Having home insurance in Florida is an absolute necessity. Large wind and hailstorms damaging properties across Florida is nothing new. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not always afford coverage – even when there is damage. Here are some tips and recommendations that you can do before the damage occurs that should ease your property damage claims process.
Home inspections – it is severely overlooked at how important it is to have your home inspected on a yearly basis. The most prominent damage observed in Florida is storm-related roof damage. One easy way to keep track of the state of your property’s roof is to have a professional roofing contractor take a look once a year. Specifically, have a roofing contractor look for ripped, torn, or creased shingles. Likewise, a professional may be able to observe hail impact damage that severely compromises the durability and lifespan of your roofing system. Or, if your property has a tile roof, have the roofing contractor look for cracked, shifted, or chipped tiles. Similarly, a roofing contractor may be able to observe hail impact damage compromising the lifespan of your roof. Make sure pictures are taken so that you have accurate records of the state of your roof and property.
So, how do these home inspections help when making a claim? Well, for one, it keeps an up-to-date record of the state of your property. For example, if you have your roof inspected and there is no damage observed and a large storm impacts your property a few months later, it is easy to show your insurance company the before and after. This should drastically help in simplifying your claims process.
Another important step that can be taken while your property is in an undamaged state is to make sure your property is properly maintained. For many of us, a home is the most expensive investment in our lifetimes. It should certainly be treated as such. Some easy steps that can be taken to protect your investment are to clean your roof and gutters, cut back over hanging trees, take caution in what you put into your plumbing system, and take action in repairing your property – using a professional – when there is any noticeable damage.
Of course, inspections and maintenance may cost a bit of money each year. But as the saying goes: you would rather be safe than sorry! I cannot emphasize how important it is to be prepared before the damage occurs. Certainly, these tips and recommendations will save you a headache or two when dealing with your insurance company.
William Tuttle, ESQ.
