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Before an adjuster can come and assess the damage to your home and belongings, you'll need to separate out the damaged from the undamaged property. This will make it easier for your insurance adjuster to determine what was actually damaged and how much that damage will cost to repair. It will also help prevent undamaged items from being damaged by water or mold in the damaged property.  Your town or county may require you to dispose of damaged items. Do not dispose of anything until your adjuster has assessed the extent of damage. You can compile the damaged property in your garage or yard, if it is safe and feasible to do so. That way your home and undamaged property will not be subjected to any additional mold. This is a crucial part of the insurance claims process. Without proper and thorough documentation, your insurer could deny your claim.  Take photographs of any damaged/discarded objects, including furniture, clothing, appliances, and other belongings. Photograph any structural damage, cosmetic/surface-level damage, and any standing water levels, both inside and outside your home. You can also use video footage to supplement your photos if you have a video recorder. Photograph and document any damage to other structures on your property. This may include your garage, tool shed, or swimming pool. Have your electrical system assessed by a professional electrician. Most insurance companies will reimburse you for any necessary inspections. Once again, do not throw out any items until an insurance adjuster has visited your home. In addition to photographing the damage to your home, it's a good idea to keep a running list of all damaged or lost items. Include each item's description, value, approximate date of purchase, and any receipts you may have retained.  If your property was destroyed or washed away during flooding, work from memory as best you can and keep a running tally of everything lost, damaged, or destroyed. If at all possible, your inventory should include:  the date and place of purchase model number serial number a detailed description of the items the original purchase cost any receipts you may have retained Once you've documented the damage, it may be several days (or longer) before an adjuster can come and assess the damage. This may take even longer than usual if your entire community or region was struck by flooding. It's important to ensure that your living environment is safe and habitable in the meantime.  Don't make expensive permanent repairs just yet. That will come after your claim has been approved. Focus on fixing immediate problems, such as managing mold, removing water-logged carpeting, etc. Save receipts from any and all temporary repairs you spend money on. You can submit your temporary repair receipts with your claim for reimbursement from your insurance company. However, ensure that your insurer will cover such expenses first by talking to your adjuster or a representative. If your home is uninhabitable, or if you need to relocate while your home is being repaired, keep a record of those expenses and save your receipts. Once your adjuster is able to visit your home, you should show him around the property and detail all of the damage inside and outside your home. Make copies of both the itemized inventory and the photographs you took, and submit these to your adjuster.  Depending on your insurer and the extent of damage in your region, your insurance company may send you a "proof of loss" form before an adjuster can visit. Simply document the damage as you would for an adjuster and include copies of all your documentation. You will not receive any compensation until you have completed a proof of loss form and/or had an adjuster assess your damage.  Alert your insurer if you have not been assigned an adjuster after several days. Let your adjuster know immediately if any portion of your contact information changes. . Assuming your insurer will pay for repairs, you should be able to choose any repair firm you want. However, it's important to make clear to each contractor that you will not be able to pay for permanent repairs until the claim is processed.  Once you've received a number of bids, show them to your insurance adjuster. He will then agree with one or more of your bids, at which point that contractor can begin working on your home. If all of the bids are too high for your insurance adjuster, you can ask him to negotiate a better price with a contractor. Your adjuster may also recommend reputable firms he's worked with in the past. Be sure your repair/construction company has the necessary building permits before construction begins. Make sure you're completely satisfied with any and all repair work before signing any forms. You may revoke your right to demand modifications or further repairs once you sign that the job is complete.
Separate your property. Document all damage. Prepare an inventory of damaged/lost items. Make temporary repairs/accommodations. Prepare for your adjuster's visit. Get bids from reputable contractors