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Claims and Disputes guides
Making an additional living expenses claimHow to claim living costs while your home is unlivable: the baseline, the receipts, advances, what adjusters question, and how to ask for more time.AI, drones and automation in home claimsHow insurers use photo estimating, drones, aerial imagery and fast-track payments on home claims, where automation errs, and how to keep a person in the loop.Anti-concurrent causation clauses explainedOne policy sentence can bar a whole loss if an excluded cause like flood played any part. How it works, which states limit it, and how to document a claim.Washing machine, water heater and dishwasher leaksA sudden appliance leak is usually covered for the water damage and tear-out, but not for the failed appliance. Where slow leaks, drains and wear change that.The appraisal clause: settling a claim value disputeHow the appraisal clause works in a homeowners policy, what a panel can and cannot decide, what it costs, how state rules differ and when to demand it.Assignment of benefits: what to know before you signWhat an assignment of benefits gives a contractor, what you give up, how it differs from a direction to pay, and how Florida and other states treat it.Burst and frozen pipes: what's coveredA burst pipe is usually covered if you kept the heat on or drained the system. What reasonable care means, how vacancy affects a claim, and the first hour.Catastrophe adjusters and storm deploymentsWhy out-of-state adjusters inspect storm-damaged homes, how insurers surge staff, how emergency licenses work in Texas and Florida, and how to prepare.Choosing a contractor after a home insurance claimWho chooses your repair contractor after a claim, how to vet one, what the contract should say, and the deductible-waiver and assignment traps to avoid.Claim checks, holdbacks and when the money arrivesWhy a home claim pays in stages: depreciation holdbacks, mortgage-endorsed checks, what the ISO form says about timing, and how to plan cash for repairs.Filing a claim with an insolvent insurerWhen a home insurer is liquidated, a state guaranty association takes over covered claims. Who to contact, which deadlines matter and what caps apply.Claims for hidden damage discovered laterCan you claim damage found months after a storm, leak or fire? What decides it: cause, timing, late-notice rules, deadlines that run from the loss, and proof.Claims-free discounts and when to skip a small claimHow claims-free discounts are earned and lost, what a claim leaves on your CLUE record, and a way to weigh a small payout against the long-term cost.Claims staffing, outsourcing and layoffsWhy insurers cut and outsource claims staff, what BLS data and recent reports show, how it can slow a claim, and what protects you when your adjuster changes.CLUE reports: how claims history follows you and your houseA CLUE report holds up to seven years of claims tied to you and your address. What it shows, how insurers use it, how to get your free copy and dispute errors.Collapse coverage: what counts as a collapseThe standard HO-3 pays only for abrupt collapse from listed causes such as hidden decay or a covered peril. Sagging, cracking and settling do not count.Contractor fraud after storms: how it works and how to stop itHow storm-chasing contractors defraud homeowners after hail, wind and flood, the red flags to watch, and what to do before you sign anything or pay a deposit.Debris removal and tree removal coverageDebris removal counts against your limit with a 5% top-up. Tree removal pays $1,000 a loss and $500 a tree in the ISO HO-3, and only in set cases.Documenting damage: photos, video and receiptsHow to photograph, film and log home damage so an adjuster can verify it: what to capture before cleanup, what the HO-3 asks you to keep, and a claim file.The earth movement exclusion explainedWhat the HO-3 earth movement exclusion removes, what it leaves covered, how it differs from settling and flood exclusions, and how to challenge a denial.Old wiring, electrical fires and insurabilityA fire from bad wiring is a covered fire loss, but the wiring is not, and old systems can get a home declined or nonrenewed. What insurers ask for.Engineering reports and causation disputesWhen insurers and homeowners hire engineers, what causation reports contain, how to challenge one, and how to commission your own in a disputed home claim.Falling tree damage: who pays and whenYour own homeowners policy pays for a tree that hits your house, whoever owned the tree. Tree removal is capped, and the tree itself is rarely covered.Filing a homeowners claim after a hurricaneHow to file after a hurricane: who to call first, what to document, the separate wind and flood claims, state claim deadlines and what to do if payment stalls.Fire and smoke damage: how homeowners insurance respondsFire is a covered peril on every standard homeowners form. What gets paid, from which coverage, and where smoke, soot and underinsurance trip up claims.The first 48 hours after damage to your homeWhat to do in the first two days after a fire, leak, storm or break-in: safety, calling the insurer, stopping damage, documenting, and what to hold off on.Foundation cracks and settling: what's coveredA standard homeowners