If you are relocating from your Laurel, Maryland home to a larger new home in Gaithersburg, Maryland, you will probably hire a moving company to transport your furniture and other contents of your old home to your new place. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly during the process and your household goods will arrive safely and undamaged. However, if the movers drop your television or tear a gash in the upholstery of your living room couch, someone should have to pay to fix the damage or replace the item.

You can always file a loss and damage claim with the moving company, but, that can be a long and arduous process. If they dispute the incident or want to investigate further, it might take you three months to get a settlement check.

On the other hand, your home insurance contents coverage will usually pay for the damage that is caused in your house, while in transit, or while unloading your personal contents at your new house. Coverage is limited to only items shown or not excluded on your home insurance policy. For instance, if you have an antique Tiffany lamp worth $50,000, most standard Maryland home insurance policies will not pay for damage or theft of that item.

However, if you purchased a rider or additional coverage for your original and very old Tiffany lamp, your home insurance policy will cover any damages up to the limit of your coverage. As your independent agent, we would advise you to first seek recovery from the mover if they were the cause of the damage. I, on the other hand, you rented a truck and made the move yourself, then you should file a claim with your home insurance provider.

This subject can get a little confusing. Why not give us a call and talk to an independent agent who can help you decide the best way to pursue a claim for damage to your furniture or other personal items when you are relocating.

When you file a claim with your home insurance company in Washington D.C., you hope that your claim will get immediate attention and that it will be approved quickly. You probably will be even happier if the amount of the settlement is an amount that you think is very generous or at least enough to take care of the damage to your home. Once your claim is approved, the only other thing that can hold up the start of repairs is waiting to receive the funds from your home insurance company.

Every state, plus Washington D.C., has laws that help protect consumers when they file a claim with their insurance company. These laws may go by a variety of names like the Unfair Insurance Practices Act or the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act. Essentially they are there to make sure that your insurance company treats you fairly and pays your approved claims promptly. Claims must be paid in a reasonable time.

It really would be quite unfair if you have coverage through your home insurance policy, file a claim, get it approved, and then have to wait six months to get the insurance company to cut you a check. Upon approval, payment should be almost immediate. It may take a few days for you to receive a settlement check, or, if you have the money electronically wired into your bank account, you can have it available to use by the next business day.

If your money is not released to you within more than a day or two, you have every right to call your insurer and demand that your funds are released without further delay. It is not like a big insurance company would have a problem coming up with the cash. As your independent agent, we can help make sure that you receive the funds you need to start fixing up your house or replacing personal property that was lost or damaged. If you have any concerns over the time it is taking to receive your funds, call us and an independent agent can step in and help.