Winds Wreak Havoc On Your Home? 4 Steps To Take When A Tree Falls On Your Home
If recent storms have caused a tree to fall on your home, it's time to take care of the damage. Severe windstorms can cause even the healthiest trees to fall over. Unfortunately, if they fall onto your home, they can do considerable damage. Here are some steps you should take to recover from the wind-related tree damage to your home.
Document the Scene
If a tree has fallen on your home, the first thing you need to do is document the scene. You may be in a hurry to start cleaning up the mess, but you'll need to slow down. Starting on the cleanup before you document the scene can cause problems when you file the insurance claim. This is especially true if you start moving branches and limbs away from the house too quickly. To make sure you're able to document the damage, take pictures of the scene before you start the cleanup. Be sure to take pictures of the area where the tree came to rest, as well as where the tree fell from.
File an Insurance Claim
If one of your trees fell during a recent windstorm, you'll need to file an insurance claim. Your homeowner's insurance policy should cover damage to your home, fence, and other structures that were damaged by the tree. When filing a claim through your insurance company, be sure to list all damage to your home and structures. It's important to note that your homeowners insurance policy won't cover damage to your car. So, if your car was damaged when the tree fell, you'll also need to file a claim with your auto insurance company. If you have comprehensive coverage on your policy, your auto insurance should take care of the damage to your car.
Contact the City
If you had more than one tree fall during the windstorm, but one of the trees only fell into the street, you'll need to contact the city. In most cases, your homeowners insurance won't cover the removal of a tree unless it caused damage to your home or is blocking your driveway. But, the city will take care of the removal if your tree is blocking a city street. Before you pay for the removal on your own, file a report with the city. That way, they can get city crews out there to clear the street for you.
Protect Against Future Claims
Finally, if a fallen tree has damaged your home, take steps to protect against future tree-related claims. The best way to do that is to schedule an inspection of your trees. Stabilizing weak trees and removing dead or diseased trees will help to prevent damage in the future.
Click here to continue reading more about homeowner's insurance.
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