When something bad happens to your home, like a leaking pipe, sump pump backup, a tree lands on your house, a window is broken, fire, or theft, you may wonder, “Should I call my insurance agent first?” Not before making things safe. Your insurance policy requires you to take reasonable steps to protect your home from more damage. That means you should act right away. Calling your agent is important, but it should not slow down emergency action.
First, make sure everyone is safe. Call 911 if there is fire, danger, injury, or a crime. Next, stop more damage if you can do it safely. If something was stolen or vandalized, contact the police (a police report will support your theft claim). Turn off the water, call a plumber, electrician, get a tree removed, tarp a roof, board up a broken window, replace a malfunctioning sump pump, etc. As you do this, take photos and videos before anything is moved or repaired. Keep receipts, save damaged parts or materials when practical, and make a list of damaged items.
As to whether to file a claim… insurance is at its best when you use it to pay for repairs you can’t afford to pay for yourself. Make a claim if you’ve had a large loss, like a house fire, major water damage, or serious storm damage. These losses will likely cost WAY more than whatever the insurance increase will be in the future.
If someone can afford to make the repairs themselves, it’s reasonable to ask what impact the claim will have on future insurance pricing as they decide whether to make a claim. However, we can tell you what discounts you could lose, but we cannot guarantee the exact renewal premium because company rates, underwriting rules, and future market changes also affect the price. And they change every year.
The bottom line is simple: protect people first, protect your home next, and document what happened. After that, contact your agent to talk about the pros and cons of filing a claim. Your agent can guide you, but the final decision is yours.