3 Steps To Take for Post-Disaster Recovery Dealing With Damaged Property

10/6/2020 (Permalink)

Adjuster making a report while inspecting a home in Johnson City, TN

Steps To Take To Begin The Recovery Process

Natural disasters like hurricanes and tsunamis take a severe mental, physical, emotional, and economic toll on those with the misfortune of being in their pathway. The cost is often devastating, if not fatal, and recovery can be a lengthy and difficult process. Even those who escape personal injury often find themselves dealing with the fallout of damaged or destroyed property. If your home or other property in Johnson City, TN, has suffered damage from a natural disaster, there are certain steps you need to take to begin the recovery process, such as filing an insurance claim and dealing with a home adjuster.

1. Contact Your Insurance Company
One of your first actions in the wake of a disaster that causes property damage should be to contact your insurance company. Trying to get insurance claims approved can take a great deal of time, so it is important to file as soon as possible to get the process started.

2. Prepare for a Visit From an Adjuster
After getting in contact with an insurance agent, you should begin preparing for a visit with a home adjuster, who will determine the amount of damage done. Preparation includes activities like the following:

• Locating and listing any damage
  
• Documenting broken or lost items
  
• Making copies of receipts for the adjuster
  
• Contacting licensed contractors to obtain written cost estimations
  
  

The adjuster's report is a deciding factor in the settlement amount you receive, so it is important to be ready for the adjuster. Having your own cost estimates and damage lists ready to hand over also makes it more likely that the adjuster will not miss any important damage.

3. Contact a Professional Restoration Service
Another important post-disaster step you should take is to find a professional restoration company to help restore your damaged property. Professionals can help clean and refurbish your belongings, bringing them back to their original state, or as close to their pre-disaster state as possible.
Recovering from a natural disaster is a difficult, often painful experience. It is important to take the right steps, like preparing for a home adjuster visit, from the beginning to ease the process.