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FBN’s Gerri Willis on how to file an insurance claim if your home was affected by the storm.
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For homeowners who were the path of sandy the real trouble is just starting.
Filing a homeowner -- a negotiating a settlement can be tough work.
And remember a plain Vanilla homeowners policy won't cover damage from flooding.
For that you'll probably have to pay extra for a policy from the Fed's more on that in a minute but here -- the steps homeowners should take right now to prepare client.
Job number one find your policy I know it may be no small feat.
You may have to dig around -- get a flashlight.
But what you -- to find is the declarations.
Page here's one right here.
You -- -- find that if you have a hurricane deduct we may not be able to read this too well but there actually is a hurricane deductible right here.
On this declarations page typically run their fifth -- -- It typically -- about 500 to a thousand dollars but it could be as much as 2% to 5% -- -- Not the home markets value.
Hurricane deductibles are allowed I want most -- -- states hit by -- state like Connecticut Delaware Maryland Massachusetts New Jersey.
New York Rhode Island and the Carolinas.
All along the East Coast and southern seaboard here.
Skin your policy for anti concurrent.
Causation clauses.
-- now it's a mouthful right but basically this means -- we have damage from multiple causes wind flooding.
But you want -- for both.
You may have difficulty getting any coverage at all.
Number two take pictures of your home and and the damage or better yet videotaped the whole thing.
With so many people in trouble it may take weeks very gestures to get your house you need proof -- the damages.
However don't make major repairs until an adjuster can comment.
And next contact your agent and fighter plane just as quickly as you can't early filers have a better chance of getting a good settlement.
Federal flood insurance usually has a sixty day deadline but that can be extended sometimes.
And finally if he can't live in your house because maybe there's a -- through the roof.
Most policies will pay for -- hotel room but not if you just out of power or if your flooded.
Keep receipts naturally provoke hotel stays and any repairs.
And one -- -- warning here if your problem is water.
Consider hiring an emergency service like -- pro or -- to dry things out with fans and other special equipment.
-- at your house it's critical to preventing the growth of mold and the effects of that can be as devastating as a store.
And watch out what you say to your agent.
It can come back to haunt you don't describe what you think is the cause of the damage.
Those statements could be used to deny your claim later simply describe the scene what you want -- due to temporarily fix the problem like.
Buying plywood to fix a broken window.
Look for many people most of their damages from flooding.
For that you typically need a federally backed flood insurance pot policy through some.
Though there are private insurers that underwrite this kind of risk.
The limits of federal policies typically low and you have to have purchase them thirty days before sandy hits to get coverage.
However your regular homeowner's policy may cover damage from the failure to sump pump.
Finally keep the faith this too shall pass.
Eventually.
