3 Steps To Use Household Damage As An Opportunity
No one wants to see their household damaged. Some may even consider it a little inconvenient. But there’s another perspective to consider here also - that of the potential and opportunity that may have fallen on your lap. Now, that’s not to say suffering a leak, repairing dampness or dealing with a fallen tree or a damaged wall is a good suggestion, but if it does happen, you may have further room to renovate and upgrade your household.
This way, perhaps you can finally get around to repairs you’ve been meaning to implement for years, or, if you’re lucky, you may be able to claim against the value of doing that. Consider this below:
Follow All Insurance Eligibilities
Before you decide to spend a fair amount, it’s wise to start going over what your insurance covers. Some policies will only pay for repairs to restore your home to how it was before, but you may find that some allow for certain upgrades as long as they fall within reasonable limits. If you’re not sure, now’s the time to dig into the fine print or speak to your provider.
It’s also worth documenting everything carefully with photos, records of conversations, and making sure any work you plan fits within the terms of your policy. If an adjuster is involved, having a clear record of the damage and any necessary work makes it much easier to ensure you get the full payout you’re entitled to, which may even help you justify remodeling your kitchens or restoring your driveway with better material.
If Damaged Through Negligence, Consider Compensation
Not all home damage is just bad luck, unfortunately. For example, if a neighboring tree wasn’t maintained properly and came crashing down, or if a contractor’s previous work caused problems that only just came to light, there may be compensation options available and you may be able to pursue it. In some cases, landlords, local authorities, or companies could be responsible if their negligence led to damage.
It’s not always an easy process, and legal routes can take time, but if there’s a valid claim to be made, it’s worth looking into with a housing authority and lawyer with that expertise. Even if full compensation isn’t possible, some contribution toward repairs could take the financial burden off your shoulders, or prevent your home from being damaged the same way as well.
Justify Remodeling & Renovation Through Repairs
If part of your home is already being worked on, it might be the perfect moment to make improvements that would have been a hassle otherwise, using this annoyance as a bonus for you.
In this case, perhaps your insurance covers replacing your flooring after water damage. Instead of just matching what was there before, you could put that payout toward something better. If a section of a wall needs rebuilding, maybe that’s your excuse to open up the space a little more now you know the house won’t collapse without that structural support in place, though of course, ensuring safety is more important. You can make small adjustments too, such as improving insurance if you hope to.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily use household damage as an opportunity, perhaps even letting it reveal issues you were neglecting prior.
