Summer barbecue season is in full swing in many parts of the country, and it's fast approaching in other parts. One unfortunate side effect of many summer cookouts is the chance of a fire or other kind of damage to your deck during the festivities. If this has happened to you, or if you want to be ready in case a stray football knocks over your grill, here's what you should tell your insurance company in case of a deck disaster.
Tell Them Exactly What Happened
First and foremost, write down what happened in as much detail is possible for your claims adjuster to look at when you file your homeowners insurance claim. This should include the nature of the incident (i.e. my dog's leash got wrapped around a leg of the grill and knocked it over, burning the deck), as well as any injuries that may have resulted from the incident. An added bonus would be if you can get a friend or neighbor to sign off on this account as a witness, which is generally a guaranteed way to quell any suspicions your insurance company may have, like whether or not there was foul play involved, for example.
Other Damaged Property on the Porch
Many homeowners insurance policies also cover up to 70% of the full amount of your policy for belongings in your home, so if you store something like a vintage automobile transmission or your kids' play set under your porch that got damaged, you may be able to recoup your losses in this category, too. However, this stipulation often won't cover items that have their own insurance, like your car, so there's no double dipping when it comes to collateral damage from your damaged porch.
Take Lots of Pictures
Just like in the event of a car accident, a picture is worth a thousand words when it comes to filing a homeowners insurance claim. This is especially true if your home itself was damaged in the incident, since these repairs can often be more costly than simply replacing or repairing your deck or patio. Also, if your prized rose bushes, for example, were damaged, be sure to take a picture of those, too, since most homeowners insurance policies will cover onsite trees and bushes up to $500 per plant.
Having your porch damaged at a summer barbecue can be a serious drag, but thankfully, there are ways to make this unfortunate event less so. Following the above steps for dealing with your homeowners insurance provider will get you back on your feet and grilling in no time! Click here to learn more about homeowners insurance coverage.
Share30 April 2016
When I got married, I knew that there were a few things that I needed to learn about the way the world worked. For starters, I had to figure out how insurance worked since I wanted to make the most of my life without worrying about money. I started focusing on the policies that I had in place and gradually moved towards acquiring new life insurance and the like. Having each of these coverages helped give both me and my spouse peace of mind. We both knew if something happened to me that the other would be okay. Check out this blog to learn more about insurance needs.