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Mold isn’t just unsightly—it can cause everything from property damage to illnesses and health problems. Many insurance companies are reluctant to deal with their customers when it comes to mold claims, and they often try to underplay the severity of the situation, but the reality is, mold is a real problem, and it’s a growing concern across the country.

Due to the increasing popularity of mass-produced building products, more and more buildings are prone to mold problems. If you suspect you have mold in your home, it’s important that you navigate the situation with your insurance company carefully. Once you’ve made every reasonable effort to stop the leak or flooding that’s causing the damage, the following steps can help things go more smoothly with your insurance company:

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  You should contact your insurance company immediately when you suspect you have a mold problem. Don’t just make a phone call—report your complaint in writing, as well. If you’re making a claim as a result of a catastrophic flood or an unexpected emergency, it’s imperative that you have a remediation team in place such as Best Dry drying out your property within 48 hours. The more time a homeowner lets pass between the damage and filing a claim, the more likely it is that their claim will be denied.

  
  


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  Understand what’s covered under your insurance policy. If you don’t have a copy of your homeowner’s insurance policy, your company representative can get one for you, and this will let you know what type of coverage you have, and the limits of your policy. It’s important to read the fine print—some policies have mold exclusions.

  
  


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  When you report your claim to your insurance company, keep careful notes of everything, including who you spoke to, their job title, their phone number and their address. Keep the same detailed records for every person you speak with, from the company representative to the insurance adjuster.

  
  


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  Keep a list of all damage, and make sure to take pictures of video of the damage before any repairs are started.

  
  


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  Don’t make significant or structural repairs or changes until your insurance adjuster has visited the scene and has given you the okay to do so. If you start making permanent repairs before your company can inspect the damage, they make decide to deny your claim.

  
  


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  Don’t remove any damaged property until it’s been inspected by your insurance company. The only things you should do are to ensure there’s no more water flowing to the damaged area, and take the steps necessary to prevent further damage, but it’s important that nothing from the damaged area is thrown away until you’ve received the permission of your insurance company. For most mold claims, insurance companies used damaged materials to run lab tests in order to ensure there is mold. Put these damaged materials in a safe place, and seal them.

  
  


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  If you purchase items for temporary repairs, for example a tarp for your roof, keep all receipts. These are items that may be eligible for reimbursement, but only if you keep the documentation that you paid for them out-of-pocket.

  
  

Above all, it’s important to understand your rights when you’re dealing with an insurance claim resulting from mold damage. Each state has specific laws and guidelines, and there are regulations that dictate how insurance claims should be handled. Although it can be a trying and stressful time, it’s important to proceed with caution, and take the time to understand what your rights are in your state.

For more information about handling a mold claim with your insurance company, contact the San Diego flood and mold experts at Best Dry Flood and Mold now: 1.858.483.2505.

You can also schedule a consultation for us to assess the mold in your home and discuss what the steps for mold remediation are so we can restore your home back to new. We will also work with the adjuster handling your insurance claim so things go smoothly.

Keep in mind that insurance claims are not always covered. Sometimes a policyholder can get dropped simply by filing a claim — regardless if it ends being a covered loss or not. It’s important that the policyholder uses the right language and takes the right approach with their insurance company in order to get coverage.

It is best to work with an experienced contractor like Best Dry that will help you through this process. Regarding pictures and documentation – Best Dry provides both written and video documentation to assist in the processing of the claim.