Navigating Eight Essential Procedures for Managing Challenges
When weather calamities strike your property, it can be a harrowing experience. Fortunately, we're here to help you weather the storm by offering a practical, eight-step plan to ensure a hassle-free insurance claim process.
Steps to Follow
- Assess and Secure Immediate Safety
- Examine the Building: If the property has suffered severe damage, such as fallen trees or water infiltration, evacuate the building and wait for experts like the fire department to give the all-clear.
- Avoid Electrical Hazards: Don't enter electrical rooms or use appliances in wet spaces to evade the risk of electrical shock, as advised by the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance.
- Report the Incident to Your Insurer
- Prompt Response: Informing your insurance provider is crucial. Most policies specify this requirement using phrases like "promptly" or "without culpable delay."
- Keep a Copy: Save the contact details of your insurance company and store a copy within your emergency kit.
- Minimize Further Damage
- Temporary Fixes: Where necessary and safe, patch up storm-impacted doors, windows, and roofs using tarpaulins to keep water out and intruders at bay.
- Safety First: Ensure your well-being when implementing any temporary measures to prevent damage.
- Document the Damage
- Photo and Video Evidence: Capture the damage in images and videos from various angles, both indoors and outdoors. Remember to document the overall condition and specific damages as well.
- Maintain Records: Keep careful records of all damage-related information, including photo dates and times.
- Clean Up with Insurance Approval
- Seek Approval First: The insurer should give the go-ahead before you commence any cleaning or restoration work to guarantee coverage and avoid claim denials.
- Follow Guidelines: Obtain guidance on cleanup procedures from your insurer to avoid claim rejection or reduction.
- Avoid DIY Repairs
- Consult with the Insurer: Consult your insurer before making any repair decisions or hiring contractors on your own initiative.
- Compile an Inventory of Damaged Items
- List of Damaged Goods: Prepare a comprehensive list of all affected items, including purchase dates and costs. Keep receipts or photos as evidence.
- Submit Promptly: Submit this list to the insurer within two weeks of the event.
- Recover Compensation
- No Statutory Deadlines: There are no strict deadlines for insurance companies to settle claims; however, you may be eligible for an advance payment after one month under fulfilling your duties in reporting, protecting your property, and cooperating with the insurer.
- Reimbursement for Your Efforts: You may also be reimbursed for your own repair efforts, as per guidelines provided by the German Insurance Association (GDV).
For those residing in apartments, remember to immediately report damage to common areas such as the roof, facade, windows, or doors to your housing administration. They will handle matters pertaining to building insurance and emergency measures.
Sources
- ntv.de
- dpa
- Stiftung Warentest (Real Estate, Apartment, Tenant, Landlord, Rent, Insurance)
- Monika Hillemacher
- Finanztest (optional)
- Storm, Flood, Natural Disasters (optional)
Additional Tips
- Professional Help: Consider hiring a public adjuster to manage your insurance claim for increased settlement amounts.
- Legal Assistance: If the claim is unfairly denied or underpaid, consult with attorneys specializing in insurance claims.
- To ensure the best possible settlement for tenants living in apartments, they should seek advice from legal professionals specializing in insurance claims if their claim is unfairly denied or underpaid.
- In environmental-science, understanding the impact of natural disasters such as storms and floods on real-estate, construction, and urban planning is crucial for making informed decisions regarding risk management and insurance investments.
- Council members involved in the housing sector should prioritize allocating resources to improve building foundations and tackle issues related to quality housing, as well as encouraging landlords to maintain structurally sound properties and keep rent affordable for tenants.
