1/Notify Insurers asap
2/Appoint a good builder or qualified surveyor/Architect/Engineer
3/Dont appoint an unqualified or unregulated Assessor
4/Dont dispose of anything until insurers loss adjusters see it
5/Flood water is dangerous..lots of bacteria etc..use gloves etc
6/Get water sodden contents out of house..these retain moisture
7/Get electrican to isolate electrics
8/If you can get dehumidifiers, get them in asap
9/If house uninhabitable, avail of Alternative accommodation.. this will be covered
10/Get Insurers to give an interim payment to assist in meeting immediate costs
11/Ask the loss adjuster lots of questions..they are there to help and advise you.
12/be patient..you wont be back in your house before xmas if flooding serious
13/even if not directly affected by flood water..get furniture into storage asap
14/remove any valuable items if you move out of house
15/check with Loss adjuster before incurring any costs
16/ask the loss adjuster if it would be of benefit in appointing specialist restorers
17/Talk to your broker for cover details and claim advise
This list is not exhaustive and relates to serious flooding to a home. The most important thing is to remember that Insurers role is to assist you. Ask the Loss Adjuster whatever you need to know. An experienced Adjuster will know what needs to be done in individual cases and will have dealt with many cases of flooding in the past. Loss Adjusters are bound to deal with your loss under the terms and conditions of your policy. If you feel you need a loss assessor (appointed by policyholder rather than by insurers), whatever you do, DO NOT appoint somebody who is not registered by the financial regulator. If they are not registered, then they have not satisfied the regulator that they have the minimum level of competency to deal with your claim. Many assessors will not add any value to your claim and most builders will provide you with a better service. Assessors will also charge you for what your builder will do for free and remember that Assessors fee are NOT COVERED by your policy.