What to do When Your Property Suffers from Mold Damage?
UPC / United Property and Casualty
Molds only need moisture and darkness to grow. However, fixing this problem would take more than basic cleaning. The cost of repairs may push homeowners to file for mold insurance claims.
The main problem with molds is it thrives without notice. Only when the damage is massive that the homeowner will discover the dilemma. This will cost thousands of dollars in repairs.
Each home will have a certain level of mold inside it. But if it goes out of hand, you have to know what to do:
Call your insurer right away
Molds may look harmless at first but it will only take a few weeks to wreak havoc on your household. It can lead to serious illnesses which will be another financial burden to you.
Once you suspect that your home has mold damage, report to your insurer and file for a claim. This way, you can start the mold remediation steps and prevent the losses from escalating.
If a pipe burst or your house is flooded, call a remediation team within 48 hours to stop molds from growing in large amounts
Understand your coverage
When it comes to this claim, mold insurance companies may have varying interpretations of the policy. If the mold damage is caused by wind-driven rain, the insurer may use such condition as a ground to deny your claim.
Most insurance companies don’t compensate for damages incurred by this secondary cause. But if you’re convinced that you should be granted coverage, you can tap the help of public adjusters to assess the policy for you.
Don’t perform repairs until the inspection is done
The biggest mistake of homeowners is mitigating the situation even before the insurance company adjuster arrived at their property. This is a no-no. The adjuster may use this as a ground to deny your claim or slash the payout amount.
What you need to do is prevent any further damage from taking place. Turn off any water source and keep everything intact until the insurance company inspected it.
Document the damage
Once you discover mold damage, take photographs, videos, and create an inventory of all the damaged possessions inside your home. This will serve as evidence once you file for a claim. Is mold removal expensive? You should justify it on your documentation.
At all cost, never speculate and list fraudulent items. Once the insurance company discovers your illicit tactics, they will automatically deny your claim. They may even charge you with insurance fraud.
Coordinate with your insurer
Insurance companies may suspect you of fraud if you don’t cooperate with their process. As much as the claim could be dragging, take your time to satisfy the requirements of your insurer.
Still, don’t sign any document or give a sworn statement until your insurance claim lawyer and a public adjuster advised you well. Any haphazard statement may complicate your chances of landing a decent payout.
Filing for mold insurance claims can be tricky. Still, you can make the process worthwhile with the help of the right people. Never hesitate to tap the help of Gold Coast Public Adjusters whenever you have insurance concerns.
