We hope you never have to make a property claim but sometimes accidents, thefts and especially weather damage can happen to any property. It’s important to know what to do if a loss has occurred and how to start the process of submitting a claim:
Eliminate further damage: Where possible, you must try to limit further damage to your property. Although you shouldn’t make any repairs before you file your claim other than those immediately required, you don’t want the damage to get worse.
Record: Create a list of all the stolen, destroyed or damaged possessions. Always take photos of the damage and retain the damaged property. It’s helpful to have a home inventory made before the loss so you have receipts and other supporting documents to provide to your broker. Read our blog post for more information about creating a home inventory.
Contact: Contact your broker as soon as possible. If it’s outside of your broker’s regular office hours, you can report your claim to Unica’s 24/7 Emergency Claims Service Line at 1-866-864-1113. Be as detailed as possible when explaining the damage to your broker or Claims Specialist.
First and foremost, it is essential to prevent further damage to your property, whenever possible.
Housing: If your house is unsafe to live in, make sure you talk to your Adjuster about the temporary living expenses you’re entitled to and always keep the receipts of those expenses following your loss.
Your claim: Your claim with Unica starts the moment you call, not hours or days later. In the case of a property claim, our After-Hours Emergency Claims Service will assign a Claims Adjuster immediately and dispatch one of our Preferred Contractors. The Adjuster will provide Unica with an update within 30 minutes of attending your property. We will always know what the status of your claim is.
Review: Remember to review your policy often and carefully with your broker to ensure you are familiar with the specified deductibles, coverage limits and replacement values. If you are at all confused or have any questions, contact your broker. The IBC provides more information about making a claim here.
Unica’s Claims Advantage: When you protect your home, vehicle or business with Unica, you’re not just getting coverage but our best-in-class claims service as well. At Unica, we’ve built our reputation by putting people first. We believe in supporting the insured throughout the claims process and to never make excuses. From the moment you contact us, we’ll handle your claim as quickly and as worry-free as possible.
