The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is urging residents whose property was damaged by Texas wildfires to contact their insurance company to file claims as soon as possible.
With more than 500 homes and structures destroyed or damaged in recent events, it is important to be organized to ensure prompt attention to claims.
TDI offered tips that can speed up the process: -Keep a list of everyone contacted at the insurance company. Be ready to answer questions about the damage.
-Ask about additional living expenses. If the home is unlivable due the damage, the policy might cover the cost of a hotel or other living expenses.
-Take steps to secure the home and prevent more damage. Make only temporary repairs and save all receipts.
-Make a list of damaged property. Take pictures or video of the damage. Don’t throw anything away until the insurance company tells you to.
-Try to be home when the insurance company comes to inspect the damage. If unable to stay in the home, leave a note with contact information.
When it’s time to make repairs or rebuild, research should be to select the right contractor to avoid fraud.
Homeowners should get more than one bid to decide which offers are too high or too good to be true. Local contractors are preferable and no contract should be signed with blanks to be filled in later.
Checking references and phone numbers is important, and call the Better Business Bureau to see if a contractor has had complaints.
Avoid contractors who offer to waive your insurance deductible. Paying a deductible or promising a rebate of it is illegal in Texas. Don’t pay in full up front and always make your last payment when the work is done.
For questions about insurance, call TDI’s Help Line at 800-252-3439 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.