Residential burglaries may be on the decline, but that doesn’t make it any less frightening when it happens to you. What can usually be expected of burglaries is that most of them happen during the day when the homeowners are out of the house. Even if you were not present during the burglary, it can have several negative impacts. More than a loss of personal belongings, homeowners feel violated after a burglary. They often cannot shake the feeling of vulnerability and anxiousness that soon follow. Many homeowners even feel like important aspects of their life are not within their control. If this is how you feel, rest assured that one thing you can control after a burglary is maximizing your settlement after filing an insurance claim. You may think this, too, is out of your control, but not when you rely on the team at Alpha Public Insurance Adjusters to handle your residential claims in Boynton Beach.
What to Do After a Robbery?
The steps to take after a robbery are straightforward but can be forgotten in the heat of the moment. Once you have discovered your home was robbed, make sure no intruders are still in the house. In fact, it is recommended that you leave the house before you take the following actions, for your own safety:
- Call the police
- Don’t touch any personal belongings until the police arrive
- Call your insurance company (it is recommended that you review your insurance policy beforehand)
- Review any footage of the robbery, if applicable
- Clean up evidence of the robbery after a public adjuster/insurance adjuster has assessed the damage
- Better safeguard your home to prevent future incidents
Take Stock of Your Belongings
If you are the victim of a burglary and you did not keep a list of your home inventory, it isn’t too late to start. If your home has never been burglarized and you want to better protect yourself, consider creating an updated inventory of all the personal belongings in your home. Make sure it is saved on the Cloud or another storage alternate, such as Dropbox. Frequently update it whenever you have made new purchases. Doing this will help the insurance claims process go by much faster. Additionally, if you have yet to purchase homeowner’s insurance, knowing the value of your items can help you choose the best coverage.
Understanding Your Homeowners Insurance
Most homeowners’ insurance policies cover theft of your personal property. In general, it will cover stolen personal belongings and any property damages incurred because of the burglary. You will need to review your policy comprehensively to determine if you will receive all the coverage you need. Your policy will likely cover the following areas:
- Dwelling: residential repairs for damages caused by a break-in.
- Personal property: repair or replace property.
- Personal liabilities: covers injuries and the damaged belongings sustained by a visitor in your home.
- Other structures: repairs other structures on your property, such as a shed.
What you receive in your settlement depends on your coverage, which is why it’s important to review your policy to know how your insurance will protect you. This will alleviate possible confusion and prevent surprises further down the road. In general, homeowners receive anywhere from 50% to 70% of the overall limit of insurance to replace their personal property.
Why Contact a Public Adjuster?
You will receive an insurance adjuster provided by your insurer, but you can still hire a licensed public adjuster if you are concerned that the insurance company does not have your best interest. Public adjusters can help you navigate an unknown and complicated situation by providing expert advice. You can hire a PA before the claims process or if you believe the settlement that you received was too low. No matter when you solicit their services, they will help you gain a higher settlement.
Contact Alpha Public Insurance Adjusters
When faced with a residential theft, this is an extremely vulnerable and confusing time. Don’t let the insurance company take advantage of you by giving you the runaround, delaying your claim, and then offering a low settlement. Instead, contact the expert staff at Alpha Public Insurance Adjusters for claim representation and to maximize your recovery. When dealing with residential claims in Boynton Beach and the surrounding areas, call (888) 442-5742 to speak with an adjuster.
