June marks the beginning of tornado season throughout the Midwest. In Fishers and the surrounding area, residents should be keeping an eye on the weather and preparing accordingly. Although you cannot stop these storms from coming or prevent all of the damage they cause, you can take steps to expedite the recovery process. Below are some tips to help you repair the damages from a summer storm quickly and cost-effectively so you can get on with your life.
1. Protect your property from additional damage.
Following a storm, the first thing you need to do is protect your property from any further damage. In fact, your homeowner’s insurance policy requires you to make an effort to protect your property following a storm. As you make these temporary repairs, be sure to keep all of your receipts so you can submit them to your homeowner’s insurance company for reimbursement.
2. Review your homeowner’s insurance benefits.
Most homeowners insurance policies will cover the wind damage caused by Midwest storms, including tornados. In general, this coverage is available unless the policy specifically excludes it. These exclusions are most common in coastal areas and are unlikely to affect homeowners in the Fishers area. However, it is still important to review your policy carefully so you know what will be covered.
Keep in mind that if the storm resulted in flood damage, these repairs are unlikely to be covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy.
3. Contact your agent to file a claim.
Once you have taken the time to prevent any further damage, you will need to contact your homeowner’s insurance agent to file a claim. In order to make sure that your property is fixed as soon as possible, you should not delay making this call. Be prepared to provide your agent with any details he or she requests about the storm and the damage it caused.
4. Work with reputable contractors.
Following a storm, you will want to repair the damage as quickly as possible. However, that does not mean that you should hire the first contractor you find online. Not all contractors are equally reliable or will provide the same quality of services. Before you hire a contractor, research their background and reputation carefully. You should also obtain written estimates from multiple contractors so you can make the best and most affordable choice.
5. Beware of “storm chasers.”
“Storm Chasers” are contractors who show up at your home offering their services soon after a damaging storm comes through. These contractors take advantage of homeowners when they are feeling most vulnerable, often charging way too much for their services, providing an inferior quality of service or even providing no services at all.
In some cases, these contractors may even offer to fix the damage to the home at little to no cost to the homeowner, provided that the homeowner uses his or her insurance policy to cover the contractor’s expenses. Unfortunately, the repairs are often incomplete or of poor quality, causing the homeowner to experience serious problems down the road. In the end, homeowners who work with storm chasers often end up paying a lot more to fix the contractor’s work than they would have paid if they had chosen a reputable contractor in the first place.
The tips above will help you repair damages properly after a severe storm. However, it is also important to prepare before the storm hits. If you are interested in purchasing a new homeowners insurance policy or reviewing your current coverage, please contact Luxor Insurance today.
