What to do after damage or theft?

Dealing with the aftermath of a fire, flood, or break-in at your home or business can be extremely stressful. Should you ever find yourself in this situation, here is a look at what you can do to ensure your safety and a smooth claims process.

5 Key Things to Remember

1. Stay calm.

• Accidents, natural disasters, and other traumatic events can be tense for everyone. However, the most important thing you can do for yourself and others is to stay calm. Remind yourself that there are people and organizations out there who can help you through this.

2. Make sure everyone is safe.

• Are you safe? Are others safe? Before you do anything, make sure that there are no injuries at the property and that everyone is accounted for.
• If someone has been injured, call 911 immediately. Listen to the advice of the emergency operator and calmly wait for the response team to arrive.

3. Secure the property.

• Double-check that all windows, doors, and gates are still intact and secure. If possible, move any valuables out of harm’s reach.
• If your property has been severely damaged, contact an emergency claims service provider immediately. They can help to restore your property and get things back to normal.
• Here is a useful list of emergency service providers in Ontario:
  • Winmar
  • Paul Davis Systems
  • First General Services
  • Lubnow Restoration
  • Servicemaster
  • Belfor Restoration
  • First On Site Restoration

4. Document everything. 

• Once everyone is safe and any necessary emergency responders have been contacted, you should then start to document everything. Take as many pictures/videos of the damage as possible and make a list of any items that are damaged or missing.
• This is also a good time to document exactly what happened, when it happened, and who was involved. You should also make sure to keep all receipts of any expenses associated with the incident.

5. Contact your insurer.

• Contact your insurer (or broker) as soon as you can to let them know about the incident. A claims adjuster will then be assigned to handle your claim.

Common Scenarios: What You Should Do

Fire, water escape, or wind damage

• Ensure everyone is safe and has received appropriate medical attention.
• If you can, move obvious valuables out of harm’s reach.
• Call your insurer (or broker) to report the claim. A claims adjuster will then be assigned to handle your claim.
• Keep receipts of any expenses and write down a list of damages.

Break and entry or theft

• If your home has been broken into, do not enter.
• Call the police and report the incident.
• Call your insurer (or broker) to report the claim. A claims adjuster will then be assigned to handle your claims.
• Keep a record of the investigating police officer including name, badge number, and occurrence number.

Preparing Your Property Ahead of Time

Accidents, disasters, and theft cannot always be avoided. However, there are a few things you can do to make sure that you’re prepared just in case.

1. Keep a personal property inventory

• Remember, should a loss occur, it is up to you to prove your loss! That’s why it is so important to keep an updated inventory of your valuables. This includes:
  • Serial numbers
  • Name
  • Model
  • Purchase receipts
  • Appraisals
• A free property inventory booklet provided by the Insurance Bureau of Canada can be found here. 

2. Burglar-proof your property

• There are several things you can do to prevent intruders from breaking into your home. Some of these include:
  • Closing blinds and curtains at night.
  • Locking all doors and windows before leaving your home or business.
  • Investing in an alarm system.
  • Making your home or business always look occupied.
  • Keeping shrubbery cut back from windows and doors.
  • Illuminating as much of your property as possible.
  • Installing deadbolt locks.

3. Disaster-proof your property

• There are also several things you can do to minimize the impact of a natural disaster on your property. This includes:
  • Equipping your kitchen with a fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
  • Draining garden hoses before winter.
  • Letting faucets drip during extremely cold weather.
  • Making sure all alarm systems are working, up to date, and have batteries.
  • Keeping trees, bushes, hedges near any windows trimmed and out of the way.
  • Storing sensitive documents off-site in a safety deposit box or a fire-proof box.