How to file a homeowners claim comes down to one decision you make in the first hour: who you call first. Our answer is us. Claims are where the insurance rubber meets the road, and they are where having an independent agent shows its value.
To be clear about roles from the start: we do not make claim decisions. The insurance company decides what is covered, what is not, and what it pays. That is its side of the process, and it stays there.
What changes when you call us first is that you are not facing the process alone. You know what each step means before you take it, and you have someone to explain the policy, the paperwork and the adjuster’s estimate along the way.
What we do, and what we don’t
When you call us, we help you as your insurance agent. That means:
- A read on your coverage. We go over which part of the policy is likely to respond, your deductible, and whether the cause of loss (water, wind, theft, fire) raises an exclusion question.
- Help getting the claim started. We can help you report it so the date, cause and description are clear from the start.
- An explanation at each step. Estimates, proof of loss forms, payments and decision letters are written in policy language. We read them with you.
- Follow-up. We check in with the company on where your claim stands, so it does not sit unattended.
What we don’t do: we don’t decide the claim, we don’t act as a public adjuster, and we don’t act as your attorney. We help as your agent, and we don’t charge you for it.
If another agent placed your policy, that agent is your first call. If you bought your policy directly from an insurance company and have no agent to call, you are welcome to call us anyway to talk through the general claim process.
How to file a homeowners claim with us, step by step
- Make it safe. Shut off water or power if needed, and leave if the home is not safe. People come before paperwork.
- Call us. Tell us what happened and when. We pull up your policy, go over the likely coverage and deductible, and tell you what to gather. If you cannot reach us, report the loss to the insurance company directly. The policy’s notice requirement does not wait.
- Report the claim to the insurance company. The claim itself is filed with the company, by phone, app or online, and we can help you do it. If you call the insurance company directly, write down the claim number and the adjuster’s name and send them to us, so we have them and can follow up.
- Document everything. Photograph and video the damage before anything is moved or cleaned, wide shots first and then close-ups, plus the cause if visible. Keep damaged items until the insurer has inspected them, or at least check with us before you throw anything away.
- Stop further damage. Tarping a roof, boarding a window and drying out water are the kinds of steps that keep a loss from getting worse. Your call to us can help get those services moving, often in coordination with the insurance company. Keep every receipt.
- Sort out living expenses. If you have to live elsewhere while repairs are made, we work with you and the insurance company to explain what living expenses your policy covers, for how long, and what records to keep.
- Review the adjuster’s estimate with us. At some point an adjuster will be assigned and an estimate provided. That is when we go through the specifics with you: whether anything looks missing, whether items need to be added, and what it means to accept it.
- Complete the proof of loss. If the company asks for a proof of loss, we help you make sure it is complete before it goes in. Keep a copy.
- Follow up. If the claim goes quiet, we check in with the company and help you put any follow-up in writing.
- Review the decision together. When a payment, partial offer or denial arrives, we read it against your policy wording with you, so you know what it relies on and what your options are.
Should you file? A frank conversation first
Before a claim is reported, we will talk it through with you plainly: the benefits of filing, whether it makes sense to file, and the risks.
The benefits are the reason you bought the policy. On the other side, the deductible comes off the top, and insurers may look at your claims history when they write or price a policy.
Our starting point leans toward filing. Protecting your home is what the insurance is there for. We just want you to make that call with your eyes open and with the information in front of you. The decision is always yours.
A note on water: flood or water damage?
Water losses raise a question early: is this a flood claim or a water damage claim? The answer matters because different policies are involved.
Homeowners policies exclude flood damage, according to both NJ DOBI and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Flood is generally handled under a separate flood policy, if you have one, with its own claim process and deadlines. Other water damage, such as a burst pipe, may fall under the homeowners policy, depending on its wording.
Where the water came from often decides which policy responds, if any. That is one of the first things we sort out with you on the call.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Throwing out damaged property before inspection. It leaves the insurer less to verify.
- Making permanent repairs too early. It can remove evidence the adjuster needs to see. Check with us first.
- Waiting to report. Late notice can create problems under the policy’s notice condition.
- Assuming water damage is covered, or that it is flood. The cause decides which policy applies, if any.
- Accepting a number you do not understand. Ask how it was calculated, and go over it with us.
- Signing a contractor or public adjuster contract under pressure. Read the fee and cancellation terms, and call us before you sign.
If you disagree with the estimate or the claim is denied
In both states a denial must be in writing and cite the policy provision it relies on. We read that provision and the letter with you.
- Low estimate: Get your own contractor’s written estimate. We help you understand where it differs from the adjuster’s, so you can raise those items with the company.
- Appraisal: The Pennsylvania Insurance Department suggests checking your policy for an appraisal clause. We can tell you whether yours has one and how it reads.
- Appeal: Appeals go through the insurance company itself. The PA guide says to appeal to the insurer’s claim manager first, then contact the Department’s Bureau of Consumer Services at 1-877-881-6388. In New Jersey, DOBI takes inquiries and complaints at 1-800-446-7467.
Some disputes call for legal advice. Questions about bad faith, suit deadlines or litigation are for an attorney you retain, and we will tell you when you have reached that point.
A side note on public adjusters
A public adjuster is different from the adjuster the insurance company assigns. A public adjuster is someone you hire to prepare and present your claim, usually for a percentage of the claim payment that comes out of your settlement. After a large loss, such as a fire, they often reach out to homeowners directly.
There are a lot of rules they must follow, in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, on licensing, how and when they can contact you, fees and cancellation. In some situations they are a worthwhile resource, and no one is required to hire one.
Before you sign with any public adjuster, call us. We will explain what they offer, whether your claim calls for one at that point, and what the fee would mean for your settlement.
Last verified: October 2026. Sources: N.J.A.C. 11:2-17.8, NJ DOBI press release, July 18, 2025, NJ DOBI consumer help, 31 Pa. Code 146.7, PA Insurance Department Homeowners Insurance Guide, PA Insurance Department complaints.
The best time to know how a claim works is before you have one. Our homeowners coverage page explains the coverage we review, you can request a quote online, and you can reach us at 856-283-4341.
This article is general information, not legal advice or a guarantee of coverage. Coverage depends on the terms of your policy and is subject to eligibility and carrier underwriting. Cadabra Asset Protection LLC is a licensed independent insurance agency serving New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
