Property Claims

Keeping You & Your Family Safe

Your first steps following a loss are crucial. Great Lakes Agribusiness is committed to protecting community and policyholders. These detailed steps of what to do after a loss can help. With these steps, you can create a plan to keep everyone safe and begin the claims process as quickly as possible.

Safety First

Step 1: You and your family’s safety come first, no matter the situation. If possible, remove yourself and others from any danger to a safe location. If medical attention or the fire department is needed, call 911 immediately.

Step 2: If not done so already, contact the fire or police dept. to document the incident.

Step 3: Assess any damages to your property and take photos/videos if possible.

Step 4: You’ll want to consider contacting a contractor to properly board-up and protect your property in some circumstances. Be sure to remove any valuables or dangerous items (cash, jewelry, guns, etc.)

Step 5: Contact your agent to report your claim on the scene or call us at 833-364-5560.

Step 6: Be sure to wait to clean or remove any damaged items until your property has been inspected. Your claim representative will advise when you can begin the clean-up. This can sometimes do more harm than good.

Step 7: If you are unable to stay in your home, find temporary housing. Your claim representative will provide information to help you as you continue through the claims process.

Your claim representative will be there to support you every step of the way through the claims process. Here are the initial actions that will be performed to begin evaluating your loss:

Starting the Investigation: We may need to record a statement from you or others affected by the incident.

Gathering the Details: The root cause and starting point of the loss will be determined.

Evaluating the Damage: A thorough inspection of the damaged area will be done.  If possible, take photos to document the damage.

Preparing for the Inspection: Make sure to present all items that have been damaged when we come for the inspection, as it aids in a quicker assessment.

Addressing Structural Damage: An estimate to fix or replace the damages will be assembled by your adjuster.

Contractor Involvement: The contractor you pick will review the damage and provide a repair estimate for the covered area.

Comparing Estimates: Any differences in the estimates provided by contractors will be sent to your claim adjuster to investigate additional payment options.

We’re here to make sure you feel at ease and informed throughout this process!

As you navigate the claim process for your personal possessions, we’re here to ensure it’s a smooth and supportive experience.

Safeguarding Your Personal Items: Please retain any items impacted by the event for a possible review.  Your claim assistant will let you know when it’s appropriate to part with them.

Listing Your Belongings: You’ll receive an inventory sheet to detail all items that were lost or damaged.  This form will help you specify details such as brand, model, how long you’ve had the item, and where you bought it.

Inventory Method: It’s best to tackle the inventory one space at a time, picturing each room’s contents, including furniture, decor, and even the smallest items in drawers.  Having someone else in your household review your list can provide a helpful second look.  To assist you, we can offer a checklist of common household items to refresh your memory.

Inventory Efficiency: There’s no need to list every single item individually.  Grouping similar items by category, with an estimated age and value, is perfectly fine.

Assessing Value: Your claim assistant will handle any necessary calculations for depreciation.

We’re committed to providing a reassuring presence throughout this process, ensuring you feel well-informed and at ease.

Once the evaluation of your loss is complete, you’re all set to start the repair work.

Choosing a Contractor: Feel free to pick a contractor you trust.  If you are unsure who to choose, your claim representative can provide advice.

Estimate Differences: Should there be a discrepancy between your contractor’s estimate and the adjuster’s, please present it to the adjuster for consideration.

Living Arrangements: If your home becomes unlivable, rest assured, your policy covers such situations.  Reach out to your claim representative before arranging a temporary move, unless it’s an urgent situation.

Covering Additional Costs: Your policy includes coverage for extra expenses beyond your usual spending in these circumstances. Remember to keep all your receipts.

Ensuring Smooth Communication:

• Keep your claim representative updated with your current contact details.
• Inform them promptly of any new developments regarding your claim.
• Should you encounter any issues with the repairs or replacement, let your claim representative know right away.
• If other insurance policies might cover the loss, provide their details in writing to your claim representative.

Please note, this information doesn’t alter policy terms or conditions. Your rights and the insurance company’s rights and responsibilities remain intact.

As you move forward with your claim, here are some key points about the payment process.

Settling Payments for Your Building: The payment will reflect the repair estimates from the inspection, aligned with your policy’s guidelines.

Mortgage Considerations: If there’s a mortgage on the property, payments may include the mortgage company to ensure the repairs are completed and their interests are safeguarded.

