Floods can happen in a home or apartment in a number of different ways. Busted pipes, a bathroom that is malfunctioning, or several days of heavy rain can bring about flood damage. No matter your area, it is important to have flood coverage so that you can restore any damage that was done to your home. Prior to being able to rebuild your home and replace your belongings, you will need to submit your damage claim. Here are three tips that can help you get your flood damage claim speed up. 

Get your own independent inspection

An inspection will need to take place in order to determine what damage was done and the prescription to clean it up. Find an inspector who can come to your place quickly and tell you what the actual damage is. Before you hire an inspector, check with your insurance company to determine if they have a list of inspectors they work with in your town. Working with an inspector that is already approved by your insurance company can hasten the pace of an accepted claim. If there are no pre-approved inspectors, you should get two quotes from two different inspection companies to send. 

Take heavy photographs

It is important that damage be proven for flood claims to be granted. If there is any issue with proving that a part of your home is damaged, this can lengthen the discovery period of your claim. Take photographs with a good digital camera that can show the detail of the damage to any of your spaces. Be sure to cut into any walls that have damage behind the plaster and to lift the floorboards to show damage that can affect the foundation of your home. Detailed photographs are a good way to hasten the pace of a claim being understood and approved. 

Ask for only what you need

Some people will choose to redo parts of their home while they are performing damage repair. Though this can be a plus from a construction planning standpoint, it can also cause issues with your claim. Ask for only what needs to be repaired. This should include the parts and labor that you need to get the home back to its prior physical standard. Be sure that your damage contractor quotes ask for the standard equipment and parts that were used for your walls, flooring, electrical equipment, and pipes that were proven to be in the home prior to the flood.