5 things you should do if your property is damaged in storm

9/4/2018 (Permalink)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —

After a storm moved through the Sacramento area, emergency crews responded to hundreds of calls regarding toppled trees that damaged property.

Experts break down what you should do if your property sustains storm damage:

1) File a claim immediately

Insurance agents said they are busy processing claims after Wednesday's storm. They said the faster you file, the sooner you can get an agent to your property to assess the damage.

Claims that aren't complicated usually don't take long to process, Sacramento-based State Farm Michael Yee insurance agent said. 

2) Contact storm damage repair companies

Some storm damage repair companies in the Sacramento area said their phones have been ringing off the hook. They recommend getting problems fixed as soon as possible, especially with more wet weather and potential problems ahead.

3) Make sure your contractor is licensed with the state

When it's time to make repairs, the California Office of Emergency Services warns people to make sure your contractor is licensed with the California Contractors State License Board.

The board also warned against paying in cash, being cautious about door-to-door offers of repair services and recommend always having a written contract.

4) Be prepared to pay out of pocket

Yee said whether the damage was done by a tree owned by you, your neighbor or the city, some expenses will likely come out of your pocket through a deductible. 

5) Don't wait for more storms to contact your insurance company

Yee said damage to your home or car can't always be bundled together. Some problems will have different deductibles, so make sure to file as soon as the damage happens -- even if you have to file multiple times.