What to Do When You’re Going Through an Insurance Claim

Posted on Tuesday, March 11 2025

Fire, flood, burst pipes: What to do when you’re going through an insurance claim on your home

There is little in life more stressful and life-disrupting than having your home rendered uninhabitable by some kind of disaster like a fire or flood. For many of us, home is a safe place, a sanctuary, and when that is no longer available, we can feel rootless and discombobulated, and psychologists agree that our grief can make it harder to think logically – which is one reason why it can feel so challenging to deal with an insurance claim after your home has been badly damaged.

The good news is that it is possible to make the claims process less stressful for you and your family. Here’s how:

1. Ensure you and your family are safe. This may include turning off the water or power to your home, calling first responders, getting your family out of the house – your first responsibility is making sure that everyone is safe.
2. Contact your insurance company immediately. Even if you’re outside of business hours and can’t get ahold of your insurance broker, it’s imperative that you contact the insurance company right away to let them know that something has happened. Delaying notification to the insurance provider can put your ultimate claim at risk.
3. Mitigate damage if possible. This can include moving items away from the source of damage, calling emergency services, getting emergency repairs done, etc. Making these good-faith efforts can go a long way if there is ever a dispute about your claim down the road.
4. Take notes. When you’re going through a stressful situation, it can be hard to keep track of details. Taking detailed notes of your conversations with insurance representatives, repair people and anyone else involved in your insurance claim will ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
5. Take as many photos of the damage as possible, as soon as possible. Once it is safe to return to your property – when the fire is out, the flood is contained, etc. – take photos of everything, even if it seems small. Make sure to include both structural damage (holes in walls, bulging baseboards, etc.) and property damage (damaged appliances, burned belongings, etc.). The more contemporary the documentation, the more useful it will be in processing your claim.
6. Keep receipts. Many insurance policies provide reimbursement for expenses following a property disaster, but they will ask for receipts for everything: Meals, new clothes, temporary housing, even toiletries – keep records of what you spend while you’re displaced so you can be properly compensated later.
7. Make a (detailed) list of property that was damaged or destroyed. People often think mostly of the high-ticket items that are damaged or destroyed when there is a fire, flood or other disaster, but everyday items can add up fast. From socks and underwear to the kids’ toys and kitchen utensils, it’s worthwhile to make a comprehensive list of items that are not salvageable and will need to be repurposed.
8. Read your insurance policy. The more you know about what’s covered and what isn’t, what your deductibles are, and what resources are available to you, the easier you’ll find it to navigate the insurance process and get things back on track.

The role of corporate housing in insurance claims

When you won’t have access to your home for an extended period, corporate housing – furnished suites, homes and townhomes – can be a great way to help you and your family feel more comfortable by living in a ‘real’ home rather than trying to live out of suitcases in a hotel room. As the leading provider of insurance housing in Canada, Premiere Suites has a network of more than 10,000 furnished properties across the country. Let us help you get back to your normal in one of our fantastic properties!

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Housing Solutions

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insurance insurance claim reconstruction insurance housing

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