Loss Strikes: Your First Steps After Property Damage (And Why Your First Call Matters)

The moment you discover damage to your property—whether from a sudden storm, a burst pipe, or a devastating fire—can be disorienting, frightening, and overwhelming. Your mind races with questions: What happened? How bad is it? What do I do now?

At Rome Public Adjusting, we understand these moments of crisis. Our guiding principle, "People Are For Caring," means we are here to walk with you through the uncertainty, offering clear guidance and steadfast support.

Before you make any rushed decisions, take a deep breath. Your first actions after a loss are crucial, and they can significantly impact your path to recovery.

Now What Do I Do? Your Immediate Priorities After a Loss:

1. Prioritize Safety: Your Well-being Comes First (Stay Calm!) Before anything else, ensure the safety of yourself, your family, and anyone else present.

   • Is there an immediate danger? Gas leak, exposed wiring, structural instability? Evacuate immediately and call emergency services (911).

   • Secure the area. If safe to do so, turn off water mains or electricity to prevent further damage.

   • Stay Calm. While difficult, try to remain composed. Panic can lead to missed steps or errors. Your safety and composure are paramount.
     

2. Document, Document, Document: Your Eyes Are Your First Witnesses Once it is absolutely safe, begin to document the damage thoroughly.

   • Photograph and Video Everything: Use your smartphone to take extensive photos and videos of all damaged areas, both inside and out. Don't just focus on the obvious; capture the surrounding areas, the source of the damage (if visible), and anything that looks amiss.

   • Don't Touch or Clean Up Too Much (Yet!): Resist the urge to clean up or make significant repairs beyond necessary mitigation (e.g., tarping a roof to prevent further rain). The damage itself is evidence.

   • RomePA Insight: This visual evidence is invaluable. It forms the initial backbone of your claim. We can help you understand what kind of documentation is most useful, even if you're just starting.
     

3. Secure Your Property (Mitigate Further Damage): Take reasonable steps to prevent further damage to your property. This might include:

   • Tarping a damaged roof.

   • Boarding up broken windows.

   • Removing standing water (if safe).

   • Keep all receipts for these mitigation efforts.

The Most Important Call You Can Make (And Why It's Not Always to Your Insurer First):

After ensuring safety and documenting, your next call is pivotal. Many people instinctively call their insurance company. However, this common first step can carry an unseen risk.

A Tragic Development Harming Trust: In recent times, many insurance companies have adopted a policy where any call from a policyholder describing a loss is automatically recorded as an "initial claim" or a "demand for payment." This means that simply calling to ask questions about your policy or to discuss a potential loss can inadvertently open a formal claim, whether you intended to or not. Once a claim is opened, it becomes part of your insurance record, even if you later decide not to pursue it. This can potentially impact your future rates or insurability, harming the very trust a client places in their company.

Why Talking to a Public Adjuster Poses No Risk: This is precisely why your first call after ensuring safety should be to Rome Public Adjusting.

• We Work Directly For You, Not The Company: As your dedicated Public Adjuster, we have no allegiance to your insurance company. Our conversation with you is confidential and solely for your benefit.
  

• A Call to Us is NOT a Claim: Simply discussing your loss and policy language with Rome Public Adjusting will not open a claim with your insurance company. You retain full control over that decision.
  

• Informed Decisions, Not Rushed Actions: We can help you think through the loss from an expert perspective. We'll analyze the details of the damage, review your policy language, and assess whether your loss likely meets your deductible and qualifies for coverage without ever filing a formal claim for you at this initial stage.
  

• A Claim is a Valuable Thing – Don't Waste It: A claim is a valuable asset you possess. Filing a claim should be a strategic decision, not an accidental one. We help you make an informed decision so you can move forward in confidence, knowing whether a formal claim is truly in your best interest and how to maximize its potential value.

Your Journey to Justice Begins with a Confident Step

The moments after a loss are filled with stress, but they don't have to be filled with confusion. By prioritizing safety, documenting thoroughly, and making the right first call, you set the stage for a smoother, more successful recovery.

At Rome Public Adjusting, we embody "People Are For Caring." We are here to listen, to advise, and to empower you with the knowledge needed to make the best decision for your unique situation.

When loss strikes your property in Rome, GA, or beyond, remember that "Our journey to justice begins now." Contact Rome Public Adjusting for your free, no-obligation claim review, and let us help you understand your options before you make any commitments. Your peace of mind is our priority.

After a loss your first call matters.