Make Sure the Insurance Company Acts Promptly Fortunately, insurance companies are required to handle claims in a timely manner. In California, for example, they must send you a "notice of intentions" within 30 days of receiving your claim. If there's no dispute over your coverage, you're entitled to payment within that time, too. If you haven't heard [...]

File Your Claim Right Away All policies require homeowners to report their loss as soon as is reasonably possible. You can comply by calling your agent or sending an email. After that, you'll be asked to submit a "proof of loss claim," in which you itemize your losses and list the value. (Hopefully, you already followed the [...]

Secure Your Property Every policy requires you to take reasonable steps to minimize the harm to your property. In legalese, this is known as your duty to "mitigate damages." It includes such common-sense steps as covering a section of your leaky roof with a plastic tarp until you can get it repaired or turning off [...]

Get an Advance! If you were forced to evacuate your home, you might not have grabbed basic necessities -- from a toothbrush to clothes that you can wear to work. Your homeowners' policy will cover the cost to replace these items, but you don't have to file a claim and have it approved before heading [...]