Knowing how to react to cruses is key

Flooding, whether due to a burst riverbank, flash flood or broken water main is a traumatic and frightening experience. No matter where the flood water came from, it will be contaminated with sewage and/or other pollutants. Extensive sanitation following ‘stripping out’ will therefore be required before dehumidifiers are installed and the drying process commences.

The drying out of a flooded property is a specialist operation; too much heat and rapid drying can cause shrinkage and more damage to the property than the flood water itself. Insufficient drying and a lack of anti-fungal treatment before refurbishment work commences can lead to wet & dry rot problems in the future – problems which are not, incidentally, covered by your insurance policy.

Many other issues also need to be addressed, such as:

Where do you stay while repairs are being carried out?
How long will it take?
Do you have to use the insurance company’s surveyors and contractors?
Who decides what work needs to be done?
How will you know if the work is being carried out correctly?
Who will prepare the contents and compensation claims?
How will you know you’re getting what you’re entitled to?
Who will co-ordinate the claims and deal with the daily telephone calls, meetings with the insurance company, loss adjuster, surveyor, contractors, suppliers etc? Unless you appoint a claims consultant like OCAD, you as the policyholder are responsible for all of the above – and a lot more besides.

Dont Forget

Tthe loss adjuster works for the insurance company and is only interested in looking at the costs once they have been presented to him. He is not responsible for preparing your claim. Even if outwardly friendly and helpful, the loss adjuster reports to the insurance company and must settle the claim as economically as he can. Unless you happen to be an insurance expert yourself, you simply won’t know whether what he is telling you is correct or not, or whether you are getting what you’re entitled to. Even if you’re able to reach agreement with the loss adjuster, it is becoming increasingly common for the insurance company to reject their recommendations and try to adjust the claim downwards.

Burglary

A burglary at your home can be traumatic and leave you feeling violated. Many issues need to be addressed, such as:

Who will deal with the repairs to your home?
How can you prove what has been stolen?
How will you calculate your claim and who will arrange all the estimates and valuations?
Who will co-ordinate and present the claim and deal with the daily telephone calls, meetings with the insurance company, loss adjuster, suppliers etc?
How long will it take?

Unless you appoint a claims consultant like OCAD, you as the policyholder are responsible for all of the above – and a lot more besides.

Malicious Damage

More often than not in burglary cases there is quite a large amount of subsequent damaged caused to the premises. This damage is also covered in 99% of policies.

Water Damage

Water damage at your home can be extremely inconvenient in all sorts of ways. As soon as the safety aspects are dealt with, the most important thing is to try and return your life to normal at the earliest possible opportunity. This is where we come in. If you have suffered domestic water damage, the very best advice we can give you is to contact us as soon as possible – whether or not you have already made your claim. We have helped many people in circumstances similar to yours and know exactly how you feel and the problems you are facing. We will support you every step of the way and will do our very best to ensure that you do not lose out financially or otherwise.

Subsidence

Subsidence at your home can be catastrophic and put at risk what for most people is their most valuable asset. Before the insurance company will accept that you have a valid claim, there will need to be extensive site investigations such as trial holes, soil tests, drainage tests and monitoring that can go on for months or even years. Throughout this period, you have to endure the distress of seeing your home literally falling apart around you.

Impact Damage

Impact damage at your home – whatever the cause – can be both distressing and expensive to make good. As soon as the safety and security aspects are dealt with, the most important thing is to try and return your life to normal at the earliest possible opportunity. This is where we come in. We can offer you a complete claim management service, further details of which are set out on the How We Can Help You page. If you have suffered a domestic impact damage, the very best advice we can give you is to contact us as soon as possible – whether or not you have already made your claim. We have helped many people in circumstances similar to yours and know exactly how you feel and the problems you are facing. We will support you every step of the way and will do our very best to ensure that you do not lose out financially or otherwise.

Fire Damage

Having your home or business damaged by fire can be extremely traumatic. Even if no injuries have been suffered or no lives lost, you are likely to experience shock, disbelief, anxiety and a sense of loss. Unfortunately when you least want to, you have to make quick decisions on important life issues, yet it’s hard to know what to do, who to call, how to start getting things back to normal. This booklet is a simple and informative guide on handling the aftermath of a domestic fire. From dealing with your insurance claim to restoring damaged belongings, we’ve covered a range of practicalities that we hope will help you through this stressful time. Although much of this advice also applies to commercial property, a separate sectiondealing with business concerns has been included.

Smoke Damage

Where as you may have suffered fire damage to a small part of your home or business, the reamionder of the building miught be smoke damaged, This is also covered by buildings insurance policies. Cover also extends to smoke damage from other sources such as a neighbouring home or outside fire.

Explosion Damage

Gas explosions, although fortunitaly not common, do cause quite amount of property damage. This is entirely covered by your insurance. We at OCAD possess a in dept knowledge and experience in explosion claims.

Have you Suffered a Loss? Need a survey?

We are here to help you out and navigate your way through the claims process. You can now book a survey from us online.

Book a survey

Ready to make a claim? We are here to help