Insurance Help
Restoration claims, explained in plain English.
Everything we wish more homeowners knew before filing a claim - deductibles, mitigation, Xactimate, and when you should NOT file. Free guidance from a working IICRC-certified crew.
Why this page exists
Most homeowners only deal with a property insurance claim once or twice in their lifetime. The insurance industry, on the other hand, does this all day every day. That asymmetry is why so many homeowners end up with covered damage that gets denied, claims that take months to settle, or out-of-pocket bills they did not need to pay.
We have walked through hundreds of insurance claims with homeowners across Greater Seattle and the South Sound. The questions below are the ones we get on every job. If you are reading this before you have damage, that puts you way ahead - bookmark this page. If you are reading it because something just happened, scroll down. The answers are short and direct.
The single most important thing
If something is actively damaging your home right now - water flowing, smoke residue, sewage backup, mold being disturbed - do not wait for the insurance company to call you back. Your policy requires you to mitigate the damage promptly. That means: call a mitigation crew (us, or someone else), start the work to stop the active damage, and document everything with photos. The paperwork follows. Insurance companies have denied claims because homeowners waited too long to start drying.
The order of operations
- Stop the source. Shut off water at the main, kill power to flooded areas, get out of harm's way.
- Photograph everything. Wide shots, close-ups, source of damage, affected materials. Take more photos than you think you need.
- Call a mitigation crew. The faster drying starts, the less the final bill is and the smoother the claim goes. We are 24/7.
- Call your insurance carrier. Report the loss. Get a claim number. The carrier will assign an adjuster - usually within 24 to 72 hours.
- Let us coordinate with the adjuster. We will share photos, moisture readings, scope of work, and Xactimate estimates directly. You do not need to be the middleman.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the contractor my insurance company recommends?
No. Washington state law gives you the right to choose your own restoration company. The "preferred contractor" or "managed repair" programs insurance companies push are convenient for them, not necessarily best for you. We work with every major carrier and bill them directly using Xactimate - the same pricing software adjusters use - so the numbers always match up.
Will filing a water or fire claim raise my premium?
Possibly, but homeowners insurance is not auto insurance. A single water or fire claim from a sudden event (burst pipe, appliance failure, fire) is treated very differently from a fender-bender. Most carriers do not raise rates on the first claim. We can help you think through the deductible-vs-rate math before you commit.
What is a deductible and how does it work?
Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. If your deductible is $2,500 and the total job is $10,000, you pay $2,500 and insurance pays $7,500. If your deductible is $2,500 and the job is $2,000, insurance pays nothing - you cover the whole thing. Knowing this number is essential before deciding whether to file.
What is mitigation and why does insurance care so much about it?
Mitigation is the urgent work that stops the damage from spreading - water extraction, drying, containing mold, tarping a roof. Every homeowners policy has a clause requiring you to mitigate damage promptly. If you wait days for an adjuster to authorize work before starting drying, part of your claim can be denied. The right play: call us first, have us start mitigation, and we coordinate with the adjuster during/after.
What does Xactimate have to do with my claim?
Xactimate is the line-item pricing software the insurance industry uses to value restoration work. Every legitimate restoration company uses it for insurance jobs. Estimates and invoices are built line-by-line - so much for water extraction, so much for each square foot of drying, etc. When we bill in Xactimate, the adjuster can verify every charge against the same database they use. No haggling, no surprises.
What if my insurance company denies part of the claim?
We document jobs thoroughly specifically so this does not happen - photos at every stage, moisture readings, daily logs, scope descriptions. When carriers do push back, we will work with you to understand their reasoning and, when appropriate, advocate for getting the right scope covered. We have seen what works.
When does it NOT make sense to file a claim?
Three main scenarios: (1) Below-deductible jobs - if the total cost is close to or under your deductible, you are paying for the privilege of filing. (2) Mold from long-term humidity or maintenance issues - most policies exclude this, so filing wastes time. (3) Wear-and-tear / slow leaks - if a pipe was leaking for months, insurance usually denies the claim. In all three cases, direct-pay work usually costs less anyway because we cut out the paperwork overhead.
What does "duty to mitigate" mean for me?
It is a clause in your policy that says you must take reasonable steps to prevent damage from spreading once you know about it. Practical translation: do not wait. Call a mitigation crew immediately. Take photos. Document the source. Failing to mitigate can void part of your coverage - insurance companies have denied claims because homeowners waited too long to start drying. The right move is always: stop the active damage, then deal with the paperwork.
Not sure if your situation qualifies?
Call us. Free, no-pressure consultation. We will tell you honestly whether you should file, when, and what to expect.