Editor’s Note: This is the first of a three-part guest post series. I asked David Jenkins, who last wrote here about vacant homes and homeowners’ insurance, to answer three common questions that homeowners have.

Who handles the claim?

This may sound like a dumb question, but it really is not. Each insurance company is completely different and has various ways to handle claims. Some insurance companies contract out the claims process, so if one has a claim, they may not even really deal with the insurance company themselves.

One agent or company may just give out the company claims number, while another agent may initially handle the claim and even have authority to write a check to the homeowner. It really depends on the company and is very important to ask while buying home insurance. If one has a claim, it is stressful enough.

You want to know who to call, what the process is, and how they will be there for you.

Editor’s Note 2: Knowing who to call is crucial and is yet another reason to work with a local agent; I would much rather call David or John or Mary in Charlottesville than call an 800 number.

Guest post by David Jenkins at Gary Albert Insurance Agency.

Part Two –

Part Three –