Home Insurance Claims

Ensure your family's safety first — evacuate and call 911 if there is a fire, gas leak, or structural collapse risk. Once safe, photograph all damage before making any temporary repairs. Prevent further loss by tarping roof damage, boarding broken windows, or shutting off water at the main valve. Contact your insurance company to report the claim and document every emergency repair expense with dated receipts. Do not discard damaged property until the adjuster has inspected it.

Source: NAIC Homeowners Insurance Consumer Guide

After you report a loss, your insurer assigns a claims adjuster who inspects the property, documents damage, and prepares a repair estimate. You will receive a written scope of loss and a payment offer based on your policy's coverage terms. Review the settlement offer carefully — if you disagree with the estimate, you have the right to hire a public adjuster or invoke your policy's appraisal clause. Payment may be issued directly to you or jointly with your mortgage lender, depending on your policy.

Source: NAIC Homeowners Insurance Consumer Guide

Standard homeowners insurance (HO-3 form) covers your dwelling structure, attached structures, personal property, and additional living expenses when damage is caused by named perils such as fire, lightning, windstorm, hail, theft, and vandalism. The policy also includes personal liability coverage. Standard policies do NOT cover flood damage or earthquake damage — those require separate policies. Review your declarations page and policy form to confirm your specific coverages, limits, and exclusions.

Source: Insurance Information Institute — Homeowners Insurance Basics

Flood damage is excluded from standard homeowners policies and requires a separate National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy or private flood policy. Earthquake damage is also excluded and requires a separate endorsement or standalone policy. Other common exclusions include sewer backup, normal wear and tear, and damage from neglected maintenance. Check your policy's exclusions section — if you are in a flood or earthquake zone, separate coverage is essential.

Source: Insurance Information Institute — What Standard Homeowners Covers

Photograph and video every damaged area from multiple angles before any cleanup or temporary repairs. Create a room-by-room written inventory of damaged personal property, including item description, approximate purchase date, and estimated value. Gather original receipts, credit card statements, or photos of undamaged items as proof of ownership. For structural damage, collect contractor estimates itemizing materials and labor. Store all documentation in cloud backup in case physical copies are lost in the event.

Source: IBHS — Documenting Damage for Insurance Claims

Request a detailed written scope of loss from the adjuster itemizing all damage and unit costs. Get independent repair estimates from two licensed contractors to compare against the insurer's figure. If the gap is significant, invoke your policy's appraisal clause — this process appoints an independent appraiser for each side, and a neutral umpire resolves any disagreement. You can also hire a licensed public adjuster who works on your behalf for a percentage of the claim settlement.

Source: NAIC Consumer Insight — Homeowners Claims

Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurer pays the remainder of a covered loss. Standard deductibles are a flat dollar amount (commonly $1,000 to $2,500). Many policies carry a separate percentage-based deductible for hurricane or windstorm damage — typically 1 to 5 percent of your home's insured value — which can be significantly higher than the standard deductible. Check your declarations page for each applicable deductible type before filing a claim.

Source: Insurance Information Institute — How Deductibles Work

Filing a home insurance claim can raise your premium at renewal, and some insurers will not renew policies with multiple claims within a five-to-seven year period. The impact depends on the claim type, claim amount, your claims history, and your state's regulations. Water damage and liability claims tend to generate larger surcharges than weather-related claims. For losses near your deductible amount, paying out of pocket avoids a claims record and potential non-renewal risk.

Source: Insurance Information Institute — How Premiums Are Determined

Additional living expenses (ALE) coverage pays the cost difference between your normal housing expenses and the temporary living costs you incur while your home is being repaired after a covered loss. Covered expenses typically include hotel or rental costs, restaurant meals above your normal grocery spending, laundry, and pet boarding. ALE coverage has a dollar limit and a time limit — both appear on your declarations page. Save all receipts and submit them to your adjuster regularly rather than waiting until repairs are complete.

Source: Insurance Information Institute — Homeowners Insurance Basics

Have your policy number and the claim number ready before the adjuster arrives. Walk through every damaged area with the adjuster and point out all damage — do not assume they will find everything on their own. Bring your written inventory and photo documentation. Ask for the adjuster's name, direct contact information, and an estimated timeline for the written estimate. Do not sign any final settlement documents or accept payment on the day of the inspection — review the written scope of loss first.

Source: IBHS — Insurance Claims Resources

Request the denial letter in writing with the specific policy exclusion or clause cited. Review your policy to assess whether the denial is valid. File a written appeal within the deadline stated in the denial letter, attaching contractor estimates, photos, or expert reports that directly counter the stated reason for denial. If the internal appeal is unsuccessful, file a complaint with your state's department of insurance or invoke the appraisal clause if the dispute is about the loss amount rather than coverage.

Source: NAIC Consumer Insight — Homeowners Claims

Simple home insurance claims with clear documentation typically settle within 30 to 60 days. Complex structural damage claims, large-loss events, or those requiring multiple contractor estimates can take 3 to 6 months. After a declared natural disaster, processing times extend further due to high claim volumes and contractor availability. Most states require insurers to acknowledge a claim within 10 business days and issue payment or a denial within 30 to 45 days of receiving a completed proof of loss.

Source: NAIC Homeowners Insurance Consumer Guide