Personal Property Valuation: The payment for your personal items will factor in depreciation, considering their age and condition at the loss.  This is the Actual Cash Value, further detailed on the ACV/RC page.

Repairing Over Replacing: We’ll cover the costs for reasonable repairs or cleaning before we consider replacing items.

Listing Irreparable Items: Items that can’t be repaired should be listed on the Inventory form. We’ll assist in determining the replacement cost for similar quality items.

Working with Replacement Companies: We partner with companies that specialize in replacing items for insurance claims, often at better rates than retail stores.  We’ll use the best available price to determine your property’s replacement cost, and the company will assist you in replacing your items at that quoted price.

We’re here to ensure that you are well-informed and comfortable throughout the claim process.

When dealing with insurance claims, two important terms you’ll often hear are actual cash value (ACV) and replacement cost (RC).  The following terms should help make the claims process clear for everyone.

Understanding Actual Cash Value (ACV): ACV is what your item is worth at the moment it’s damaged or lost.  It takes into account any decrease in value due to things like age, everyday use, overall condition, and even how the market is doing.  Your insurance plan is set up to compensate you based on this ACV.

Exploring Replacement Cost (RC): RC is a bit different.  It’s an extra option you can add to your policy, usually for a bit more money.  It’s designed to cover the gap between the ACV and what it actually costs you to buy a new item that’s similar in quality and function.

How Replacement Cost Works: If you’ve got RC coverage, here’s the process.  We start by giving you the ACV amount once we’ve checked out the property.  Then, once you’ve gone out, bought the replacement items, and sent us the receipts, we’ll pay you back for any extra money you spent.

This way, you’re not left out of pocket for getting your property back to how it was.

Storms are unpredictable, and should you find yourself needing guidance when your agent is unavailable, the following information is here to help:

Support After Business Hours: Our call center is ready to assist you outside of regular business hours.  You can reach them at 833-364-5560.

Claim Submission and Processing: After your claim is filed through the agent or call center, it undergoes initial processing at our main office before being forwarded to a local claims representative.  We aim for an adjuster to reach out to you within a day.  However, during storms or peak periods of claims, it might take a bit longer, around two to three days.

Immediate Repairs: It’s important to take immediate action to prevent additional harm to your property.  This could mean covering up any structural breaches or shattered windows with a tarp.  Remember to photograph the damage and keep receipts from any urgent repairs.

Equipment Malfunction: Our coverage extends to the mechanical failure of fixed building equipment like sump pumps.  If the damage is due to specific risks like lightning or power surges, your standard policy will come into play.

Food Loss: Under Farmowners policies, there’s a provision for food spoilage due to power outages affecting your freezer or refrigerator, with no deductible on such claims.

Documenting Spoiled Food: While you’ll need to provide a detailed list and photos of any spoiled food, you’re free to dispose of it.

Food Preservation Tip: Keep in mind that food can remain preserved for 24-36 hours in an unopened fridge or freezer.

We’re here to ensure you have the support you need, whenever you need it.

When it comes to understanding your coverage, especially in the face of unexpected events, clarity is essential.

Handling Power Outages: Unfortunately, our policy doesn’t cover extra living costs that come from power outages. A power outage by itself isn’t seen as physical damage to your home.

Tree and Debris Coverage: Our standard Farmowners policy does offer some help with clearing away debris from your greenery if it’s been damaged by wind, hail, or the weight of ice and snow.  This applies when the debris damages a structure covered by your policy or blocks your driveway or access for those with disabilities.

You can also choose to enhance this coverage with an additional endorsement.

Protecting Your Property: It’s important to prevent further damage to your property, but make sure to talk with the adjuster about what debris removal might be covered.

Water Damage Insights: Our policy doesn’t cover water damage from flooding, surface water, or leaks into your basement.  For that, you’d need a separate flood insurance policy.

However, we do offer limited coverage for water damage from sewer or drain backups, or sump pump overflows.  Generally, sudden and accidental water overflows and burst pipes are also covered.

Filing a Water Damage Claim: Even if you’re unsure about the cause of water damage, go ahead and file a claim. Our claim representative will look into it to see if you’re covered.

Act as if you’re not covered and do what you can to protect your property from more damage.  Wait for the adjuster’s inspection before starting any repairs.

Don’t forget to document the damage with photos and keep the damaged items until we confirm your coverage.

Policy Information Note:

This explanation doesn’t change any part of your policy’s terms, conditions, or requirements.  All rights and duties you or the insurance company might have remain in place.