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When should you make a home insurance claim vs. pay out of pocket?
When is it worth it to make a home insurance claim? I realized this spring that a winter snowstorm had done some damage to my fence, which is covered under my policy—but the damage seemed minimal and easy to repair myself, so I did. Should I have filed a claim for it instead? And are there any instances where it's better to pay out of pocket?
Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Let me set your mind at ease—that was absolutely the right instance to pay out of pocket.
In fact, whenever your house incurs damages that you can comfortably cover out of your own pocket, it’s best to do so! Claims can impact the rates of future premiums, and so you should only file a claim when you would not be able to repair the damage incurred without it.
This means that some homeowners will file a claim for any damages incurred above $1,000, while others won’t file unless the cost of repair and replacement exceeds $10,000.
If you need to make any changes to your home insurance coverage, sites like
Jerry
can be really helpful! We provide free quotes from different top-of-the-line providers like Progressive
and Liberty Mutual
so you know that you’re getting the best coverage for you and for your property! View full answer
- Gregory R.
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