Proof of loss

More claims & insurance terms

• Preferred vendor program

  An arrangement where an insurer steers work to contractors who agree to its pricing and service standards. Contractors in these programs usually give up some price negotiation, so read the agreement and know what you can still supplement before signing.

• Premium

  What the policyholder pays the insurer for coverage, usually monthly or annually. Contractors should not quote it or adjust a scope to fit it, because the premium reflects the policy's limits and deductible, and the loss is priced from the damage.

• Property damage

  Physical harm to covered structures or belongings caused by a covered event. In a claim it is the trigger for coverage, so the report should tie the damage to the date and cause of loss with photos, and separate storm damage from wear or poor maintenance.

• Proximate cause

  The event the law treats as the direct cause of the damage, even when other conditions contributed. Carriers use it to decide coverage, so document the chain from the storm or event to the damage rather than only the damage itself.

• Public adjuster

  An adjuster hired by the policyholder, not the carrier, to document the damage and negotiate the claim on their behalf.

• Re-inspection

  A second look at a property or a completed repair, usually requested by the carrier, a reviewer, or the homeowner. It can confirm the work, reopen a disputed item, or trigger a supplement, so keep the same documentation package ready and note who attended.

Common questions