policy excludes settling, soil movement and water pressure, so cause decides whether foundation damage is paid. What is covered.Home daycare insurance: what your homeowners policy leaves outA paid home daycare is a "business" under the standard HO-3, so liability, medical payments and most business property are excluded. How to close the gap.How to make a home inventory for insuranceHow to build a home inventory insurers will accept: what to record per item, how to shoot the video, where to store it, and which valuables need a closer look.Homeowners claim denied: what to do nextA denial letter starts a dispute, not ends one. How to read it, match the stated reason to evidence, and use the deadlines and appeal routes you still have.Policy conditions: your duties under a homeowners policyWhat a standard HO-3 requires of you after a loss, and what the insurer owes back: notice, proof of loss, suit deadlines, fraud and cancellation.How long insurers have to pay a home claimThere is no national deadline to pay a home claim. How the ISO 60-day clock, the NAIC model and state rules in TX, CA, FL, LA and NY set the real deadlines.How to file a flood insurance claimNotify your flood insurer in writing, photograph before you discard, and send a sworn proof of loss within 60 days. The steps, deadlines and appeal options.How to file a homeowners insurance claimA step-by-step walk through a property claim, from the first call to the final check: what to document, what the insurer does next and which clocks are running.Is water damage covered by homeowners insurance?Sudden water from a burst pipe or failed appliance is usually covered; flood, sewer backup, sump overflow and slow leaks usually are not. How to tell which.What happens when someone sues you after an injury at your homeHow a liability claim moves from injury to demand to lawsuit under Coverage E: what to report, who defends and settles, and what happens above your limit.Lightning and power surge damageLightning is a covered peril. A power surge is different: the standard form excludes circuitry, so the cause of the damage decides the claim.Loss of use and additional living expenses (Coverage D)Coverage D pays the extra cost of living elsewhere when a covered loss makes your home unfit to live in. What counts, how long it lasts, and how to claim it.Matching: when new shingles or siding don't matchWhen repairs leave mismatched shingles or siding, whether the insurer pays for more depends on your state's rule and your policy wording. How to argue it.Does homeowners insurance cover mold?Mold is covered only when a covered water loss causes it, and often under a low sublimit. What the ISO HO-3 says, which caps apply and how to protect a claim.Why your mortgage company is on the claim checkYour lender is named on dwelling claim checks because it has a financial stake in the house. How the mortgage clause works, and how to get funds released.The mortgagee clause explainedWhat the mortgage clause in a homeowners policy does: who gets paid, what happens if your claim is denied, notice of cancellation, and keeping it correct.Padding a claim: the penalties and the policy fraud clauseWhere a generous claim ends and padding begins, what the policy's fraud clause and state law can do, and how to claim all you are owed honestly.Filing a personal property claim: the contents listHow to build the inventory an insurer asks for after a loss: what to list, how to price it, special limits, replacement cost rules and California's no-list law.The proof of loss form and its deadlinesA proof of loss is a sworn statement of your claim. When insurers ask for it, what goes in it, how the 60-day clock runs and what a missed deadline can cost.Public adjusters: when to hire one and what they costWhat a licensed public adjuster does, how the percentage fee works and is capped in some states, when one pays for itself, and how to vet the contract.Reasonable repairs: what you can fix before the adjuster comesYour policy requires you to protect the house from further damage and pays for reasonable emergency repairs. Where temporary work ends and rebuilding begins.Rebuilding vs buying elsewhere after a total lossRebuilding on your lot or buying another home after a total loss: what the policy pays either way, the land problem, code costs, timing and lender rules.Rebuilding after a wildfire: the insurance claimHow a total-loss wildfire claim runs: living expenses, contents, dwelling payments, code upgrades and rebuild deadlines, with California and Colorado rules.Recorded statements and examinations under oathWhat an insurer can ask of you after a claim: the informal recorded statement, the sworn examination under oath, your policy duties, and when to bring a lawyer.Recoverable depreciation: getting the rest of your claimInsurers hold back depreciation until repairs are done. How to collect it, the time limits that apply, and which depreciation never comes back.Supplemental claims and reopening a closed claimHow to ask for more money after a claim is paid or closed: supplements vs reopened claims, deadlines that keep running, release traps and a sample request.Replacement cost vs actual cash value: why it mattersReplacement cost pays to repair or rebuild at today's prices; actual cash value subtracts depreciation