8 Steps to File a Home Insurance Claim Successfully

Posted on: May 24, 2022 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

8 Steps to File a Home Insurance Claim Successfully

In India, buying a home is a big milestone in an individual’s life. It is not just a basic necessity but a lifetime investment. Home is meant for safety but it is also an asset whose value keeps appreciating with time. This is why real estate is one of the most sought-after and rewarding investments in our country. However, Indians are still reluctant in safeguarding this lifetime investment.

A comprehensive building insurance cover will help you protect your home and its content against any damage by fire, storm, theft, or vandalism. It will provide the financial cushion that will help you in repairing or replacing anything that is damaged due to any of the above reasons. In case you don’t know how to raise a home insurance claim, this blog will share everything about the claim process of your home insurance.

Before Claiming Home Insurance

Home insurance offers many types of coverages depending on your requirement. It covers your building, its contents, contents in transit, property liability, etc. No matter what coverage you choose, here are a few things you should do beforehand in case the need to raise a claim arises,

● The first thing to do when you purchase a policy is to understand the risks covered by it.

● Familiarize yourself with the documents that you will need to raise a claim and also understand the claim procedure. Ask your insurer if you have any doubts but ensure that you are clear with everything.

● Follow the conditions and warranties of your policy with all do’s and don’ts for the policy tenure.

● Store your documents properly, and maintain a digital copy so that in case of fire or major damage you can access all the documents online.

● Always mention the correct value of your household belongings.

● In event of damage, inform the insurance company immediately so that the loss can be assessed accurately and also inform the concerned authorities like the police or fire brigade.

8 Steps to File a Home Insurance Claim

If you need to make a building insurance claim, do it immediately after the damage is done because it can lead to more loss if not attended to immediately like theft or vandalism. In case, your home is not fit for staying after the damage, check with your insurer if you are eligible to claim additional expenses for alternate temporary accommodation. Also, remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that there is no further damage.

Let us now take a look at the steps of making a home insurance claim

1. Report claim immediately by calling your insurance agent. Most insurance companies have 24*7 online customer helpline numbers where you can call and register a claim or you can do it online on the company’s website.

2. If there is a theft or fire inform the police or fire brigade. You will need a copy of the FIR while providing documents for claim settlement.

3. Collect all the evidence, take pictures, videos, or access CCTV footage, if you have cameras installed on your premises, and provide all the evidence to the insurer.

4. If the damage is caused by a third party, you are eligible for a third party claim. Inform your insurer about it, who will raise a claim to the third party’s insurer.

5. Before doing any repair or replacement work, send the estimated expense quote to your insurer.

6. The insurance company will assign a surveyor to assess your claim. He will investigate the circumstances when the damage occurred, inspect the evidence, examine all the documents, and estimate the damage. He will explain further steps to be taken. He will determine the extent of your policy coverage and third-party responsibility in case of a third-party claim.

7. Once your claim is verified and accepted by the insurance company, you will be required to submit all the documents needed by the insurer.

8. Your claim will be reimbursed immediately if the claim is a simple one. In the case of complex claims, it may take some time and the insurer may also decide to pay the claim amount in installments.

Documents for Filing Home Insurance Claim

Following are some of the required documents for filing a claim,

● Claim form duly filled and signed by the insurer.

● Evidence of the damage or loss such as pictures, videos, etc. with supporting documents like FIR, repair bills, contractor invoices, etc.

● Claim note to the third party if applicable

Depending on the cause of damage or loss, your insurer will share a list of documents to be provided by you. There can be documents in addition to the above-mentioned.

Tips to Avoid Claim Rejection

Paying attention to little details can help you in avoiding claim rejection.

● Provide a list of all the damaged contents with their value.

● Provide a detailed account of the cause of damage with proper evidence.

● Provide the total amount of loss.

● Keep your policy number handy

● Follow up with the insurance company after filing a claim.

● Be prompt in responding to queries

● Provide all the details asked by the insurer.

● Be present at the time of inspection.

● Maintain your property well because if the damage is due to poor maintenance your claim can get rejected.

Conclusion

Investing in building insurance can save you a lot of financial stress in case of any mishappening or natural calamity. It is recommended that you purchase comprehensive insurance with wide coverage for your home its contents and any other parts of the property. It should be able to provide support if ever you need temporary accommodation. Your home keeps you safe and secure, it is your responsibility to shield it against any damage or loss.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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