Idaho Insurance Coach

1 The biggest obstacle to a fair settlement after a major claim is not a difficult claim adjustor. It is your memory of what was lost in a fire or flood. After a major loss, it's not uncommon for people to remember months later items they lost which were not claimed.

Coaching tip: Take a picture of every wall in every room in the home. A visual reminder will help you remember everything that was lost. It's also good to establish ownership.

2 Insurance companies write checks. Even if the insurance company does everything that you hired them to do, you still have to go shopping to replace lost items and work with contractors in your home to make the necessary repairs. Whether you do it yourself or pay someone else to do the work, it's a pain to haul wet carpet and pad out of the basement. In the end, you are always better off to avoid the claim if possible.

Coaching tip: Don't scrimp on policy limits. This means don't cover a $300,000 home for $200,000 because you don't think that you'll ever have a total loss. Make sure the policy limits are such that the company will be able to fully cover your claim.

3 Different companies have different claim handling philosophies. Some people look for reasons not to pay a claim. Other look for reasons to pay a claim. Please keep in mind that there is more than just price to consider. Any premium you save could be lost many times over if one major claim was not handled properly.

Coaching tip: Get an independent referral. Talk to some restoration companies about which insurance companies do the best job for their policy holders and which insurance companies are easiest to work with.

4 Insurance policies are not home maintenance policies. Insurance policies cover sudden and accidental damage. Damage from wear and tear over 30 years is not covered. This means that the water main under the front yard is not covered if it rusted out over the last thirty years. If it is not covered, it's not your agent's fault. It's the way the policy is written.