Household contents insurance: 8 important steps in the event of damage

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Water damage in the apartment and house: which insurance pays for what? Also important: you need to know this for the insurance company in the event of storm damage to the house!

A window or door that has been broken through by burglars must also be sealed so that no second burglar tries his luck. Protection against burglars: You should definitely avoid this everyday mistake.

Secure important documents and furniture

Also, get an overview of important things that have been stolen. In the event of water damage, for example, furniture should be moved out of the danger zone so that it does not go moldy. Stolen giro and credit cards should be blocked, documents and savings books should be secured. Here you can find out which documents you should definitely keep.

Step 2: Little change in damage

You should bring furniture and other important objects to safety, but the things per se and the damaged area should not be changed. This is important so that experts can get an overview of the situation and a refund can flow. Therefore, you should photograph all damage in detail so that you have evidence in case of doubt.

Step 3: Report to the insurer and the police

You should not waste any time here and notify the police and insurance company immediately. An early arrival of the police is especially important after discovering a break-in, in order to look for traces of the perpetrator and to question witnesses. A call to the insurance company is also important in order to start the further procedure quickly. You can also write an e-mail, this should primarily contain what the damage is, when and where it occurred.

Unnecessary insurance: You can save yourself these policies. And read here how to terminate insurance correctly.

Beware of insurance fraud charges

Step 4: Make a list for the police and the insurer

Now it’s time to get down to business. You have to make a list for the police (especially in the event of a break-in) and the insurer with the items that have been damaged or stolen. A simple list of things is enough for the police. You should gather these together and bring them to the guard as soon as possible.

Step 5: Make a list for the insurer

The list becomes more complex for the insurer. You must also list all stolen and damaged items, but also state the value or the purchase price and the date of purchase. In the best case scenario, you should prove this with receipts or photos. You should not need more than two weeks for this list, otherwise, in the worst case scenario, the insurer could cut your compensation.

In any case, make sure that both lists contain the same items. If there are suddenly more things to be reimbursed for on the list for home insurance, this could quickly fall under insurance fraud.

Step 6: allow testing

In order to get an idea of ​​the damage, insurers often use appraisers to investigate the situation on site. They want to ensure that the insured are telling the truth in their information and have not exaggerated the damage in order to receive higher compensation.

Always stick to the truth and make sure to allow it to be checked by experts. In this context, you should also honestly state if there has been any previous damage to stolen or damaged items. If in doubt, insurers can find this out after the fact, which would cause you a lot of trouble if wrong information was given.

Have the insurer give important things in writing

It is imperative that you clarify with the appraiser whether you are allowed to repair or renovate during the damage assessment – preferably with a written assurance. Have a copy of the final report handed over to you.

Household contents insurance should always be taken out. Read here what other types of insurance are important.

Step 7: get evidence and witnesses

The insurance company may ask for additional proof of purchase so that the damage caused can be compensated through the household contents insurance. See if you can – if you cannot deliver them – find alternatives for the detection of, for example, stolen objects. Photos from family gatherings showing jewelry, furniture, or electronics can help. But relatives or friends can also provide information as witnesses. Invoices for repairs are also a good way of providing evidence.

Step 8: request an advance payment

Insurance companies take a lot of time to pay out the compensation, especially with larger sums. This usually takes between four and six weeks. After four weeks at the latest, you should contact the insurance company and request at least a temporary advance payment – the minimum amount that the insurance company is likely to have to pay. It is best to correspond with the insurance company in writing, for example by e-mail, so that you can later prove that you have taken action in the event of a legal dispute.

Follow these steps to receive home insurance compensation. Then nothing can go wrong in the event of damage!

You can find more helpful articles – also on the subject of insurance – on our legal advice page.

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