first. How each settles your house, roof and belongings.Riot and civil commotion coverageA standard HO-3 pays for fire, vandalism and looting losses from riots, but excludes war and insurrection. What is covered, the gaps and how to claim.Is a roof leak covered by homeowners insurance?A roof leak is covered when a storm, hail or a falling tree opened the roof; a leak from age, wear or neglect usually is not. What decides it.Roof payment schedules and ACV roof endorsementsACV roof endorsements and payment schedules cut what a wind or hail roof claim pays as the roof ages, for a lower premium. How each works and what to compare.Should you file a homeowners claim?How to decide whether a loss is worth a claim: payout after deductible, effects on premium and renewal, and losses you should always report.Slab leaks and tear-out coverageA sudden slab leak is usually covered for the water damage and the cost of breaking in, not the pipe. How the HO-3 splits it and where company forms cut it off.Slip and fall on your property: how liability worksWhen a guest falls on your steps or driveway, medical payments coverage can pay small bills without fault and liability coverage pays if you were negligent.Wildfire smoke damage claimsSmoke, ash and soot from a wildfire can be a covered loss even if your home did not burn. How to claim, what testing involves, and California's new smoke law.Staff, independent and public adjusters: who works for whomHow staff, independent, catastrophe and public adjusters differ, who pays each one, what duties they owe you, and how to find out which one is on your claim.Sudden vs gradual water damage: where insurers draw the lineWhy a burst pipe is usually covered and a months-long drip often is not, what the 14-day seepage clause says, and how timing evidence decides slow-leak claims.Sump pump failure and basement floodingSump pump failure, groundwater and surface water are excluded from a standard homeowners policy. What an endorsement or flood policy adds to a basement.Theft and burglary claims under a homeowners policyTheft of belongings is covered anywhere in the world, and so is break-in damage to the house. Special limits, proof of loss and the deductible shape the payout.Underinsured after a disaster: your optionsYour dwelling limit is below the cost to rebuild. How the shortfall is calculated, where extra money can still come from, and what to do about the gap.Underpaid home insurance claim: how to push backThe insurer accepted your claim but paid less than repairs cost. How to find the gap in the estimate, send a supplement and escalate if needed.Vacancy and unoccupancy exclusionsAfter 30 or 60 days empty, a policy can drop vandalism, glass, water or theft coverage. How vacant differs from unoccupied and what to do before leaving.Vacant home insurance: when you need it and what it coversA homeowners policy can limit coverage once a house sits empty. How vacant dwelling policies work, what they exclude, and what to do between sales and tenants.Vandalism and malicious mischief coverageVandalism is covered on a standard homeowners policy, except in a dwelling vacant over 60 days or when an insured did it. The deductible swallows small claims.When a car crashes into your house: who pays and howA vehicle hitting your home is a covered peril, and the driver's auto insurer may owe you too. How the two claims work and where they fall short.Water backup and sewer backup coverageStandard homeowners policies exclude sewer and drain backup. A water backup endorsement adds it back, usually with a low limit. What it covers and what to buy.Water mitigation companies and your claimHow emergency drying companies work with insurers, what to read before signing, why invoices get cut, and what you owe if the insurer pays less than the bill.What does homeowners insurance cover?Which causes of loss a standard homeowners policy covers, from fire and wind to theft and water discharge, the catch in each, and how to test your own loss.What homeowners insurance doesn't coverFlood, earthquake, sewer backup, wear and tear and neglect fall outside a standard policy. What each exclusion says and how to fill the gap.When your house is a total lossWhat happens in the first weeks after a fire, storm or wildfire destroys your home: what the policy pays, in what order, who is on the check and what to do.Will a claim raise your homeowners premium?Often, but not always. What decides whether a claim moves your rate or your renewal, which claims some states shield, and how to ask before you file.Will insurance pay for a roof replacement?Insurance pays for a new roof when hail, wind or a fallen tree damages it beyond repair, not because it is old. How the decision and the check work.Working with an insurance adjusterWhat the insurer's adjuster does, how to prepare for the inspection, what to ask and say, how to read the estimate, and when to push back in writing.Xactimate, contractor bids and estimate disputesWhy the insurer's estimate and your contractor's bid differ, how to read an Xactimate report line by line, and how to document the gap in a supplement.When your tree falls on a neighbor's houseYour neighbor's insurer pays first. Your liability coverage responds only if you were negligent, usually because you knew the tree was dead or dangerous.