As a homeowner, you’ve likely taken great care in selecting your homeowners insurance policy and have chosen coverage to protect it. But if your home were to become damaged or vandalized, would you know how to file a claim? While you may hope to never have to, familiarizing yourself with the steps now will ensure you’re prepared should something happen to your home.

Document the damage

Note and save important information that you might need to share with the police or your insurer, such as the date, time, and place of the incident and type of damage caused. Be sure to also take photos or video of anything that was broken or vandalized. Also, don’t throw any damaged items away until after the claim is processed in case you need to further substantiate your claim.

Contact the police

If the incident involved a break-in or a crime, phone the police immediately. Once you have reported it, ask for a copy of the police report along with the names of any law enforcement officers you had contact with. You will want to include this information when you file your claim.

Call your insurer

Contact your insurance agent or insurer as soon as possible to find out if your policy will cover the damage and repairs and to get information about how and when to file. Luckily, many insurers can be reached 24/7 via phone or online chat; have your policy number on hand when reaching out. The quicker you contact your insurer, the smoother and faster the process to submit and resolve your claim may be.

Protect your property

Take reasonable steps to prevent more harm to your home. If your home was broken into, you should hire a locksmith to change your locks.

Save your receipts

Besides receipts for repairs, you should also save your hotel, restaurant, and pet boarding bills if you’re forced to temporarily vacate your home. Many homeowners insurance policies include loss of use coverage, which may reimburse you for these expenses.

File your claim

Once you know how to file your claim, do so as soon as possible. You’ll still have several more steps to complete to get your settlement check and your home repaired so you’ll want to get going as soon as possible. You might even be able to file your claim online, which could speed the claims process for you.

Meet with your insurance adjuster

As part of the claims process, your insurer may send out an adjuster to survey the damage, verify it falls under your policy, and collect, confirm and collect pertinent information. In the interest of resolving your claim swiftly, try to be flexible, adjusting your calendar based on the insurer’s schedule so you can get the earliest available date.

Get estimates

Your insurance company might suggest a specialist for the repairs. You could also consider getting estimates from a few different licensed contractors so you have the opportunity to choose the one you’re most comfortable using.

Make repairs

Once your claim is approved and you’ve received your settlement, repairs on the damage can begin. Just be aware that your payment might not come in one lump sum; you might receive a series of checks over a period of time instead.

If you have questions about homeowners insurance, your policy, or the claims process, reach out to an insurance agent who can help walk you through it.