extent (weeks to months)
- Claim settlement: Most simple claims resolve within 30 days; complex claims may take months
Customer Responsibilities Throughout
Here is what is expected of you as the customer.
- Prevent further damage when safe to do so
- Provide access to the property for inspections
- Respond promptly to requests for information
- Keep receipts for all out-of-pocket expenses
- Review all documents carefully before signing
- Stay in communication with your adjuster and restoration team
