INSURANCE RECOVERY AND CLAIMS PROCESS
1
Commence claim
The first step is to contact your insurer, which can be done online or over the phone, even if you are unsure of the full extent of the damage.
2
Make safe
If your property has been damaged, your insurer will arrange emergency works as soon as it is safe to do so to minimise any hazards and prevent further damage. This can include removing loose debris, isolating electrical circuits, or installing a roof tarp.
3
Assessing the damage
Our building assessor will inspect the damage to your property. Specialist reports may be required to determine aspects of your claim, for example, Plumbers may be necessary to determine the cause of water inundation, and Engineers may be required to consider any structural damage.
4
Claim decision
This is a key claim milestone where your Insurer will confirm what you are covered for. The nature of a claim will determine how long it takes to make a claim decision. For example, where specialist reports are required, the decision process will generally take longer
4
Scope of work
The Scope of Work is the written report that sets out the repair work to be performed and the products that are expected to be used. It’s essential to review the report and notify your insurer or building assessor if any changes are required. The initial scope of works may need to be reassessed after repairs have started or if further damage is uncovered – and that is ok, revision of the scope of works is a regular part of the process.
4
Repair or replace
Once your Scope of Work has been agreed, it’s time to repair or replace the damaged property. Our builders will arrange the contracts and notify you of the construction schedule.
4
Cash settlement
Alternatively, you may take a cash settlement to manage the repair or rebuilding work yourself. You must comply with council regulations and building codes, as well as use a licensed builder. If you fail to do this, your home may not be insurable in the future.
