One of the most common terms that insurance companies will use is pre-loss condition. While it may sound confusing at first, it’s actually a very clear way of explaining how they will repair your home after damage. To put it simply, it means restoring your home to the same condition it was in before the damage. As long as the damage is covered, your insurance company will pay to return your home to normal. This guide goes a little deeper to explain the process of restoring your home to its pre-loss condition.
What Pre-Loss Condition Means for Restoring Your Home
After water damage, your insurance company will cover the cost of restoration and repairs. However, they won’t allow you to take advantage of the situation by making expensive home improvements.
That’s where the term pre-loss condition comes in. To prevent you from exploiting your insurance company, they require you to replace damaged items with comparable materials of similar quality.
Comparable Materials
When it comes to restoring your home to pre-loss condition, they will cover the cost of using a comparable material. If you had vinyl flooring, they won’t pay to upgrade your flooring to granite or marble.
Similar Quality
Additionally, they’ll only restore your home to pre-loss condition using similar quality materials. So if your original flooring was $1.50 per square foot, they won’t cover new flooring that’s $4.50 a square foot even if it’s a comparable material.
Building Code Upgrades
The one exception to restoring your home to pre-loss condition is building code upgrades. These are changes required to bring your home up to the current building code. Your home insurance will cover these upgrades.
Can I Pick My Own Restoration Contractor?
Yes, you can always pick the contractor. Although your insurance company determines how much they will pay for restoration, you are free to hire any contractor to restore your home to its pre-loss condition.
That said, your insurance company will likely offer a list of preferred contractors. While there is nothing wrong with this, these contractors have the best interest of your insurance company in mind. For this reason, you should always get your own independent estimate.
However, if they require you to hire the contractor they choose then it’s called steering. In most cases, steering is illegal. Many states have their own requirements about what constitutes steering.
Although they may try to steer for you many reasons, the big one is so they save money. If could be by performing substandard work or not completely repairing the damage.
If you think your insurance company is steering you, document the conversation. Then contact your local Better Business Bureau and housing authority to see what steps to take next.
Can I Get Emergency Water Cleanup Even If I Haven’t Filed an Insurance Claim?
This is another common insurance question and you absolutely can get emergency water cleanup without calling your insurance company. Waiting to start cleanup and restoration will only increase the amount of damage.
You can then contact your insurance after the water is removed or even during the process. Plus, they will offer an independent estimate on getting your home back to pre-loss condition. You can then compare this estimate with the one prepared by your insurance adjuster.
What is the Process of Restoring My Home to Its Pre-Loss Condition?
Although the process will vary depending on the cause and extent of the damage, these are the basic steps to restoring your home to its pre-loss condition:
- Water Removal – Restoration starts with removing the water or sewage.
- Disposal – Then they remove damaged materials like flooring and walls.
- Structural Dryout – Next, they use fans and dehumidifiers to dry out your home.
- Disinfection – They then disinfect your home to prevent mold and bacteria.
- Deodorization – Then they deodorized your home to remove and prevent smells.
- Reconstruction – Finally, they rebuild your home to its original, pre-condition.
No matter the cause, you should always call a restoration contractor for water damage restoration services. In a water emergency, call 1-888-443-3110 for a free estimate and immediate cleanup from a water restoration contractor near you. They are experienced in working with insurance companies and can help restore your home to pre-loss condition fast.
