Published by RGC Insurance
The eight steps
- Stop the bleeding. Reasonable emergency mitigation is your duty and it's reimbursable — tarp the roof, shut the water, board the window. Keep every receipt.
- Document everything. Wide shots, close-ups, video walkthroughs — before cleanup. You cannot over-photograph a loss.
- Call us. We report it right, to the right carrier, with the right coverages flagged — and we stay attached to the file.
- The adjuster visit. The carrier inspects and scopes the damage. Walk it with them; point at everything. We'll prep you on what to expect for your specific loss.
- The estimate & your contractor's. The carrier writes a repair estimate; your contractor writes theirs. Differences get reconciled — this is where an agent pushing matters.
- Understand the first check. Replacement-cost policies often pay actual cash value first, holding depreciation until repairs finish. That holdback is recoverable — finish and file for it.
- Contents claim. Room-by-room inventory of damaged belongings. (Our inventory tool, used beforehand, turns this from agony to paperwork.)
- Close it right. Loss-of-use bills submitted, depreciation recovered, lienholder endorsements sorted. We chase the loose ends — that's the job.
The two claim killers: waiting (late reporting and un-mitigated damage give carriers arguments) and guessing (recorded statements without understanding your coverages). Call us first; it's what we're for.