Call your insurance company first. Before hiring a contractor or any professional, call your insurance company. There is no need to rush into an agreement with a contractor, especially if it was not requested.
Understand your policy. Thoroughly review your insurance policy to ensure you understand the policy, including your coverages, deductibles, and responsibilities after damage has occurred. You must also verify if your policy prohibits or otherwise restricts an Assignment of Benefit. If you are unsure, please contact your claim adjuster.
Minimize further damage. Immediately following a loss, make sure you take steps to safely protect your property to prevent further damage from occurring. If you make temporary repairs, document any existing damage with photographs prior to making the repairs. Do not initiate making permanent repairs prior to hearing from your claim adjuster because your adjuster may want to inspect the damage, and they will need to determine if the damage is covered under your policy before the repairs are made.
Read all documents from repair companies or public adjusters thoroughly. Make sure you thoroughly review and understand any contracts you sign with repair companies, public adjusters or other services you hire, including an Assignment of Benefits, directions to pay, or any other contractual documents. If you do not agree with the provisions of the Assignment of Benefits, you may be able to negotiate the provisions of the contract. You do not need to sign an Assignment of Benefits to get your insurance claim processed or your residence repaired. If you are asked to sign an Assignment of Benefits, make sure you read it carefully and clearly understand what your rights are.
Check for and verify all credentials. Verify the license (if one is required) of any professional, contractor or vendor that you intend to hire. You should also verify the company or person's references, general liability, and workers' compensation insurance coverage. If you are unsure, please contact your claim adjuster.

Please know that while these steps are important to protect your rights, it does not mean that your loss is covered under your policy. Only your claim adjuster will be able determine if there is coverage for your loss and they will communicate the status of your claim throughout the claims process. We know that this is a hard and trying process for everyone affected by Hurricane Ian, and your adjuster is here to help you through that process.

We encourage you to visit the Disaster Help Center on www.allstate.com for resources to help you move forward. Below are additional resources that you may find helpful.