Smoke Damage and Your Company: Talking to Your Insurance

8/31/2020 (Permalink)

Tips To Keep In Mind When Talking To Your Insurance Agent

If your Cookeville, TN, business has been through a fire, it may contain some smoke damage. In many cases you may believe that your insurance policy should cover this. However, the process of filing a claim can seem tricky. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when talking to your insurance agent.

1. Create Records of the Damage

Before your insurance agent arrives on the scene you can begin documenting any fire or soot damage you may find. You will want to date everything and note locations and type of damage, the estimated value of the original item, and when possible take photographs. This will help your agent begin the claim process when they arrive.

2. Know What Your Policy Contains

It is also your responsibility to know what your insurance policy contains before any smoke damage occurs. This way you can know what is covered and what is not, and purchase any additional policies you may desire to fill in any coverage gaps.

3. Call a Professional for Help

In many cases your insurance agent may have a professional restoration service they recommend to help with any repair and smoke cleaning. These services already have the tools and knowledge needed to safely restore the property to working condition. They may also have tools in place that can help your insurance agent check up-to-date information, as well as streamline parts of the claim filing process.

When discussing your claim with your insurance agent, it's important to have documented everything. You may even want to include photographs where possible. You should also know what your policy contains as well as any additional insurance coverage you may have purchased for your company. This may include smoke damage as well as damages caused by the fire itself. It's also a good idea to ask your agent if they recommend a professional service, as some of these already have tools in place to help make the documentation and claim filing easier.