Flooding, whether due to a burst riverbank, flash flood or broken water main is a traumatic and frightening experience.

No matter where the flood water came from, it will be contaminated with sewage and/or other pollutants. Extensive sanitation following 'stripping out' will therefore be required before dehumidifiers are installed and the drying process commences.

The drying out of a flooded property is a specialist operation; too much heat and rapid drying can cause shrinkage and more damage to the property than the flood water itself. Insufficient drying and a lack of anti-fungal treatment before refurbishment work commences can lead to wet & dry rot problems in the future - problems which are not, incidentally, covered by your insurance policy.

Many other issues also need to be addressed, such as:

• Where do you stay while repairs are being carried out?

• How long will it take?

• Do you have to use the insurance company's surveyors and contractors?

• Who decides what work needs to be done?

• How will you know if the work is being carried out correctly?

• Who will prepare the contents and compensation claims?

• How will you know you're getting what you're entitled to?

• Who will co-ordinate the claims and deal with the daily telephone calls, meetings with the insurance company, loss adjuster, surveyor, contractors, suppliers etc?

Unless you appoint a claims consultant like Morgan Clark, you as the policyholder are responsible for all of the above - and a lot more besides.

Don't forget - the loss adjuster works for the insurance company and is only interested in looking at the costs once they have been presented to him. He is not responsible for preparing your claim.

Even if outwardly friendly and helpful, the loss adjuster reports to the insurance company and must settle the claim as economically as he can. Unless you happen to be an insurance expert yourself, you simply won't know whether what he is telling you is correct or not, or whether you are getting what you're entitled to.

Even if you're able to reach agreement with the loss adjuster, it is becoming increasingly common for the insurance company to reject their recommendations and try to adjust the claim downwards.

Engaging specialists like Morgan Clark to look after your interests is the only way you can be truly sure that your property is reinstated correctly, and that you receive your full entitlement in all respects.

For a no obligation review of your claim by an experienced consultant, please call us on 0800 0975156 right now, or take a minute to complete our online enquiry form.